WINNIPEG – A century old building in the city’s west end is coming down, but not by choice.
“It was a dream for me to really start building this community.”
Sal Infantino is in a fight with the city after the sidewalk in front of his building at 543 Sargent Avenue collapsed, damaging the century old structure.
The city has now ordered him to repair it or tear it down at his own expense.
“Now I look at this thing and it’s completely crumbled, it’s ridiculous,” said Infantino, who owns X-Cues Billiards and Café right next door.
The respected west end businessman says he spent more than $800,000 building rental suites and retail space on the main floor. The building was supposed to open last September but three months prior in July, the city sidewalk suddenly crumbled.
“The sidewalk collapsed, pushed my basement wall in causing the front of my building to drop,” said Infantino, pointing at large pieces of concrete wall now laying on the sidewalk.
Infantino says the city has given him until the end of March to start demolition or the city will step in. He says he stands to lose more than a million dollars.
“At this point, the city’s not taking any responsibility, it’s all on me,” said Infantino, “I don’t understand how their sidewalk collapses into my building and I have to get stuck with the whole bill.”
The city wouldn’t comment Tuesday saying he can make a damage claim. The area’s city councillor, Cindy Gilroy says she’s met with administration but says her hands are tied.
“He had a really great plan, he’s done a lot of work in the community,” said Gilroy, “This plan was a mixed used building that is exactly what downtown needs. I absolutely feel for him, I know how hard this has been for him.”
“They can actually destroy what my families built for the last 46 years in this neighbourhood,” said an emotional Infantino, “It’s kind of sad.”
Once the building is torn down, Infantino doesn’t know what he’ll do with the land. He just worries this whole process could bankrupt him.
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