Demolition has begun at the former Rumpel Felt factory in downtown Kitchener. Crews will be removing the more modern sections of the building at 60 Victoria Street North to prepare for construction of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub. The region said the newly cleared space will be used for the bus loop entrance and a passenger pickup and drop-off area. Non-heritage elements of the structure will be preserved. The Rumpel Felt factory was built by shoemaker George Rumpel in 1913, when the city was still called Berlin. Additions were made to the structure in 1942, 1962 and 1968. The region said crews will preserve the original or heritage sections of the factory. The demolition began on Nov. 12 and is expected to continue until next March. Waterloo Region said they received approval from the Canadian Wildlife Service to modify a chimney on the property, preserving it as a home for Chimney Swifts. The structure will be shortened and reinforced. Chimney Swifts are a species of bird that are considered to be “threatened” in Ontario. That means they are not currently endangered, but they could reach that status if steps are not taken to protect their population.
