Plans set to demolish historic Port Hope factory
Council approved a heritage permit in March to allow for demolition of Block 2 of the Cavan Street building.
Block 2 of Port Hope’s historic Nicholson File Factory may finally be demolished early next month, allowing for the reopening of Cavan Street in the central core of the village.
Earlier this year, the municipality was forced to close the street when parts of the building’s brick façade crashed to the roadway below.
The impact of the street closure has been intensified by this week’s closure of Walton Street through the downtown core. The town says the road closures and detours have created challenges for the community.
In March, council approved a heritage permit allowing the demolition of Block 2 of the File Factory building located at 121 Cavan St. The road was partially closed in February as a precautionary step due to structural integrity concerns with the building and its proximity to the road.
The Nicholson File Factory is a historic brick structure dating back more than 170 years. It lines the Ganaraska River, just north of the downtown. Though the factory has been mostly vacant for decades, it was purchased four years ago by investors seeking to develop it as a trendy condo building and brewery.
There have been few visible improvements to the structure since. In February, concern was raised when part of a brick façade crashed down onto Cavan Street. Municipal workers were directed to block a section of the street while the town and the building’s owners sought to remedy the situation.
The prolonged closure of Cavan Street is primarily due to a legally required 30-day appeal period of the council decision to proceed with the demolition of Block 2 of the structure. This appeal period is intended to offer a fair opportunity for all parties involved to voice their concerns.
The municipality has been advocating for residents and business owners, urging for prompt actions to secure the building and reopen Cavan Street to regular traffic as soon as possible.
Staff has been working with the property owner to stress the need for immediate action to meet community needs and adhere to council directives. Staff has also offered support to resolve the required gas and water shut-off for the property, to help speed along the requirements prior to demolition.
“The effects of the disruptions on daily commutes and traffic flow are fully recognized,” stated a notice released by the town on April 26.
“Currently, our community is experiencing an unusually high number of road impacts, far exceeding the normal schedule. We understand and share your concerns about traffic diversions and delays with a sense of urgency. However, we appreciate your patience with these inconveniences.”
The notice states that staff is working to ensure the demolition of the affected portion of the building takes place as soon as possible, with plans to start in early May.
The demolition is expected to take about a week, although this timeline may adjust as conditions evolve. Following this work, Cavan Street will be reopened as soon as possible.