The city of Cranbrook has issued a demolition order for the former Knight’s Hall building due to structural safety concerns.
City officials said staff are setting up fencing around the building to keep the site secure and prohibit entry.
“Investigators with Fire and Emergency Service and a Structural Engineer determined that the former Knight’s Hall, which because of the fire, has become a structurally unsafe building that poses a risk of collapse danger to the adjacent public sidewalk and roadway,” said city staff.
A portion of King Street will be reduced to a single lane and the sidewalk in front of the property will be closed until further notice.
City officials said the building was declared a nuisance on Dec. 22, 2023, as council considers it a safety hazard.
Under the order, the property owner must completely demolish the building by Dec 27.
“The owner has an ability to ask for Council reconsideration. If the owner does not receive reconsideration or complete this work the City will demolish the building,” said city officials. “This order to demolish is also required for investigators to be able to safely conduct and complete the fire investigation.”
This follows a fire that broke out in the building early in the morning on Dec 19.
“Upon arrival, fire crews discovered fire showing from the second story of the building, where the fire quickly spread throughout. At the time of the fire, there was no heat or power in the building, due to the considerable damage caused by a fire at this location in November of 2022,” said city staff.
“The building was under an order to be secured from entry since November as it was deemed unsafe for entry at the time of the first fire. The second fire has now made the entire building structurally unsafe and a hazard to the public sidewalk and roadway.”
