On June 7, a fire destroyed 216 Spieker, a 51-unit building on the lower bench.
Since then, the question of what caused the fire has been at the top of resident’s minds, but the official answer is: unknown.
Now that the official investigation into the cause of the fire is complete, the next stage has begun, which is the removal of the current structure, which is being done by Western Thermal and Demolition out of Prince George.
There has been no timeline given for how long that will take, but the process has been underway for two weeks already.
Work began August 21. Owners received notice about the work on August 15.
“During this period, there will be increased activity, including noise and the presence of heavy machinery,” writes Courtney Steinbach, who manages the property for Royal LePage. “For the safety of everyone, please ensure that you and your visitors stay clear of the marked-off work area.”
There is no estimated time for completion of the demolition.
Construction on a replacement building should start next year and is expected to be completed by 2027, with interior work expected to take until 2028.
In the meantime, strata fees for owners have been reduced by about half while the new building is being constructed.
Some of the residents (who chose to remain anonymous) think this timeline is a tad optimistic for constructing an apartment building in Tumbler Ridge, with a short building season and difficulty getting materials into town, not to mention finding qualified builders.
The new building will be modelled on the old building, as well as using nearby 212 Spieker as a guide for the construction, though the new building would be built to modern construction standards.
Above photo: Work to take down the remains of 216 Spieker began on Thursday, August 21.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
