Endnearsforownersmade homeless over wall collapse
FLAT owners who have been homeless for more than a year after a restaurant wall collapsed hope their ordeal will soon be over.
Residents and businesses were evacuated when the wall at La Riviera restaurant in Benalder Street in Partick collapsed onto the street below on August 6, 2016.
The restaurant has now finally been demolished following a lengthy dispute between the owner, David Martyn, residents and the adjoining businesses.
The Dolphin Pub, which is next door to the restaurant, has now re-opened.
Works are getting under way which should allow owners to return to their homes within six to eight weeks.
Flat and shops owners will not be permitted to return until works are completed to create a new stairwell and toilet block.
All the owners are liable for those costs, totalling around £80,000, to factors Hacking and Paterson.
The demolition of the restaurant stalled due to a dispute between the restaurant owner and the flat owners, over whether the business should be repaired or rebuilt.
All owners are liable for the £40,000 costs of the demolition, which are not being contested.
However, Mr Martyn is still understood to be pursuing a legal challenge which could force the other owners to contribute to the cost of rebuilding the restaurant.
Mr Martyn told the Evening Times that an arbitration process had got under way and declined to comment further until this was completed.
Matthew Reilly, owner of the Dolphin Pub, said: “Contractors are preparing to go on site to carry out the the necessary repairs to the stairwell and toilet block.
“It could take six weeks or a couple of months.
“I’m hopeful it won’t be much more than that.”
Pawel Kaczynski, one of the flat owners, said: “As far as I know, it is possible, but I’ll believe it when I’m back in my flat with my own two legs.
“The last remaining elements of the attachment were demolished, specifically the old stairs leading to the flats.
“That should allow the construction crew to enter and install a new staircase, and that seems – bar any Building Control objections – to be all we need to go back.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said the works could be completed very soon if no other structural issues are found.