Abandoned Plateau building to be demolished after roof collapses under heavy snow

Demolition crews expect to haveanabandoned building on Laurier Avenuein thePlateauMont-Royal district flattened in the coming daysafter the roof collapsed Friday morning.

Montreal firefighters say the roof of the former Glatts building on the corner of Laurierand deL'Esplanadeavenues partially collapsed under the weight of snow.

Maiko Ishii lives next door to the building, and herbedroom window looks down on itsroof.

She said at around3 a.m., she heard a loud noise. When she looked outside, she saw that the roof had fallen in.

"There was a huge crack in it, going from one side of the building to the other side, and it was leaning in," she said.

Specialists in the fire department arrived at the site toto evaluate the building's structure.

City engineers will eventually determine whether the building has to be demolished.

LaurierAvenue remainsclosed westbound between Parc Avenue and St-Urbain Street, while de L'Esplanade Avenue is closed between Fairmount and Laurier avenues.