CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Tenders have closed on the demolition of the former Prince Edward Home in Charlottetown.
Sealed tenders were to have been delivered to the province’s public works and planning division of the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy by Thursday, March 7.
A spokeswoman with the department said they will now evaluate the tenders and go to treasury board to award the tender.
Once the tender is awarded, the contractor will begin work on the demolition, including the abatement of any hazardous materials followed by the rerouting of the district heating lines and then the removal of the building. The building is expected to come down late this year.
Local Liberal MLA Jordan Brown is happy to see the process get to this stage.
“Obviously, the building was getting to be in a state where it’s not the most visually pleasing,’’ Brown said.
“I do have concerns over the safety of it in terms of being an empty structure. There is security that monitors it through the night time, so I’m happy that we were able to arrange that to happen and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it down.’’
The building was also once home to the Prince Edward Island Hospital before it was converted into a nursing home and a palliative care unit.
Demolition will first involve removing lead paint and asbestos. District heating system lines around the building also need to be realigned, and that work should begin by the spring or summer.
“Hopefully by the end of the summer, into the fall, there will be a big gaping hole at the end of North River Road where there used to be an ugly building,’’ Brown said.
The City of Charlottetown will be happy to hear Brown say that the province is committed to keeping the property green space. Brown said they will work with the city on exactly what that will look like.
“That will become more settled as the process continues to evolve and move forward.’’
Brown said one small piece of the building could be saved – a headstone or monument stone on the doorway. One of the nurses who used to work there had expressed an interest during the last election campaign to have it turned around into some kind of monument.
“So we’ll be looking at how we can do that in a respectful and effective way.’’
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