Developer vows work on Grace Village begins this week

The developer of the often delayed Grace Village long-term-care home said Friday the demolition of the old hospital will begin this week, and local unemployed construction-trade workers are hoping he's right.

Developer Lou Vozza has missed one deadline after another since he was given the contract to develop the 256-bed home, each time blaming his finances for the delays.

He owes the city more than $1 million in property taxes.

"It's June, almost the middle of June, almost July. There are hundreds of workers out of work in all the trades, and this job is sitting here," said Sol Furer, who represents building-trade workers.

"They say he met a deadline the other day. Putting one guy or two guys on a job for one day, and then disappearing, I guess that satisfies some people in Toronto," Furer said.

Furer said the province should take the contract away from Vozza and give it to someone who would get the development going and provide much-needed jobs.

The deadline Vozza finally met on Friday was to satisfy all requirements set out by the Ministry of Health, and to start the work.