A ceiling collapse at a housing complex has cost Toronto Community Housing nearly $13 million and counting in repairs.
It’s the fourth such collapse in North America this year.
“We have the opportunity to get ahead of this problem before it becomes a bigger crisis,” said Joe Byrne, chief executive officer of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.
He said the repairs could cost $1.1 million to $1.5 million a month.
CBC Toronto Investigates:
• The price tag on the cost of the ceiling collapse at the Royal York complex, where more than 1,000 residents live, has already reached $13.2 million, $7.6 million of which was paid by the federal and provincial governments, and $5.6 million of which City of Toronto taxpayers paid.
• More than 1,000 residents of Royal York are without heat, and there is a health risk for hundreds of others.
• City taxpayers have spent $2.3 million on repair costs, more than half of which was paid by the province, and another $1.2 million on the Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s share of the repair costs between them.
• The cost of repairs could grow daily. City officials said it’s too early to tell what the total cost will be, but the repairs could total $15 million to $25 million, while other costs could reach $1.1 million a month.
• TCHC officials said in a statement that most of the cost has been paid by the federal and provincial governments, at least in part.
A city spokeswoman said last week the federal and provincial governments share the costs, and the city is responsible for some of the costs.
However, it’s not clear what is still unpaid, if any.
A city spokeswoman said last week the federal and provincial governments share the costs, and the city is responsible for some of the costs. (Mark Blinch/Canadian Press)
BC Housing Corporation also suffered a major roof collapse at a shelter on Tuesday, causing extensive damage.
The incident, at a homeless shelter in Vancouver, began with a loud banging on the side of the building.
The building, a former elementary school, had previously been a home for young people with nowhere else to go.
Officials are investigating the
