Just over one year after dozens of residents were displaced by a devastating apartment fire in Chatham, restoration of the building is nearing completion.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said only 14 units remain under renovation at 99 McNaughton Ave. W out of the 120 total units in the building. As well, all major mechanical systems have been repaired or replaced, and the building has been brought back up to code, ensuring all safety requirements have been met.
Municipal officials said the remaining units needing repair are expected to be ready for tenants beginning on November 1.
More than 100 residents living at the municipally owned building were left homeless due to the fire on August 25, 2024. Since then, the recovery process has involved multiple municipal departments, including CK Fire & Rescue Services, Health and Human Services, and Infrastructure and Engineering Services.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the restoration process at 99 McNaughton has been a massive undertaking.
“I’m proud of the progress that’s been made to bring residents home,” he said in a news release. “This building is once again a safe and secure place for our residents. We will continue to support tenants until every unit is complete.”
As repairs were made, the affected tenants who could not return to their unit were offered another unit within the municipality’s housing portfolio, or a rent subsidy so they could maintain market rent in the private market. All tenants who have not yet returned to their apartments have made alternate housing arrangements through Chatham-Kent Housing Services.