Sedgewick Landmark building undergoes demolition

On May 3, 1949, an application was made by the Sedgewick Co-op Association for some lots for a Co-op store, and on July 5, 2012, that store was completely demolished.

After a lengthy and painstaking process of planned asbestos removal and a surprise, and unplanned for, vermiculite removal, the All West Demolition team moved in and took the building down in a few hours on Thursday afternoon.

Prior to demolition, the building was just a shell, being supported by temporary posts inside, in fact demolition contractor Dan “Demo Dan” McColman from All West remarked that he was surprised the high winds on Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday had not damaged the building.

“Demo Dan” explained that the plan was to fill the basement area with the debris, then pull down the walls.

Of primary importance prior to demolition was to cover the adjacent Sedgewick Pharmacy roof with plywood to ensure that no stray pieces of wood would cause any damage.

“Even a small piece of lumber that breaks off into a point can penetrate the roof,” McColman said, “and they aren’t paying me to fix that building.”

The other important detail was to make sure the two buildings were not attached in any way, even by a single bolt, McColman said.

McColman is no stranger to demolition, he’s been at it since he was 19, over 30 years ago, when his father insisted he join him.

“I wreck stuff,” he said, “that’s all I do.”

Most recently, All West Construction, McCol-man’s company, got the contract for the demolition of the York Hotel in Edmonton, just this last February.

Read the rest of this story, and see more pictures in the July 10, 2012 Edition of The Community Press!