Repairs are underway at the Exchange District Heritage Building after the city warned of a potential collapse

Renovation is underway at a cultural heritage building in the Winnipeg swap area after a city inspector warned it could collapse.

The city ordered immediate repairs in May on 92 Arthur Street – a six-story heritage building officially known as the southern part of the Golt block – after an inspection of the building found a heavily crushed beam supporting the top floor of the 119-year-old structure.

A civil engineer hired by the building’s owner, Denis Boyko, announced the damage to the city, which issued an order to “reduce the dangerous condition” on May 12th.

Boyko continued to support the sixth floor, but also appealed the order, arguing that the city exaggerated the risk of collapse.

“I can’t figure out how the only insufficient beam can shoot [or] blew up an entire building, “he told the city council’s property committee during a hearing on Tuesday.

“Has there ever been a building collapse in the history of Winnipeg?”

The council’s property committee rejected his appeal, although chairman Cindy Gilroy expressed sympathy for Boyko and other heritage owners.

“I think it’s a struggle for many, many people to make sure they can afford the support they need,” said adviser Daniel McIntyre.

“However, when it comes to safety, they need to make sure that the maximum safety of the people in the building is at the forefront of everything.”

Boyko, who declined an official interview, said the crushed beam was damaged by rainwater intrusion. He told the real estate committee that a week-long closure ordered by the city cost his retail business, the Red River Book Store, thousands of dollars in sales.

The Gault block is best known for the tunnel that runs through its middle section, connecting Arthur Street with King Street.

The first four floors on the north side of the block, which has a separate owner, were built in 1900, according to Heritage Winnipeg. In 1903 a two-storey annex and the six-storey southern block were added.

The Red River Book Store is the main business in the southern part of the Gault block. The north side of the block, which overlooks the Old Market Square, is home to Artspace and Cinematheque.