After years of decay and growing safety concerns, Trail is moving ahead with the $1.8 million demolition of two derelict downtown buildings — the long-abandoned CS Williams Clinic on Helena Street and the shuttered Trail Mercantile building (former Liquidation World) on Spokane Street.
City council approved the contracts during its April 28 committee of the whole meeting, awarding the work to Local Industrial Partners Limited, a Genelle-based company that submitted the lowest qualified bids for both projects.
The CS Williams Clinic demolition contract is valued at $898,000 before taxes, while the Mercantile demolition contract is set at $856,000.
Including consultant fees, hazardous materials monitoring, and incidental costs, the combined project total rises to approximately $1.83 million.
Both properties have troubled histories. The CS Williams building, once a medical office, has been vacant for years and deteriorating steadily since the city acquired it for $9,200 through a tax sale in 2017.
Since then, while the city has secured the site with boarded windows and a chain link fence, the building has posed a persistent safety risk and an obstacle to downtown revitalization efforts.
“The CS Williams Medical building has sat unused and deteriorating for far too long, posing safety risks and detracting from the overall appearance and potential of Trail’s downtown,” said Chief Administrative Officer Colin McClure.
"Clearing the site is an important step toward unlocking the full redevelopment potential of the block.”
Similarly, the Trail Mercantile building, located at 900 Spokane Street, has been a downtown blight for several years.
The city acquired the property in 2024 through a donation, issuing a tax receipt for $389,000, and soon after began planning for its removal.
A hazardous materials assessment revealed significant concerns, including asbestos-containing materials and lead-based coatings, necessitating careful abatement ahead of demolition.
“This is an essential first step in revitalizing the downtown core and addressing longstanding safety concerns,” McClure added. “Removing the structure will create a clean slate for future development and send a strong signal that positive change is underway.”
The projects align with council’s strategic priorities, including responsible land use, economic renewal, and enhancing community pride.
City staff advised against delaying the demolitions, warning that ongoing deterioration would only increase risks and costs.
Public tenders for both sites attracted strong interest.
The CS Williams project drew four bids, while the Mercantile project attracted six bids ranging from $856,000 to nearly $2 million.
According to the council report, Local Industrial Partners met all insurance, bonding, experience, and certification requirements and provided detailed plans for hazardous materials abatement and demolition.
Another topic raised during the meeting was the Colander Restaurant, the longtime downtown business situated between the two buildings slated for razing.
Ben Gresley-Jones, the city's engineering manager, told council he had been in discussions with the owners and confirmed that the restaurant’s walls are not structurally connected to either building.
He added that the Colander has been supportive and helpful throughout the planning process, understanding that the revitalization of the block will ultimately benefit their business.
Both teardowns are included in Trail’s 2025–2029 Five-Year Financial Plan.
Demolition work is expected to begin next month.
