Grimsby's downtown core may soon return to normal after a devastating blaze.
The fire on July 6th ripped through buildings, displacing tenants and leaving business owners in the lurch.
The damage was so extensive the buildings were deemed unsafe and the roads were closed as a safety precaution in case debris plummeted off the structures.
Since then, commuters have been frustrated as those roads remain closed. Grimsby Regional Councillor Tony Quirk understands that frustration, but says there were a lot of different elements at play.
"They are three older buildings so there is also the concern of when we start demolition, do we have an asbestos issue? Do we have to worry about special things we have to do when we can't just start knocking things down and creating a lot of dust."
Insurance issues also came to light; tenants and buildings owners all had to deal with their respective insurance companies.
Quirk says there is light at the end of the tunnel:
"My understanding is demolition is supposed to start today - it should take a week or less to get that site cleared up enough where we can reopen the roads. We can get the Farmer's Market - which has been working really well at our town hall - but back into the downtown."
No one was hurt during the six hour blaze, but an apartment above the Dressing Room Salon and Day Spa was completely destroyed along with the salon, the Yoga Truly studio, and the Pic Plus photo shop.