Traffic flow is back to normal on Water Street West as crews have completed the demolition of the former Arcade building yesterday. Threat of collaspe of the Arcade forced the closure of a section of Water Street between Adelaide Street and Waldegrave Street for almost two weeks. The street is now fully functional again.

The businesses affected by the demolition of the former Arcade building are now re-open. The construction engineer gave the occupants of the Templeton's building the go-ahead to re-open for business today.

Templeton's - Ace Hardware, Water Street Pharmacy, H&R Block and the offices of the HRE are re-open. The immediate section of Water Street remains closed until the front portion of the Arcade building is removed. The street is anticipated to re-open shortly.

The ongoing demolition of the former Arcade building has forced the closure of several businesses in the immediate area. Tentants of the Templeton's building have been evactuated by provincial inspectors at the WHSCC. Templeton's - Ace Hardware, H&R Block, Water Street Pharmacy, J.W. Allan's and offices of the department of HRE have all been closed. Services are being offered to clients and customers through other departments and store locations. Customers are encouraged to call the respective business numbers for more information.

David Blackmore, the city's director of building and property management, has informed the DDC that at this time, the demolition contractor has met with his engineer to develop a plan to safely remove the remaining structure. The plan is now being reviewed by provincial inspectors with WHSCC. Once they approve the plan work to remove the building will occur immediately.

The Arcade building portion of Water Street remains closed to vehicular traffic from Adelaide Street to Waldegrave Street. However, access to businesses such as Quiznos, Big Bite Pizza and those located in the Post Office building can be gained from Queen Street off New Gower Street and the western section of George Street.

Please note the section of Water Street between Waldergrave Street and Becks Cove has been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic. The portion of Water Street between Beck's Cove and Adelaide Street will reopen Wednesday morning but traffic will be detoured back to Beck's Cove onto Harbour Drive starting at 3:30 pm until the end of rush hour.

The City of St. John's has placed vehicular restrictions on this portion of Water Street due to the impeding collapse of the Arcade building front facade.

More information will be posted as it becomes available from the City of St. John's at 754 CITY.

Motorists are advised that snow removal and/or street widening operations are in effect tonight. Beginning at 1:00 am and continuing until 7:00 am, Wednesday, March 9, 2005 snow will be removed or plowed on the following 10 streets.

1. New Gower Street
2. Duckworth Street
3. Queen's Road
4. Bates Hill
5. Cathedral Street
6. Church Hill
7. Holloway Street
8. Garrison Hill
9. Pilot's Hill
10. Adelaide Street

All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period. Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner's expense. The impounding fee is $109.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.

Motorists are advised that snow removal and/or street widening operations are in effect tonight. Beginning at 1:00 am and continuing until 7:00 am, Tuesday, March 8, 2005 snow will be removed or plowed on the following 9 streets.

1. Water Street (Waldegrave St to Temperance St)
2. Harbour Drive
3. McBride's Hill
4. St. John's Lane
5. Hill O'Chips
6. Baird's (Clift's) Cove
7. Beck's Cove
8. Bishop's Cove
9. Ayre's Cove

All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period. Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner's expense. The impounding fee is $109.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.

In a deal the City of St. John's says will not require a taxpayer subsidy, the Fog Devils will play next fall in Mile One stadium after all.

After weeks of trading barbs and bitter looks, city-owned St. John's Sports and Entertainment and the Fog Devils showed nothing but smiles as they announced the deal late Thursday at center ice at Mile One.

Developer Derm Dobbin, whose group beat out St. John's Sports and Entertainment's own bid last fall for a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise, says both sides agreed to ease up on their demands.

Three weeks ago, when talks between the two sides collapsed, Dobbin said the city was effectively asking his team – which will play 40 nights a year in Mile One – to 365 days' worth of operating expenses.

St. John's Sports and Entertainment said Dobbin was expecting a taxpayer subsidy to run his team, and was demanding profits from advertising at the stadium.

Now, the two sides have agreed to compromise.

"It was more give and take," says Dobbin.

The new deal will see the two sides share profits equally, with the Fog Devils responsible for any losses.

Coun. Keith Coombs, who chairs St. John's Sports and Entertainment, says Mile One's operating deficit will not worsen under the deal.

Mile One has been running a deficit since it opened in 2001.

"The city has met its objective of ensuring there's no subsidy," Coombs said.

The Fog Devils will play out of Mile One for the next five years, and possibly longer.

Dobbin says his first move will be to start contacting all the team staff he laid off three weeks ago.

The Fog Devils become the anchor tenant in Mile One stadium, which was built in large part to accommodate the St. John's Maple Leafs.

However, the parent Toronto Maple Leafs, which lobbied hard for a new stadium, decided last year to withdraw its farm team and relocate it to Toronto.

The Baby Leafs will leave St. John's once the current American Hockey League season is over.

WebPosted Mar 3 2005 08:24 PM NST
CBC News

Labour Minister Joan Burke has announced a break for small businesses in making their workers compensation assessment payments. Burke says companies with an assessment of less than $54 thousand will be able to pay through electronic funds transfer over seven months, from April to October, interest free.

Until now the entire assessment was due on April 1st, with late payments subject to an interest rate of 'prime plus five per cent'. Burke says the new arrangement is an interim measure, since a major overhaul of the current assessment and reporting system is in the works for January 2007. The commission will be holding consultations with employers on what they'd prefer to see in the long-term.

For more information visit www.whscc.nf.ca

Excerpt from VOCM News, March 4, 2005