The mayor of Saint John is crediting city staff for their work at trying to clean up dilapidated buildings throughout the city.
Council has approved the demolition of more than half a dozen derelict buildings on Albert, Main, Metcalf and Victoria streets since late October.
Mayor Don Darling said neglected buildings have been a major focus of the growth committee, especially in the north end.
“We’ve had a number of fires which were not only very scary for the community but also to think about first responders in these buildings is also very scary,” Darling said during a recent council meeting.
Through the city’s vacant, dilapidated and dangerous buildings program, staff have gone from addressing roughly 40 cases a year to about 80.
Darling said it is unfortunate buildings get to a stage where they cannot be rebuilt and have to be torn down.
“But I am very optimistic that in time, as we continue to work on the rest of council’s priorities, that this area of our city can be brought back to more prominence like it once was in our past,” he said.
Darling said he is hopeful the cleanup of neglected buildings will lead to rebuilding opportunities in those areas.
Story by Brad Perry
Twitter: @BradMPerry
Email: perry.brad@radioabl.ca
(Photo: Brad Perry/Acadia News)
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