Cleanup at Manwin Hotel site on hold after asbestos discovery; city exploring title acquisition

A large pile of debris now sits where the Manwin Hotel once stood, and it might be there for a while. Jeff Keele explains.

It will take longer than hoped to clear away the rubble left behind after the Manwin Hotel was engulfed by flames.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) Chief Christian Schmidt said the work is on hold.

“The removal of the debris has been paused temporarily,” Schmidt said on Thursday.

The vacant building burned to the ground Wednesday, a year after the city issued a vacate order over fire safety concerns. An emergency demolition was ordered of what was left and the site was to be cleared, with the costs put on the owner’s property tax bill.

READ MORE: ‘Manwin Hotel being demolished on owner’s dime after fire ripped through historical building’

Now, Schmidt said there is asbestos on site, so provincial approvals are now required before contractors can clean it up.

“They also have to prepare a safety plan. Obviously, asbestos is dangerous stuff,” Schmidt said.

Nick Kasper, president of The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, said the city needs to more to stop these dangerous buildings from going up in flames, like hiring more fire prevention officers.

“My last shift on duty I went to two separate (vacant buildings), and at both of those fires I had crew members fall through the floor,” Kasper said.

The WFPS said they are working to hire more fire inspectors. The city is also bringing in tougher measures to force owners to fix up their properties, like increasing empty building fees, and being able to take title of a property for failure to pay taxes after two years instead of three.

Property and development committee chair Evan Duncan said council has had enough.

“The situation with the Manwin was a great example of ‘we need to do this as quickly as possible,’” Duncan said.

The city is exploring that option with the Manwin. The property department’s chief of enforcement, Kelly Happychuk, said taxes for the property are outstanding.

“Before the city would be in a position to apply to take title through tax sale, we’re looking in excess of another year or more,” Happychuk said.

Main Street Project Executive Director Jamil Mahmood said his organization—which bookends the lot full of debris—is interested in the site.

“We hope that something goes there that provides support for our community, housing or something like that,” Mahmood said on Wednesday.

Mayor Scott Gillingham echoed that sentiment.

“Obviously, they’re right there, they wrap around this site, so we know that in Winnipeg right now we need more housing,” Gillingham said.

CTV News reached out to the Manwin Hotel property owner for comment but have not heard back.