Building owner promises fixes
Dollar Tree store shut after order from WorkSafe B.C.
The owners of the downtown building closed because of crumbling asbestos floor tiles said plans are being developed to remedy the situation.
Bernard and Janet Dong of Saanich said Thursday a representative is in talks with the Dollar Tree company, which leases their building at 1420 Douglas St.
They are negotiating how the cost of the remediation will be covered, Bernard Dong said.
WorkSafe B.C. issued a stopwork order at the discount retail business on Feb. 21 after it found deteriorating asbestos floor tiles on the main floor. The store has been closed since.
Asbestos was frequently used in building materials in the past, but it is now known that breathing in its fibres can cause health problems.
The floor will be repaired, Bernard Dong said.
Dollar Tree is seeking a lease renewal to remain in the location and the Dongs anticipate the store will reopen.
“Our relationship with the Dollar Tree store is very, very good,” Janet Dong said.
Dollar Tree’s U.S. headquarters are in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq exchange. Along with its 170 discount stores in Canada, Dollar Tree has more than 5,000 stores in 48 U.S. states.
Dollar Giant opened in the Douglas Street location after the Fields store moved out, Dong said. The lease was transferred to the Dollar Tree company, Dong said.
He said he contributed $75,000 for store renovations and also paid for a new roof before Dollar Tree moved in. As for reports of water leaks during rainstorms, Dong expects the roof guarantee to cover that.
Asbestos has been a problem in the building previously. A September WorkSafe report found deteriorating asbestos floor tiles in the building’s basement warehouse.
A consultant specializing in examining environmental issues in buildings was called in. About $50,000 was spent in late 2016 on the lower level to address the issue, Dong said. The WorkSafe report into the matter said improvements had complied with its requirements.