Less than two weeks since a short in Christmas lights ignited a tree in the bakery, causing damage to several neighbouring businesses and apartments, a preliminary engineer’s report found the structure is safe to keep standing.

More detailed information from engineers, and cost estimates for reconstruction, are not yet available. But the owner is serious about maintaining the structure’s historic appearance.

Pinder this week turned his thoughts more closely to the six tenants who lost their homes and all their belongings, without benefit of insurance.

“I feel badly for (Village Bakery owner) Susan (Preston) and her staff but I feel terrible for the residential tenants. People have forgotten about them,” Pinder said.

He noted the bakery had insurance protection while the residents did not.

Impressed by outpouring

Pinder is impressed by the outpouring of community support, but wishes there was more being done for the residential tenants. With that in mind, Pinder and his wife hope to arrange a benefit concert before the end of the month for those tenants.

As far as the building itself goes, Pinder said the reconstruction effort will take a while – potentially eight months. He apologized to the community for the appearance of the building while the necessary assessments and work continues

“My full intention is to bring that building back to its former glory,” Pinder said. “It’s not going to happen fast.”

Neil Fitzpatrick and his wife Stephanie, owners of Fitz & Co. and the building that’s home to it, are dealing with the effects of smoke damage to their property as well.

Fitzpatrick said all the stock inside the home décor shop needs to be replaced, but there’s no telling exactly how long that might take. The store has to be cleaned out, and the smoke smell removed, before new material can even be ordered. Completely restocking a business at one time is a challenge all the damaged stores have to deal with.

He expects the store to be closed until March. Fitzpatrick said residential tenants on the second floor of his building returned home only to be forced out again because the smell of smoke had not been completely removed.

More information about ongoing fundraisers and benefits can be found at the Facebook group Fans of Village Bakery Dundas.