The old Eremenko building in downtown Castlegar is finally coming down.
The City of Castlegar has posted a request for proposals (RFP) on BCBid for the demolition, removal and proper disposal (including hazardous and restricted materials such as asbestos) of the buildings at 310 Columbia Ave. and 1224 3rd St. as well as site restoration at the property.
With the help of a Columbia Basin Trust grant, the city purchased the property in the spring of 2021 with plans to replace the derelict building with a mixed-use project that would include a new space for the Kootenay Gallery of Art and 30-to-50 housing units.
The building was built in 1948 and has housed a variety of stores over the years and was once used as a gymnastics studio. It also included apartments on the top floor.
In 2022, city council approved an expression of interest from Steel River Group (SRG) and Lu’ma Native Housing Society (LNHS) to develop the project. But funding for the project has yet to materialize.
The full RFP can be found online at BCbid.gov.bc.ca.
The RFP closes on June 20 and the city expects to award the contract in mid-July.
