City order shows leaning building unsafe since 2014

Crews demolish top floor of structure that was threatening to collapse on Friday

- CALVI LEON AND NATHAN BAWAAN

A stuffed bunny doll suspended on ahook beside a world map on a wall. A red suitcase with its wheels is protruding over the edge of a high shelf.

Those were some of the exposed items visible from the street on Saturday after crews demolished the top floor of a building in the Kensington Market area out of concern the building would collapse. The facade had started to lean over the sidewalk and street on Friday- but residents and city records suggest the building was deemed unsafe as early as 2014.

Emergency crews said they arrived at 606-608 Dundas St. W. on Friday morning following reports that the front wall of the two-storey building was separating from the rest of the structure and beginning to tilt.

The situation forced the evacuation of between six and 10 people and shut down traffic along a stretch of Dundas Street. Hydro was also turned off, affecting nearby residents and business owners, but was restored by early afternoon on Saturday.

Neighbours told the Star that students and at least one family were among the residents who lived in the units on the top floor. A convenience store is located on the ground level.