Half-crumbled building in Hamilton still unused, unfixed and unable to fall three years later

This August marks three years since a building along King Street in Hamilton partially collapsed. Today, the half-crumbled structure still stands — unused, unfixed, and unable to fall despite the City’s years-long promise to have it demolished.

It was August 2022 when part of the brickwork that made up the front of 457 King St. E. came crashing down. The sudden collapse shuttered a major roadway and left those who lived there scrambling to find a new home.

For years, neighbours have been pushing to have the building, which has become a hazard, demolished. In the time since, city officials say it has done with to cut the hydro, remove asbestos and shore up the building beside it; all in anticipation of the day it finally comes down.

“The key factor here is the building has a joint structural wall with the neighbour beside it,” said Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann.

City Council initially hoped demolition work would take place this summer, but the discovery of asbestos inside and the support issues with the neighbouring property meant that couldn’t happen.

Now that work is done, Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann says September could bring about a timeline.

“In so many ways it feels like a juggernaut of an issue,” she said.

“I have been assured by both the city manager and the new general manager of economic development that I will get a new report in September.”

In the meantime, the property has been listed for sale. The price tag? Nearly $800,000.

“The property does not have to be demolished first [before sale], so whoever the purchaser is — probably a developer, as long as they have their plans and detail their intentions to the city, it’s my understanding that the property will not be demolished,” Sherman Barrington, a REALTOR familiar with the property said. 

Barrington says the property is zoned for up to six stories, with five residential units and two commercial spaces.

Community members who spoke to CHCH News were overwhelmingly in favour of the property becoming affordable housing.

“The logical choice would be for some apartments,” one neighbour said.

“Create more low income housing,” said another.

“A lot of people here don’t have homes. The way rent is, it’s just way too much.”

READ MORE: Future of Burlington Sound of Music Festival at risk, say organizers