Residents have faced fear and uncertainty since a concrete roof panel fell on a woman, driving her to hospital on May 27th. Several occupants of the Swansea Mews block H were evacuated shortly after the woman was injured, before it became clear that the issue that caused the roof tile to fall was more widespread.
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Will Johnston, head of the Toronto building, issued a statement banning people from staying in the building. Johnston’s power comes from the Ontario Building Code, which allows him to issue orders that the building poses a threat to health and safety. The story goes on under the ad Helena Szendrei, a resident of Swansea Mews, told Global News that she felt that communication was minimal and “lived in doubt”. “Nobody put anything in my mailbox, no information since the accident happened two doors from my unit,” he said. Trending Stories
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The order lets residents and the city try to find alternative accommodation. The City of Toronto and the Housing Association said plans were under way to relocate residents as quickly and efficiently as possible. No date has been set for their return home. Speaking Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tori said officials moved “very quickly” over the weekend, calling on universities, colleges and homeowners to provide alternative housing in the city. The 36 households that have already agreed to leave Swansea Mews have found temporary accommodation in Humber College dormitories and hotels, according to the city.
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The city said third-party contractors hired to assess the building’s safety found two roof tiles similar to those that fell on May 27th. The story goes on under the ad “This finding means that the risk of another concrete slab falling suddenly and without warning is greater than originally detected,” the city said. Tori said he was told the building’s structural issues could extend “up to the construction of these buildings”. The city of Toronto agreed, saying reports from “original engineers” made the discovery. “I just live in doubt – what will happen the next time our ceiling falls?” said the resident of Szendrei. – with files from Global News’ Caryn Lieberman © 2022 Global News, part of Corus Entertainment Inc.
