Metrolinx demolition taking place around tenants’ homes

Demolition of vacant buildings purchased for a cancelled LRT continues with extra precautions this week to protect neighbouring buildings where tenants are still living.

Metrolinx has begun knocking down 21 of nearly 60 buildings purchased for Hamilton's planned light rail transit line that was axed over budget concerns in December 2019. Some purchased buildings still have tenants and are not yet slated for demolition.

A contractor set up fencing and plywood walls to separate doomed buildings on King Street East near the CP rail spur from two older brick homes still occupied by a couple and a family of eight, respectively.

The city has asked Metrolinx to consider salvaging some empty buildings for emergency housing, but the agency has said the first 21 planned demolitions must go ahead for safety reasons.

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