Lister Block restoration on track

ady Lister's makeover is being handled with kid gloves.

Internal demolition of the James Street North landmark has been a slow and laboured process. Some 1,000 tonnes of debris -- from pigeon poop to old drywall -- has been removed by hand to protect the 1924 structure.

"It's taken a lot longer because we have to work around the heritage features," said project manager Shawn Marr, who expects the cleanup to be done this summer.

Laborers' International Union of North America and partner Hi-Rise are restoring the Lister Block for the city in a $25-million deal.

Today the city's heritage committee will review applications to restore the building's protected assets, including decorative plaster in the arcade, old marble tiles and outside terra cotta.

If the heritage elements can't be refurbished, they will be replaced with replicas, under the watchful eye of the city's heritage staff.