Empty lot where heritage building once stood at 335 Yonge Street

Major structural repairs to three floors at 200 Wellesley Street East

Cleaning up: Two fires that made headlines four months apart have left their mark on downtown Toronto. The heritage building at 335 Yonge Street that was irreparably damaged in a fire early in January has been completely demolished; all that remains is an empty lot where the historic structure used to stand, and scorch marks on the walls of the 10 Dundas Street East entertainment complex and HMV store next door. The only good news — for drivers and pedestrians, anyways — is that the road and sidewalks should be re-opened for full regular traffic soon, for the first time since part of the brick facade of 335 Yonge collapsed onto Gould Street last April.  Hoarding that surrounded the site was removed this week, and barricades that restricted vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the east side of Yonge Street should be dismantled shortly. What will become of the property now that the fire debris has been cleared away remains to be seen. Meanwhile, major structural surgery is being performed on the exterior skin of 200 Wellesley Street East as cleanup continues on damage from a September blaze that displaced hundreds of residents from their apartments. A three-storey-tall section of the building’s west wall has been cut away, and crews have been working for weeks on major repairs to at least three balconies. Looks like it will be many weeks, if not months, before several dozen residents will be able to return to their homes (most tenants have been allowed back in). Below are photos taken this week at each of the two fire scenes.

Yonge Street view of 335 Yonge Street fire site on February 3

Yonge Street view of 335 Yonge Street fire site on February 3

Gould Street view of 335 Yonge Street on February 3

200 Wellesley Street East fire repairs on February 1

200 Wellesley Street East fire repairs on February 1

200 Wellesley Street East fire repairs on February 1