Demolitions no easy decision, says chief building official

One wall of the former Albert Road church has inched closer and closer toward Chris Hager's home.

Hager has lived next to the ageing building for seven years, watching as the rickety old structuresheds its siding and droops further inward.

That sagging roof has caused the rotting frame of the building to twist and lean toward his home.

"It's been leaning more and more every year. It's time for the church to go," he said, standing in his driveway.

Hager and his neighbours, who also regularly complain about the increasingly dangerous eyesore, will have their wish soon.

City building inspectors have worked with the owner and, based on an engineer's evaluation, have agreed to finally bring the old church to it's knees.

"The engineer has deemed the building to be in really bad condition beyond repair," said John Revell, the city'schief building official.

No easy decision

Revell orders two or three buildings a year to be torn down in Windsor, largely because the city has one of the oldest housing stocks west of Montreal.

Deterioration of those old buildings often acceleratebecause of a lack of maintenance, whether that be because of poor economic times, or absentee landlords, Revell explained.

Public safety is the primary reason for ordering a demolition, just as the city recently did for two houses on Indian Road. Despite Windsor'slegal battle with the owner of the Ambassador Bridge to repair some of those Indian Road homes, ordering an immediate demolition is an easy decision when they become a danger.

Anyone "walking down the street near the building oradjacent properties" could be hurt should part or all of the building fall,Revell said.