Nova Scotia·NewA Cape Breton regional councillor wants to start discussions with other levels of government about a desire to demolish and replace a long-abandoned building in North Sydney, N.S. Petition calls on all three levels of government to transform neglected site into a community hubErin Pottie · CBC News · Posted: Nov 20, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Coun. Earlene MacMullin says this large building in North Sydney has been vandalized and contains hazardous materials. She’s worried someone will get hurt breaking into the building to hang out or find shelter. (Erin Pottie/CBC)A Cape Breton regional councillor wants discussions started with other levels of government about having a long-abandoned former federal building in North Sydney, N.S., demolished and replaced.Earlene MacMullin, who represents District 2, says the old Canada Post office building on Archibald Avenue, which is now privately owned, has been sitting empty for more than a decade. “Nothing’s ever been done,” said MacMullin. “It continues to deteriorate and it’s a danger to our community. It had signage for biohazards because of the open asbestos.”The councillor said Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s annual budget for getting rid of derelict buildings is $120,000, while it’s estimated it would cost up to a half-million dollars to tear down the post office building.“They sold the building without any kind of remediation. When the building was purchased, it was left in the hands of the new owner who then realized the astronomical cost to have it fixed up so that it could be habitable.”The building’s owners did not respond to CBC’s request for an interview.MacMullin has started a petition calling on the provincial and federal governments to work with CBRM on removing the “contaminated eyesore.” More than 800 people have signed the petition to date. The councillor said she believes the municipality would be interested in acquiring the property if money to fix it becomes available, but she noted no conversations have yet taken place with the owners. Angela Iannetti, who has lived across the street from the building for three decades, said it’s often a target of vandals and trespassers. ‘Maybe we need a bigger petition’“I’ve witnessed bricks going through the windows. I have witnessed people running on top of the building, graffiti all over it,” said Iannetti. “It’s just been deteriorating from Day 1 since it [was last] used as a post office.”Iannetti, though, said at least 10 properties in North Sydney are in equally bad or worse shape than the post office. She wants restrictions put in place that would hold a buyer accountable for fixing up buildings that are often purchased at tax sales for well below market value. “They’re hazardous. They’re properties where young children could really be seriously hurt,” she said.“So maybe we need a bigger petition. Maybe we need a petition for more than just the post office.”In her petition, MacMullin said she wants to see the Archibald Avenue building replaced with a “vibrant community gathering and entertainment space” for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.She said the structure is close to nearby shops and is often broken into by young people looking for a place to hang out or homeless people seeking shelter. “I’m nervous for their health and safety,” she said. “It’s a terrible building to have in your area.”Nova Scotia’s Department of Municipal Affairs said it provides programs and funding to municipalities, noting local governments are responsible for dealing with unsightly and derelict buildings.“We always encourage municipalities to be proactive and to optimize the opportunities available to them through such mechanisms as tax collection, by-law enforcement, tax sales, etc.,” municipal affairs spokesperson Heather Fairbairn said in an emailed statement. There are roughly 400 vacant buildings in the CBRM, about 10 per cent of which are former commercial offices. For years, the municipality has been trying to reduce the number of abandoned homes by demolishing more than a dozen buildings a year.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORErin Pottie is a CBC reporter based in Sydney. She has been covering local news in Cape Breton for more than 20 years. Story ideas welcome at erin.pottie@cbc.ca.
North Sydney councillor wants to get rid of ‘contaminated eyesore
