Abandoned Pointe-Claire strip mall torn down

An abandoned, unsellable strip mall in Pointe-Claire isfinally being torn down.

Pointe-Claire residents considered the nearly 60-year-old strip mall at DoneganiAvenueand Sources Boulevardaneyesore.

It fell into decline in the 1990s and has been vacant for six years.

By noon Wednesday, most of the front of the building had already been torn down and crews were working on the rest.

Locals hopeful for area revival

Business owners in the area said they were looking forward to businesses moving in which would be able to attract more shoppers.

Kevin Stocker, manager ofFrasers Source For Sports onDoneganiAvenue, has been in the area for 40 years and said the condemned strip mallused to be a nice place to shop.

"It's a sad loss,"Stocker said."Hopefully something will be built that will help the community."

Moving forward

The demolition gives potential buyers a fresh start because now they can do whatever they want with the area.

The property is zoned commercial, but that could change if the city likes the proposal of a potential buyer.

The mall has been up for sale for a while but offers hadfallen through when it wasinspected, Jim Parsons, a real estate broker forReMaxRoyal Jordantold CBC News.

The $3.7-millionlisting had mainly attracted offers from developers looking to build a combined residential and commercial property.