Heritage building destroyed by fire will be demolished in just 2 days: City of Vancouver

The demolition of a Vancouver heritage building destroyed in a fire that left dozens without a home earlier this month begins this week.

The demolition of a Vancouver heritage building destroyed in a fire that left dozens without a home earlier this month begins this week.

Saul Schwebs, the City of Vancouver's chief building official, spoke to media at a news conference ahead of the major tear-down, explaining what those in the area need to know and how the process will work.

Schwebs said the process of demolishing the four-storey brick building in the city's Gastown neighbourhood is expected to take just two days, meaning this stage of the project should be completed by Thursday evening.

Equipment is expected to arrive Tuesday, and the actual work will start Wednesday morning.

During that time, the streets, sidewalks and buildings in the area popular with tourists and locals for its shops, bars and restaurants will be closed for safety reasons.

The earliest estimate of reopening, following demolition and cleanup, is Friday, he said.

"The city will make every effort to finish the demolition process as quickly as possible, with all safety precautions in place," he told reporters gathered near the scene of the fire on Abbott and Water streets.