Going, Going, But Not Quite Gone

A small wave of nostalgia is washing over Pugwash today as the former Coop building on Water Street is being demolished.

The building at 89 Water Street has long been a concern for residents and officials as the current owner allowed the structure to deteriorate, becoming both an eyesore and a danger to the public. It was especially disturbing to village officials who saw the structure, on prime waterfront real estate, detract from the surrounding development of Eaton Park, the heart of the village.

Under provincial law, the Municipality of Cumberland began the long process of holding the property owner to account. The county acted on numerous complaints and eventually agreed the property needed to be repaired or torn down.

Apparently the property owner agreed, or at least did not oppose the final call to action. While he may have agreed the building needed to come down, he did not take that action. Instead, the County Council contracted a demolition team to knock down the building, dispose of all the debris, secure, and remediate the site. The bill, according to Mayor Murray Scott is estimated in “the tens of thousands of dollars.”

The final cost will be invoiced to the property owner and attached to the property tax account. If left unpaid, the county can take steps to recover their costs through a public tax sale.

While the Mayor says nobody likes to interfere in private property matters, the council has an obligation to uphold county bylaws on behalf of the greater good.

Scott says the demolition may lead to something better on the site. He noted it is prime real estate and may have a greater value as an empty lot. He recognized the property is for sale and it may hold greater potential to a creative developer.

The photo above shows the view of the Pugwash Harbour previously blocked by the building at 89 Water Street. The photos below show the progress in demolishing the building under a public order by the Municipality of Cumberland.

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