Many locals are welcoming the demolition of three more buildings damaged by a August 2021 toxic gas explosion in downtown Wheatley.
Published Dec 15, 2023 • 3 minute read
The front of a building on Erie Street North in Wheatley comes crashing down Tuesday morning during demolition of three buildings damaged in an Aug. 21, 2021, toxic gas blast that rocked the downtown. (Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News)
WHEATLEY – Many locals are welcoming the demolition of three more buildings damaged by a August 2021 toxic gas explosion in downtown Wheatley.
“Honestly speaking, I’m excited to see these buildings finally come down,” said Hilary Hodgson, owner of Lil Hil’s Coffee Shop, located behind the three Erie Street North buildings being demolished.
Article content
“It’s been a very long time that we’ve had to drive through a disaster area,” she added.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Windsor Star ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
Hodgson said it has been “disheartening” to see the buildings, because it brings up memories of the blast.
The Aug. 26, 2021, explosion was linked to highly toxic hydrogen sulphide gas seeping up through the ground. It destroyed two buildings and damaged several others in this community about 45 kilometres southwest of Chatham, injuring 20 people. Officials, alerted to trouble by gas detectors, had cleared the area 90 minutes before.
Related Stories
Three blast-damaged Wheatley buildings coming down
Province boosts funding to deal with Wheatley gas explosion
Chief building inspector Paul Lacina, who was onsite Tuesday for part of the demolition, said the toxic gas was not found in the buildings directly across from the blast site.
Asked if new construction will be allowed at this location, Lacina said, “There’s no restrictions, as of yet, that they can’t build here.”
In future, the process to build on the site will be “no different than any other project outside of Wheatley,” he said.
“It’s going to be nice to see things move ahead,” said John Urban, owner of Cellar Door Wines, said, “It’s an eyesore right now. It will be nice to get them out of there.”
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Longtime Wheatley resident Terry Lobzun was there Tuesday to witness some of the demolition work. “We’re tired of looking at it, I’m glad something is happening,” he said.
While recognizing the structural issues caused by the blast, Lobzun believes the demolition could be heartbreaking for older residents more connected to the buildings’ history, while younger people likely see it as progress..
“I guess we all wonder, ‘What’s coming after this?’ ” said Lobzun, who expects whatever follows will be “long and drawn out.”
More than two years after the explosion, he doesn’t believe there is a firm plan in place and the municipality is still “learning as it goes along.”
Another longtime resident, who didn’t want his name used, believes the toxic gas is just going to keep coming up through the ground in the area.
“I think they’re just wasting their time,” he said.
His father told him a downtown building exploded in 1938, the man said. And he recalls, as a kid, seeing a gas well burning in an alley off Elm Street, near his family’s home. “And they paved over top of it.”
“Obviously, everybody would like to see (recovery) go a lot faster, but it is what it is,” said Jeff Bowman, who chairs the Wheatley Business Improvement Association. “I’m pretty optimistic about Wheatley, in general.”
“It’s sad to see what happened, but you’ve got to see the end product,” he added. “There’s going to be some good that comes out of this and we’re going to be bigger and better.”
Before the explosion, he said Wheatley was a high-growth area in Chatham-Kent with people moving in and a lot of new homes being built.
Noting there are new housing projects on the books, Bowman believes improved interest rates could spur some more growth.
“We’re in a good situation and it will even better when we can get some of these buildings out of the way and they can remedy the well situation,” he said.
Article content
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Windsor Star – https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/wheatley-locals-welcome-razing-of-blast-hit-eyesore-buildings
Why David Brooks Is Choosing to Step Back from Politics-And What It Means