Three vacant buildings on the Courtenay River will be demolished this summer.

Demolition of the former Anderton Arms, Cona Hostel and the Bridge Lounge on Anderton Avenue and 5th Street will start this month and is expected to be complete by the end of August.

Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells says it’s an important step in the wide-ranging work underway to improve the downtown area.

The City has owned the former nightclub building since 2016 and took ownership of the apartment building and hostel last year due to safety concerns related to the adjacent retaining wall, which is failing.

Demolishing the buildings is the first step in removing the wall, before it can be removed and the shoreline naturalized.

There will be traffic pattern changes along Anderton Avenue during construction, however 5th Street and the 5th Street Bridge will not be impacted.

Details about closures will be shared on the project webpage and social media as they become available.

The City says it’s part of the long-term vision for Courtenay’s downtown hub.

Related efforts include upcoming construction of the 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge, planned improvements to 6th Street as part of the Active Corridor project and the Downtown Vitalization Local Area Plan process now underway.

Read the full press release at City of Courtenay.