Invitation to tender issued for repairs to fire damaged units on Empire Avenue

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has issued an invitation to tender for interior renovations to four units on Empire Avenue in St. John’s that were damaged by fire in July 2024.

An assessment of the building determined that four of the eight units were salvageable. The other four units were demolished in August 2024, and preservation and repair work were undertaken from August 2024 to June 2025 on the exterior walls and roof of the remaining building, as well as interior abatement and remediation work.

This tender covers a complete interior retrofit of four NLHC units, including finishes, flooring, kitchen and bathroom renovations, as well as plumbing and electrical upgrades. The tender is expected to be awarded this summer, and work will be completed by winter 2026.

A second invitation to tender will be issued later this summer to construct four new homes on the adjoining lot, replacing the four homes that were demolished.

Between April 1, 2023, and April 1, 2025, more than 750 provincially owned homes were vacated. When any provincially owned home is vacated, it requires some level of repair before it can be redistributed to new tenants. This can range from minor work, such as painting, to major and lengthy structural repairs. During this same timeframe, more than 800 homes were refurbished and made available to families.