The troubled Kensington Manor at 321 10th Street NW will be permanently erased from the streetscape by the new year, the City says. The building's owner has elected to file an application to demolish the complex, citing the difficulty in repairing the unstable apartment tower, which was evacuated on a chilly November evening due to concerns over its structural integrity.
The owners were given until June 30 to decide the fate of the seven-storey building, which City officials believe is also riddled with asbestos, in addition to its severe structural issues. All traces of asbestos will need to be removed before demolition can begin.
Over 100 residents were forced to immediately leave the premises on November 23 following an engineer's stern assessment that the building was in danger of "possible imminent collapse." Businesses on the ground floor also had to close up shop when the order came in. Since then, the building has been shored up with approximately 800 trusses. The City has been sending security and an engineer to check in on the shoring.
The demolition permit gives a December 30 deadline to complete work. All demolition and future reconstruction costs are being covered by the building owners.