(photos RennDuPrat Facebook)
The structure at 82 Main Street that once housed the offices of the Handicapped Organization Promoting Equality
was demolished yesterday.
The group had to relocate their offices as the result of a flood on December 19 after a pipe burst.
The building was purchased by development company RennDUPrat.
Dustin DuPrat says sadly, there was no other option.
“Even before the flood, when you walked into that space, there was a visible 8 to 10 inch sag in the floors both on the first
storey and the second storey. Obviously the flood was detrimental. With a structure of that nature, it’s just so difficult to dry out.
Definitely a lot of complications arose from that. It was sort of one of the final straws, so to speak. The mould that was already there, the
mould that would be spawned from the flood, years of rats being there and a lot of careless renovations, it didn’t make sense to do anything different.”
DuPrat says the last thing they want to do is demolish a building.
“It’s just not what we stand for, but sometimes there is no other choice.”
DuPrat says for the time being they will install an eight foot wrought iron fence around the property to help beautify the area.
“…help create a safe sort of lock-up space for our vehicles and tools. In the spring we’ll have a display area for some of our outdoor products.”
The HOPE centre offices are located in the former CJ O’Hanley building.
They are expecting to move into their new facility on Bond Street in the spring.
