The final demolition of the derelict Tidebrook Hotel has begun.
Work crews were hard at work with machinery and dump trucks at the property on Gertrude Street on Tuesday morning.
The demolition actually started last week with workers removing asbestos and lead, city planner Scott Smith said.
The teardown is expected to take until the end of the week, Smith said.
City councillor Cindy Solda has advocated for the demolition for safety reasons since the former hotel’s main building was damaged by two fires, one each last year and in June.
Final authorization for the demolition was given in August, Smith said.
The teardown will cost $23,000, Smith said. An invoice for the work will be forwarded to property owner Jack Purdy for payment. If he doesn’t pay, then the amount will be tacked on to his property tax bill.
“We’ve been in contact with the owner all along but haven’t received a substantive response from him,” Smith said.
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