Anderton Wall

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Last Updated: June 6, 2025

Project Description:

The City is moving forward with the demolition of the former Anderton Arms, Cona Hostel and Bridge Lounge buildings in spring/summer of 2025. The removal of these buildings is the first step in the Anderton Dike Remediation Project, which includes the removal of the failing retaining wall and a naturalization of the shoreline.

This is an exciting next step in improvements for the CIty of Courtenay's riverfront.

Project updates

  • The contract for demolition has been awarded to Milner Group. Crews are expected to mobilize on site beginning June 9.
  • Work will begin with contractor set up, site preparation and hazardous material abatement.
  • Demolition is expected to be complete by the end of August.

Construction notices

  • There will be periodic closures of Anderton Avenue (on the north side of 5th Street, beside Anderton Arms/Cona Hostel) when right-hand turns off of 5th Street will only be open to transit and emergency services vehicles.
  • Anderton Avenue (on the south side of 5th Street, in front of the Bridge Lounge) will be closed completely for an estimated three-week period in July. Dates TBC.
  • To access the lower Filberg Centre parking lot, drivers will be re-routed via Cliffe Avenue to 1st Street to Anderton Avenue.
  • There will be no closures on 5th Street or the 5th Street Bridge.
  • Demolition work will not impact Canada Day celebrations – requirements are in place to ensure work is not active during this busy time in the neighbourhood.

Community notices

Recent timeline

  • June 2025: Crews begin work on site, beginning with hazardous materials abatement at the Bridge Lounge building. 
  • May 2025: Milner Group is awarded the contract for demolition of the vacant buildings.
  • March 2025: The City is preparing to deolish three buildings near the 5th Street bridge - the Anderton Arms apartment and former Cona Hostel and Bridge Lounge. A tender is expected to be awarded in April, with work to be complete in spring/summer of 2025.
  • January 2025: With tenant relocation complete, plans are underway for the demolition of the Anderton Arms building and former Cona Hostel building in 2025.
  • October 2024: Acquisition of the former Cona Hostel is completed.
  • August-December 2024: Residents of the Anderton Arms building relocate. Support from the M’akola Housing Society for the relocation process is made available by the City and tenants are compensated based on length of tenancy.
  • July 2024: The City acquires the Anderton Arms building to address the safety risk created by the failing wall.
  • December 2023: The City notifies residents and community about the Risk of Failure for the sheet pile section of the Anderton Wall.

Anderton Avenue retaining wall FAQs

Project Status:

Ongoing