Possible building collapse troubling Daniel McIntyre residents

Bricks are falling off a five-storey building in Winnipeg’s Daniel McIntyre neighbourhood, with residents concerned it could collapse at any moment.

The City of Winnipeg confirms it is looking into the vacant building on McDermot Avenue, but that’s not easing the residents’ fears.

“There’s a big hole, you can see inside, and my dad said the roof is even caving in,” said Alyssa Jordan, who lives in the building next door.

The building at 579 McDermot Avenue was being renovated, but residents say crews left more than two weeks ago and have not returned. They add the building started to show severe deterioration like cracks and signs of caving in.

It’s constantly keeping them on edge.

“We hear big crashes, we hear loud noises, and it scares me of falling down,” said Jordan.

Brad, who recently moved next door to 579 McDermot, says workers installed cinderblocks on the base of the building, before it was excavated and left open for eight months.

“See those blocks,” he said. “They were sitting level with the ground and that crack running along the building wasn’t there.”

Over the past few weeks, Brad says he has been seeing bricks and windows fall from the building on a regular basis. He claims he overheard engineers discussing concerns about the structural integrity of the building.

“We’re just really concerned if one of the little bricks lets go, then one of those major granite stills is gonna come cartwheeling down, bounce off those blocks and come cartwheeling our way, or the whole wall comes down,” he said.

City officials tell CityNews they were recently made aware of potential structural issues and are in contact with the owner and their engineer. If there is an urgent concern, they will be in contact with nearby residents.

CityNews contacted the building owner, who declined to comment.

Neither Jordan nor Brad want to evacuate, but if they have to, they want to be informed as soon as possible.

“I’m hoping they make a decision here sooner or later,” Brad said. “As far as I’m told, they don’t know if they want to save it or it’s going to come down. I think it’s got to come down, but if we need to be evacuated, let’s get it over or get it done.”

Brad says he would be open to workers building a blockade or fence next to his home for protection.

The building is located next to École Sacré-Coeur School. CityNews reached out to the school for comment but did not immediately hear back.