TRENTON, N.S. — More buildings will be torn down at the former DSTN property.
Nova Scotia Lands says a tender has been awarded for the demolition of the former A and B shop building at what is now the Trenton Commercial Park, and work on the site should begin in the coming weeks.
The A and B shop buildings (9,187 square meters and 10,856 square meters respectively) had structural damage to the roof and the corner of one of the buildings, when NS Lands first took ownership in 2018. It further sustained damage this fall during Hurricane Dorian in September and a bad wind storm in November, according to David MacNeil, director of business parks and land management at Nova Scotia Lands, a Provincial Crown corporation.
“It just became really bad, and you could see daylight through several parts of the roof,” MacNeil said.
He said the building’s roof is made of wooden slats and is believed to have first been built around 1918.
NS Lands took ownership of the land in September 2018 after DSME closed, and the province was unable to sell it. Prior to being used to build wind turbines, the mammoth facility had operated as a rail car factory. At its peak, it employed more than 1,000 people. At one time the buildings combined spanned 430,000-square-foot on 116 acres of land. Equipment was auctioned off in November 2018 and since that time, numerous buildings have been razed, including the former C and D shop.
A market value assessment was done on the site last summer which showed that the land the A and B buildings were on was valued at $1 in their current state and $100,000 as just a concrete slab, which is what it will be post-demolition.
The tender for demolition has been awarded to Pictou County’s Verhagen Demolition at a cost of $120,000.
Trenton Mayor Shannon MacInnis said he was aware that the buildings would be demolished, but is planning to ask Nova Scotia Lands more about their plans to ensure that there is truly no way to save the buildings.
“I’m still not 100 per cent sure if it’s a good idea,” he said.
But, he said if it is true that the building is beyond repair, the town will not hold up the province’s progress. He was expecting to get more information about the demolition plans from Nova Scotia Lands on Friday afternoon, Jan. 24.
Still, seeing the former plant demolished piece by piece is sad for many who have been long-time residents of the town.
“The history keeps going,” MacInnis said.
He believes the town has to look at the positive side, however, and the potential that the property could hold for future development.
MacNeil said they have had steady interest in the property, although no deals have been finalized to date.
“We show it regularly and interest is expressed,” MacNeil said.
He noted that no serious interest was ever shown in the A and B buildings.
There will be just three buildings remaining on the property once this most recent demolition is completed.
