GRAND BANK, N.L.
The Town of Grand Bank has been successful in its efforts to find someone willing to tear down the Samuel J. Harris Building in exchange for the materials from the old structure.
During council’s meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, a motion was passed to sign a contract with Newfoundland Demolition to dismantle the historic waterfront building.
Over time, the structure has fallen into a state of disrepair and become a safety hazard.
The town issued a call for expressions of interest to tear down the building in November.
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Newfoundland Demolition will be responsible for the clean-up of all debris from the area, while the town is liable for its disposal at the regional waste disposal site near Jean de Baie.
“We think we’re getting a great deal on it, by the way, but council has to be aware … there is going to be a cost for the (tipping fees),” Deputy Mayor Clayton Welsh said during the meeting.
The town doesn’t have a precise figure on how much that will be at this point.
A timeline for completion of removal of the structure as well as assurances for the town regarding cleanup are part of the agreement.
The town received one other formal expression of interest, but that one came with a price tag of over $160,000, therefore not meeting the criteria.
The Samuel J. Harris Building has two sections, one of which until this past spring housed the Grand Bank Regional Theatre and another area that was formerly the Sea King fish plant.
The site is where Samuel Harris, a Grand Bank fishing captain and businessman, founded Samuel Harris Limited, a general merchandise and fish-exporting business, at the end of the 19th century.
Town manager Wayne Bolt said the business owner is “eager to start” on the demolition.
