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Supply-chain issues delay restoration of downtown eyesore

‘It will be great to see this property revitalized and become an attractive storefront on Queen Street once again’ - Tom Vair, deputy city CAO
328 Queen Street East
328 Queen Street East, as photographed in March, 2022

Carmen Muto Plumbing and Heating Inc. will be allowed more time to repair the facade of one of downtown's worst eyesores, city council decided this week.

Extensively damaged in a 2009 fire and vacant ever since, 328 Queen St. E. was sold to Muto by the city last year for a bargain-basement price of $1,200.

The city acquired the building through a tax-sale process in 2019 and had been under pressure from downtown business owners to either fix it or demolish it.

Muto committed to finish work on the exterior facade within six months, and to wrap up the extensive interior construction needed within two-and-a-half years.

But supply-chain problems got in the way.

Specifically, Muto is waiting on windows.

"City staff visited the site and also had conversations with Mr. Muto regarding the property," says Tom Vair, the city's deputy chief executive officer for community development and enterprise services. 

"Significant work has been completed on the brick work at the street level of the building," Vair said in a report to Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and councillors.

"Mr. Muto has windows on order, however, supply-chain issues have caused delay in receiving and installing the windows," Vair added.

"In addition, Mr. Muto has secured a lease for the commercial space at the street level and will be advancing significant renovations in the property in the coming months.

"For these reasons, staff is comfortable in recommending the removal of the restrictive covenant for the facade work," Vair said

In addition to the commercial storefront, Muto is planning to build three rental apartments on the building's upper level, with one apartment on the main floor, on the King Street side of the building.

When the structure was sold to Muto last March, the only other bidder was Joe Greco, who offered one dollar with intention to demolish it to provide more parking for his nearby Queenstown IDA store.

Cost of demolition was estimated at $80,000.

The city's insurance adjuster estimated the cost of fixing the derelict structure at a minimum of $200 per square foot.

"It will be great to see this property revitalized and become an attractive storefront on Queen Street once again," Vair said.

As council voted to release Muto from the facade-completion requirement, the only comment was from Ward 2 Coun. Luke Dufour: "I just wanted to publicly thank members of city staff who worked to keep this property from being demolished," he said.

"It's really important to Queen Street to have all of our blocks remain filled in. I know I don't like to see holes in there. I don't think it's good for the look of the city or the look of Queen Street.

"I really appreciate the effort that was made to find a good ownership home for this building. It's great to see the work happening there to revitalize what I think is an important piece of Queen Street."


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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