Former rink comes down this month
Posted Mar 3, 2011 By Stacey Roy
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Tweet ThisEMC News - It's a sign of the future and a sad day for arena fans who grew up with the former Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre.
Chris Saumure of Guy Saumure & Sons Construction confirmed that a crane will be on site by mid-March for the exterior demolition of the beloved arena.
"We'll start to see the shovels start to tear it down" at that time, Saumure said.
Demolition work has already begun in preparation for the ultimate removal of the recreation facility.
About two weeks ago the boards and glass from the former Community Centre were taken out and stored on site. Saumure said they will be installed at the Youth Arena once the ice has been taken out at the end of this season. Last week Glenview Iron & Metal (GIM), which has been subcontracted to complete the demolition work, began interior demolition. New equipment and all memorabilia have been removed from the site.
"We're salvaging that and turning it back to the town," Saumure confirmed.
This week, workers will begin to remove the asbestos on the exterior of the building, which could take two weeks to complete.
"It has to be removed manually," Saumure added. "It's a slow, tedious process."
And a dangerous one as well. In a previous Record News story Ashley Lemire, spokesperson for Health Canada stated that in any building where asbestos was used to make the siding "during demolition asbestos could be released and pose a health risk. People working in construction, maintenance or in the renovation of older buildings should be particularly careful when there is a possibility of exposure to asbestos."
Chris Cassell of GIM said his crews will be taking every precaution in tearing down this week, adding a special note on the importance of this particular demolition job.
"It's quite a piece to disappear, but it's done it's time," Cassell said.
As owner of the Smiths Falls Bears, Cassell said he was pleased to see his players in the new facility.
Following the detailed demolition work by GIM, the facility itself will be taken down along with the brick home at the corner of Elmsley and Lansdowne streets. Rick St. Dennis, director of community services, said demolition of the house is in the plans right now though councilors will have a thorough discussion on demolition at this week's Committee of the Whole meeting.
"Council hasn't discussed details of the demolition as yet," St. Dennis said last week.
Councillors did take some time during their budget discussions Feb. 26 to discuss their hope for the property. CAO Wayne Brown confirmed the brick home slated for demolition may have a future after all.
"It's really a very good house to be taken down," Brown said.
Council will review the options for this property prior to their green lighting its demolition this month.
Councillors also spoke of landscaping along Cornelia and Elmsley streets with a focus on green space. Brown said there seemed to be interest in enlarging the existing green space on Elmsley and wrapping it around Cornelia to mimic the hospital on the other corner.
It could "perhaps make it as far as where the existing entrance of the old arena," Brown said.
Saumure said the crews hope to be done demolition by mid-March and then turn their attention toward finalizing the landscaping plans. To do this, they need council's approval on the plans, which is forthcoming. Past discussions around the council table have looked at access points for the property and the flow of vehicular traffic.
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