Uncertain future for the Intelligencer building

The Intelligencer newsroom vacated the building in 2011. Since then the building has sat nearly empty other than a few squatters from time to time. Photo By Logan Somers, QNet News

By Logan Somers

The building that was once the heart of Belleville’s local journalism is now the subject of conversation for locals about its future. They are asking: should it be cleaned up or demolished?

In 2011 The Intelligencer left the building at the southwest corner of Pinnacle and Bridge streets that was their place of operation for over 50 years.

Chris Malette, council member and former employee at the Intelligencer, said the coming of the digital age resulted in less real estate for operations.

Their move came when changes in journalism caused the state of newspapers to decline and the company decided to downsize its operation, he said.

“The dwindling economy on running a newspaper resulted in cutbacks,” Malette said.

The Intelligencer newsroom is located in Century Place, next to the old Intelligencer building.  Since the move, the old building has slowly fallen victim to time. The white and grey tiles that cover the outside of the building have begun to fall apart. Nature has started to take over parts of the exterior. And the once colourful images of newspapers that covered its back have long but faded away.

The building is now owned by Abdul Mian, the founder of Prime Canadian Properties in Stouffville. In a recent article,  Mian has expressed anger and frustration with the city, who have ordered legal action due to the poor condition of the building.

In 2016, the city ordered the owner to either bring the building into compliance or to demolish it. Nothing has taken place.

The front doors have zip-ties with a sign saying “by order of the property standards officer of the city of Belleville.” According to the property standards bylaw, the order is made when there is a safety violation and the building needs repairs to meet the building code.

Brett Forestell, the acting chief building official, said there are orders on the property and the city is working on resolving the issue. He said he could not go into further detail because it’s a legal matter.

City politicians and others say the future of the building is uncertain. Two options have been raised. The first is to clean it up and the second is to demolish it. However, Malette said the building in its current state is uninhabitable for any other business.

“The new owner neglected to turn the water off in the building. And we had a deep freeze some months after that to minus 30, and all the pipes in the building burst,” he said. “That building now is toxic. There are sheets of black mold hanging off the walls. It’s a toxic environment, and the building probably could never be used for another commercial or residential facility. It just simply needs to be demolished.”

Malette added he is sad to see his former workplace fall apart. Whenever he passes the building, he said he is reminded of fond memories of his time there.

“It’s a real pull at the heartstrings because I remember it when it was thriving. You had to have been there to experience how it was to be in that building,” said Malette.

He said he believes after seeing the building left to rot and become home to squatters for many years that the owner may not have an interest in the building.

“We are hoping the owner will finally do the right thing and demolish the building or sell it to someone who is interested in it.”

Frank O’Connor, coordinator for the Photojournalism Program at Loyalist College, and former employee at the Intelligencer, said its really kind of a metaphor for the demise of a local newspaper.

“Nothing lasts forever as much as we wish it will,” said O’Connor.

Malette said he believes the city has some good ideas for the property but is unsure what will happen going forward.

Calls to reach Prime Canadian Properties went unanswered at the time of publication.