Demolition work begins this week on 16 homes destroyed in Cape Breton floods

Nearly a year after a flood inundated neighbourhoods in Sydney and GlaceBay, demolition is set to begin on 16homes.

People driven from 14 houses in the Sydney areaon Thanksgiving Day in 2016have been contacted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewalto advise them of the pending work. A duplex in Glace Bay will also be brought down.

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Ronald Mader, 69, came to the neighbourhood anticipating some action on Monday, but demolition work hadn't started. He's ready for his former home to be brought down.

"It's been a while now, so I think I'm slowly adjusted to it," said Mader. "Once it's gone, it's gone. It's inevitable, it's going to happen."

Mader has found a new home in an apartment complex for seniors.

Wayne Martin is remembering the good times he shared with his wife's family in their home on Royal Avenue.

"Beautiful little place," he recalled. "I always liked the place and when I finally got a chance to buy it, I was very happy to get it."

The Martins renovated the homeabout 18 months before the flood.

They've since settled in a new home.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's over with. We're never getting back here," said Martin.

"Take them down, get it over with. We're done."

Municipal Affairs Minister Derek Mombourquette, who represents the riding that includes the flood zone, said officials from the Infrastructure Departmentare finalizing detailswith the company that won the $560,000 tender for the demolition.

"They're in the process of mapping out the demolition schedule and the work will all be progressing this week," he said.

Project timeline

The project is expected to be finished by the end of October, and that includes removing all materials from the sites and remediation of the properties.

Both Mader and Martin think the soon-to-vacant properties should be turned into parkland, but the municipality has not settled on a plan.

"After this process, we'll have a conversation with the city to determine what the future use of the area will be," said Mombourquette.