A portion of troubled Ajax Plaza – under receivership for nearly six years – will be demolished this week after a fiire swept through the plaza on Feb. 2.
The Town of Ajax’s Chief Building Official issued an Emergency Order for the demolition of 226 Harwood Avenue South following a “significant” fire at the plaza in the early hours of Monday, February 2.
“A structural assessment has determined that the fire severely compromised the building’s structural integrity, making demolition necessary for public safety,” the town said in a news release.
The demolition got underway on Family Day and will wrap up by the end of the week. The work is not anticipated to affect access to other businesses in the plaza, including roads, parking, or entrances.
A third-party demolition company has been retained to manage and carry out the demolition. Additionally, a site engineer will be on site to oversee the demolition and associated safety measures.
Measures will be in place to control dust and reduce noise impact and the demolition area will be marked and fenced off for safety.
The business at 226 Harwood Ave. S. is one of several properties in the plaza currently under receivership, with a court-appointed Receiver is overseeing the management of these properties until a final decision on ownership is made by the courts.
Th commercial plaza, along with the Harwood Plaza (formerly the enclosed Harwood Mall) immediately to the south has been the commercial hub of the town for more than half a century.
Ajax Plaza was preparing for new life with the Central Park Ajax mixed-use project, being developed by LeMine Investment Group, but that project went into receivership in 2021.