NANAIMO — Downtown Nanaimo doesn’t look the same anymore.
Almost a year after a massive fire gutted the Jean Burns building at the intersection of Terminal Ave. and Victoria Cres., it’s been torn down.
Demolition crews began at about 6 a.m. Sunday, March 19.
Craig Palin, who owns the property beside the Jean Burns building, said the tear down was unfortunately necessary.
“Sad to see it happen, but by the same token it’s been an eyesore since (it burned),” he said.
Palin said it was unacceptable having the burned out husk of the building remain standing for so long.
“Between that and the old A&B Sound property, it’s a main intersection in town that’s in dire need of some sort of development.”
There were no plans to rebuild on the site and it is expected to be put up for sale, Crankshaw Holdings operating officer Rick Hyne told NanaimoNewsNOW in February.
According to Hyne, single-lane traffic in the area is a possibility for the coming weeks.
The demolition was scheduled from 6 to 9 a.m. Heavy machinery was at the site until the afternoon.
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