By Kyla Pearson
Additional safety hazards uncovered while clearing debris in the partially collapsed Duke of Somerset Pub have forced the city to keep the Bank and Somerset intersection closed indefinitely.
When workers uncovered severe new instability in the area of the building’s original collapse, they were vacated and the Ministry of Labour has since barred entry to the unsound structure.
The city issued a press release Tuesday stating “it is not likely that the work to stabilize the exterior building shell will be completed for sometime,” citing that the structural stability of the building could be at risk of further collapse.
Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes says the situation sounds quite dire and decisions need to be made as to whether the heritage building is salvageable.
“One way or another we have to make a decision about this building,” she says. “Businesses on Bank are certainly suffering financially from the closure.”
With Bank Street closed between McLaren and Somerset for over a month now, businesses in the area are beginning to look for someone to blame for stolen customers.
Business has slowed with the street closure, says Gerry LePage, executive director of the Bank Street Business Improvement Area.
In the beginning the BIA had received a couple of calls from companies looking for information, but now people are getting more frustrated.
“As it drags on, we are starting to see calls with regard to compensation,” he says.
When the Somerset House building partially collapsed on Oct. 19, trapping a worker in debris, Bank Street was ground to a halt.
Weeks have passed and the street remains closed to vehicular traffic, which surrounding companies say is taking a toll on their business.
“Our food pick-up orders are demolished and the restaurant is slow,” says Efie Gattas, owner and manager of Gabriel’s Pizza, located across the street from the boarded up ruins of Somerset House.
The Atomic Rooster Bar & Bistro opened up on Oct. 2, just down the block from the now-unstable building.
“We were evacuated the night the collapse happened,” says manager Kim Ramji. “It was a Friday, so that was a big hit for us.”
Ramji says the restaurant’s lunch business has been hit hardest.
She says the road closure and detours have made it harder for patrons to get to the Atomic Rooster, and have discouraged downtown workers from making the trip down Bank.
But, businesses say whether they will be compensated for lost sales remains uncertain.
“I haven’t even thought about [legal action],” says Gattas. She says she has heard little from the city, but has spoken with other businesses in the area about the pursuit of reparations.
“We are all feeling hesitant about suing because it is too difficult and time-consuming, and we don’t know who to sue.”
Ramji says the Atomic Rooster has consulted insurance, however the fledgling establishment’s lack of previous sales records complicates things.
LePage says calculating damages and resolving reimbursement will be complex.
“Remediation for businesses becomes a very difficult process because how do you quantify loses? How do you litigate compensation?” asks LePage.
He says the BIA has talked with its lawyers, and will try to provide businesses with all the relevant information and a sound legal opinion.
“Our concern, first and foremost, is public safety, but also that the [building’s] owner, the city and the province are applying due diligence in resolving this problem,” LePage says.
In an e-mail received by the BIA and addressed to “Bank and Somerset Streets area residents and businesses” Holmes wrote that the costs of the necessary police cordon will be billed to Somerset House owner, Tony Shahrasebi.
According to city spokesperson Eric Collard, it is not yet known how much the street closure is costing the city.
Regardless, LePage says the disturbance has had far-reaching effects.
For the first time in 38 years, the Help Santa Toy Parade was forced to detour. The annual event, which normally runs along Bank Street from downtown to Lansdowne Park, was rerouted along O’Connor Street until Gladstone Avenue, in order to bypass the closed intersection.
LePage says for businesses and citizens alike, the closure is an inconvenience.
“Whether you’re trying to go north or south you inevitably get to Bank and Somerset and have to detour,” he says. “The effects are being felt blocks away.”