The Toronto Star looks at how the businesses turned upside down by a major fire on Queen Street six months ago are coping, and how much progress is being made towards filling the hole in the block. The quick answer? Not much.
On the surface, not much has changed in the six months since a massive six-alarm fire ravaged a historic block of Queen St. W., gutting six businesses and forcing dozens to evacuate in the middle of the night.
Despite an ongoing investigation by the Office of the Fire Marshal, the fire's cause remains a mystery.
Owners of the burnt properties continue to contest bills for more than $40,000 sent by the city to cover the costs of the investigation, though they agreed to pay about $13,000 in demolition expenses.
The block between Portland and Bathurst Sts. is trying to heal, with property owners and city officials eager to see it rise from the ashes. But as they contemplate reconstruction, many of the owners find themselves hobbled by complications like insufficient insurance coverage and looming tax hikes.