More than three weeks after Post Tropical Storm Dorian sent a crane crashing down on a building in Downtown Halifax, final inspections are supposed to be completed this weekend, setting the stage for the dangerous and delicate job of removing the big piece of machinery.
The process can’t be completed soon enough for Dany Savicks who lived and worked in the neighbourhood. Now he’s out of a home and a job.
“I need to try to find a place to stay every two or three nights,” describes Savicks. “I have to move, I have my dog with me, so it’s more complicated to find a spot. The hotel is super expensive, I’ve spent more than $3000 in 20 days.”
His workplace was evacuated after the mishap and hasn’t opened since. Savicks says that without a pay cheque, accommodations have been challenging, and hard on his budget.
“I try to find a job but I need to move every two or three days, so it’s difficult to find a job.”
The crane collapsed Sept. 7 on a building on South Park Street, prompting an evacuation order for tenants and some businesses in the surrounding area by Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency two days later.
Savicks says the developer who owns the construction site will compensate up to $200 a night for accommodations, but he has had trouble finding somewhere to pay at that price.
“I pass by twice a day to see what’s happening. Yesterday I started to see something, I saw somebody bring something on top but I don’t know what’s happening.”
The removal work was supposed to have begun two weeks ago, but was held up over questions about the liability for those involved in the operation.
The provincial government stepped in Sept. 18, declaring a localized state of emergency that moved liability to the province and enabled the work to go ahead.
In a news release, the N.S. Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said final inspections were supposed to finish this weekend.
On Sunday, work was underway to anchor the crane so dismantling and removal can begin.
The spectacle is still attracting sightseers but many are wondering what’s taking so long.
“I thought they would have had it done by now,” said resident Carrie Cook. “I don’t know if there’s any more danger to the building if they wreck that.”
“I think it’s kind of crazy really that it’s still not cleaned up. I think it’s a little bit bizarre, you would think it would be cleaned up by now or at least a little more than what it is,” says Stephanie Cook.
“I’m totally amazed that it’s still up there and taking this long to get it down,” adds Gary Slaunwhite.
While there didn’t appear to be much action outside the building on Sunday, crews were inside and a large crane has been brought in to help with the removal. The hope is that work will begin this week.
The provincial government says this is a very complex project and because of that, there’s no clear timeline for removal and there’s no word yet on how much this will cost.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Amy Stoodley.
