The rumours are being put to rest. The old Humboldt District Hospital building will be coming down, and soon.
Kelvin Fisher of the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) informed the Journal on September 2 that demolition of the former HDH, located on the 1200 block of 9th St., will begin the week of September 12.
"We can't identify a specific date, because that will depend on how much time is required by the contractor to get set up and mobilize the equipment," said Fisher.
"But weather permitting, (the demolition) is tentatively scheduled for that week."
Rumours had been circulating that the old hospital building, constructed in 1955 and replaced by the new Humboldt District Health Complex, which was completed this year, would not be demolished.
But that is not the case.
"I am able to dispel any rumours," Fisher said. "It is definitely coming down."
The week window of time is the best the SHR can report right now, Fisher noted. The contractor who will be doing the demolition has to complete another job prior to moving the equipment to the hospital site, so it will not happen before that week, he added.
"We know the demolition will occur sometime during that week... At this point, we expect the demolition to take a few days. And the contractor will be on site for a couple of weeks, processing and removing debris," Fisher explained.
Noise and dust will be generated by the demolition, Fisher added, so the SHR is advising people in the immediate area around the building to close their windows, and cover any outside items that could be impacted by the dust.
The SHR is asking residents who wish to observe the demolition to remain a safe distance from the site, and to follow all the safety instructions provided.
This summer, a previously set date for the demolition passed without it occurring due to delays, the SHR reported.
