Fires set at old Merchants Hotel

Multiple fires were set at the old Merchants Hotel on Friday night.

Fire crews were called to the historic three-storey building on Selkirk Avenue around 9:30 p.m. and found separate fires on the first, second and third floors.

The fires were put out quickly and there is no damage estimate.

• Merchants Hotel closer to 'transformative' affordable housing, education in the North End
• Construction begins to convert Merchants Hotel into affordable housing

The building was previously a magnet for trouble and violence but is now being converted into an affordable housing complex,which will also double as a university classroom and community centre.

MynarskiCoun.RossEadiesaid the fire was focused in the old Merchants Hotel portion of the building, which was being renovated. It didn't damagethe new addition being built to expand it.

"It sounds like a human set the fires because it was related to a material they were using to do renovations. It would probably be focused to only one spot," he said.

"It just saddens me that someone would actually come in and do damage to a building that's going to be really great for the neighbourhood, the community and the city."

Eadiesaid the plan was to begin offering university-level courses at the location in November, but the fire haslikely caused a delay.

"I just hope for the best that we can fix whatever damage is there as soon as possible," he said.

The North End Community Renewal Corporation, which helped lead the community coalition that originally proposed the hotel's transformation, posted onFacebookthat it was saddened by the fire.

"The good news is that the fire was contained to the second floor and caused minimal damage. We anticipate that this will not cause major delays to the project's timelines," the post said.