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Brantford Expositor: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/Art...aspx?e=2367857

Demolition contract to be awarded

City officials expect to award a contract Tuesday afternoon to one of 13 bidders seeking the right to tear down 40 largely derelict buildings on the south side of downtown Colborne Street.

The preparatory stages of demolition could begin immediately, with scaffolding set to go up hours after that on the south side of Colborne from Grand River Hall to Icomm Drive.

"We're on a tight time frame to get this work done," said Coun. Mark Littell, chairman of the South Side of Colborne Task Force, a political group overseeing the expropriation of 41 properties from Grand River Hall to the Icomm Drive intersection, demolition of buildings and redevelopment.

...

Coun. John Sless, another critic of the process, said Monday expertise is needed to tell the city which buildings could be saved and given new life, and time is needed to hear the ideas.

"When things that are done in haste and not a lot of thought, we get a lot of ad hoc decisions and an ad hoc results that we may come to regret," he said in an interview in a restaurant where some south Colborne defenders had gathered.

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Littell said he and a majority of councillors are prepared to push ahead to ensure a speedy demolition, because a $1.38-million grant from a federal stimulus program could be jeopardized if that amount of work is not done by a deadline of March 31, as stipulated in an agreement.

Littell also confirmed Monday that the city has settled with four remaining residential and commercial occupants in the stretch.

My-Thai and Krisjen's Café have been given a compensation settlement including relocation costs and have until Feb. 20 to vacate their premises.

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The two residential tenants, Gail Flemington and John Podiotis, also accepted settlements.

"We appreciate that this has been difficult for Mr. Podiotis," said Littell.

"I am compassionate with the fact that he has been living there 56 years and we were able to reach an agreement that I believe is fair to both of us."