The City of London has issued a safety directive for a recently opened residential high-rise located on the former South Street hospital premises. This action follows a fire incident last week that led to damages compromising the building’s “structural integrity and fire separations” within its electrical room.
City authorities served the order to Medallion Corporation, a Toronto-based company responsible for the 588-unit dual-tower complex known as SoHoSQ at 375 South St. The corporation has been given until Sept. 24 to provide a detailed repair plan following the incident.
As per the order, Medallion must engage a professional, licensed engineer to assess the damage, prepare a report outlining the condition, and propose necessary remedial measures. Failure to address the safety concerns within the specified timeline may lead to further directives prohibiting the building’s use or occupancy, potential legal actions, and substantial fines.
Since the fire on Aug. 20 in the electrical room necessitated the use of large temporary generators to power the building, ongoing investigations are underway. Notably, the fire department was unavailable for immediate comments, citing the need for formal freedom of information requests for details on the incident.
In response to queries, Medallion Corporation has indicated that an engineer is currently on-site investigating the incident to determine the required repairs and timelines for restoring normal building operations. The corporation is working diligently with engineers and contractors to address the situation promptly and efficiently, including exploring interim solutions to minimize disruptions caused by the temporary generators.
Residents, like Bri Watson, have expressed concerns about the noise and disruptions caused by the generators. Watson highlighted existing issues with the property, including past air conditioning failures and water disruptions following the fire incident.
Despite efforts to restore services like hot water and electricity, tenants have faced multiple challenges, including frequent fire alarms and ongoing repair works affecting daily living conditions. Moving forward, residents have been informed of potential power interruptions due to generator refuelling as repairs continue.
While the timeline for complete restoration remains uncertain, some tenants have opted to relocate to alternative accommodations due to ongoing issues within the building. Watson, for instance, shared plans to move to a more affordable apartment downtown, emphasizing the stress and dissatisfaction experienced in the current unit despite its high rental cost.