Demolition of the historic Gas Works building on 12th Street is expected to get underway in October, but survey work is taking place this week.
The province’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said survey work was beginning at the site at 231 12th St. on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and is expected to be complete by Friday, Aug. 18.
Because the site’s original use was as a coal gasification plant and it was later used as a foundry, paint manufacturing facility and sash and door manufacturing operation, the ministry stated that further investigation is needed to determine the levels of contamination at the site.
“The province and the city of New Westminster are working collaboratively to come up with potential development plans for the site,” said a press release from the ministry. “However, prior to any redevelopment of the property, site remediation is required.”
In May, New Westminster city council endorsed the demolition process for the building. A portion of the 1886 building’s roof caved in in March 2016 and it was felt the building couldn’t be saved.
A staff report to council stated that the province requested a demolition permit because the building wasn’t structurally sound and people were camping on the site, which was creating some life-safety issues. Concerns were also raised about the safety of first responders if the building were to collapse and they had to search for injured people in the rubble.
The site and the building are owned and managed by the province through the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
The Gas Works building is deemed to have high heritage value, both locally and provincially, because it’s the oldest remaining industrial building in New Westminster and one of only three similar structures in B.C. As part of the demolition application, the city is asking the province to provide substantial documentation of the building before it’s demolished.
According to the province, ministry staff are required to submit survey plans, dimensional drawings and photographs of the existing building to the city before the Gas Works building is demolished.
