Cavan Street File Factory following fire, taken July 14, 2024
The Town of Port Hope is moving ahead with remediation work at the former file factory property on Cavan Street, with the costs of the work to be added to the property owner’s tax bill.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky made the announcement following a closed session meeting Tuesday, saying council has authorized municipal staff to proceed with remediation work at 121 Cavan Street under the town’s property standards bylaw.
Hankivsky says that, in accordance with municipal bylaws and policies, any costs associated with the remediation will be added to the property owner’s tax bill.
Municipal staff have also been directed to provide council with a status update at its August 11 meeting.
The mostly derelict riverside property has been the subject of ongoing safety and structural concerns. Port Hope firefighters responded to a fire at the building early on June 16, with crews initially battling the blaze from outside the structure. Cobourg firefighters were also called in to assist.
It was the second fire at the property in less than two years. The building was heavily damaged by a fire in July 2024, following the start of a planned demolition that had been deemed necessary after bricks began falling from the structure onto the roadway below.
The more than 170-year-old building was considered a heritage structure in Port Hope. Council later approved a heritage permit allowing the demolition of the building’s centre block, while concerns about the property’s structural integrity and proximity to Cavan Street led to road closures and other safety measures.
The property’s owner had previously said plans to repurpose the historic structure were no longer viable, while the site’s location near the Ganaraska River flood plain also presented challenges for potential residential development.
The investigation into last month’s fire remains ongoing. The cause of the 2024 fire was never determined.
(Written by: Branden Rushton)
