INNISFAIL - Time is ticking away for the 115-year-old Globe Coliseum in the historic block of downtown Innisfail as planning is well underway for its imminent demolition.
The Town of Innisfail has posted on its website that the municipality's development officer approved an application by a private contractor on Oct. 4 to demolish the historical structure at 5007 - 50 Street. The approved application expires on Oct. 25.
The Globe Coliseum building sustained unrepairable fire damage on Aug. 2.
Gary Leith, the town’s fire chief, told the Albertan it’s his understanding the demoliton operation will occur in two phases.
“The first phase is to bring what's left of the building down to the ground, and then they can open up the restrictions currently on the sidewalk and the road that will be in play while that demolition takes place,” said Leith. “That first phase is likely to take around six hours to bring that down. After that it will be just general site cleaning.”
Leith said town operations staff are working with the demolition company as a Main Street lane restriction is required during the demolition’s first phase.
Meghan Jenkins, community services director for the Town of Innisfail, confirmed late last month that the town was processing a demolition permit application that was received from a demolition company on Sept. 11.
Jenkins said the applicant had to provide confirmation that all existing town and utility services had been appropriately disconnected before demolition approval was granted by the town’s development officer.
Jenkins said the demolition company is also responsible for a safety plan at the site, which includes putting up security fencing and barricades, and that there is no damage committed off-site during the demolition process.
The move to demolish the two-storey Globe Coliseum building comes after a fire on Aug. 2 destroyed four residential suites on the second floor, leaving several citizens homeless.
There were no injuries to any resident and all were safely housed with either friends or family members.
The ground level floor, which was the home to a new vape business and Inspiration Ink Tattoos, sustained heavy smoke and water damage. There was also damage to The Gift Loft store in the historical building next door.
Although the official cause of the blaze has not been released, it's believed the fire was started by a fallen power wire.
