For nearly two years, city inspectors had flagged unsafe conditions at the now-collapsed buildings beside Hamilton’s Gore Park and issued orders for the property owner to repair the deteriorating roof — a job that was never done.
The orders were issued in February 2023 against Hughson Business Space Corporation and its executive team which own a row of properties at 18 to 28 King St. E., two of which collapsed on Nov. 11, said city spokesperson Lauren Vastano.
The owners didn’t comply with the roof-related orders because structural engineers advised the roof was too unsafe to do the work, said a statement from Hughson Business Space and managing partner David Blanchard.
“The ultimate cause of the building collapse has not been determined,” the statement noted.
In 2023, the owners appealed the city’s roof-related orders and then submitted a plan to redevelop the property, delaying the appeal process, said Vastano.
“As …