Goodbye to city landmark
Posted May 18, 2011 04:28:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An 80-year old landmark has entered its final days in downtown Kitchener.
Crews began a month-long demolition of the Cedar Hill water tower this week. Built in 1926, the fixture on St. George Street was deemed too expensive to repair.
Hennie Fourie, head of environmental projects with the Region of Waterloo, says it would have cost about $1-million to repair and refurbish the aging structure, which he believes has also outlived its usefulness.
“When there’s a fire event in that area, the hydraulic grade line would go above the tower,” Fourie explains. “So instead of the tower providing pressure to the system, the tower would be put under pressure and overflow. So it’s detrimental to the (water distribution) system at the moment.”
The region met with neighbourhood residents to alleviate concerns over what some considered to be a heritage structure. But Fourie says once residents understood the cost and implications of keeping the tower, there was little resistance to the demolition order.
Now the goal is to make the demolition itself go off without a hitch.
“They have to look at vibrations and make sure there are no excess vibrations that could damage houses in the area,” Fourie notes. “(And) they have to make sure there are no sparks flying around when they do the torch cutting.”
United Wrecking of Mississauga will be paid more than $200,000 to complete the job.
