Scaffolding won't come off federal building until 2009
Expert to begin survey of building's repair needs soon
Times & Transcript STaff
Published Wednesday September 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A3
OTTAWA - Metro Monctonians will have to get used to the scaffolding and construction fencing surrounding the federal building at Main and Highfield Streets -- it's going to be there until at least 2009.
A spokesman for Public Works and Government Services said despite knowing about the need for repairs on the decaying structure since 2004, it will be years before the department is in a position to fix the problem.
"That scaffolding is going to be there for awhile," spokesman Rory Matchette said yesterday. During a routine building condition report in October, 2004, public works was told an inspection of the building's mortar was immediately needed.
The review also suggested that the building's limestone exterior appeared to be deteriorating and in need of major repair. A piece of the building's limestone actually fell off in January, 2005.
Despite the numerous warning signs over the years, public works has failed to move quickly on the renovation. Instead, the department has opted to erect scaffolding and fencing to protect pedestrians walking down the busy end of Main Street from falling limestone.
At one of the busier intersections in the downtown core, the scaffolding and fencing around the building has become a nuisance for pedestrians and an "eye sore" for the community, Downtown Moncton Inc.'s Daniel Allain said.
He believes the city's downtown cannot continue to attract new companies until the historical structure is cleaned up.
"We have to keep that architecture -- it's a great building for downtown in terms of historical value and we have to keep it as it was before," he said. "We realize it has to go through due process, but it's been years now. Give us a plan."
Matchette said the department plans to hire a masonry expert by month's end. That person will inspect the building's exterior and determine the cause of the limestone's deterioration. He said he expects the inspection to take until next May, when the department will review the report over the summer.
Then, the department must determine a next course of action by designing a document and sending it to tender.
Since the extent of the building's damage isn't known, it will likely be some time before repair work can begin.
Matchette maintains that the department conducts bi-annual scaling on the building and physically checks the structure for bits of loose limestone to protect pedestrians. He wouldn't say how much the department is anticipating the overhaul of the structure's exterior will cost.
With Crombie Properties looking to expand their Highfield Square operations and with significant road work reshaping the city's expanding downtown core, Allain said now is the time for investment in the structure.