Demolition of one of the capital city’s worst eye sores officially began today.

The old Grace Hospital nursing residence has been sitting derelict for decades, attracting urban explorers, vandals and vermin.

Local residents and businesses have long expressed the desire to have the multi-level building removed.

Inflector Environmental, an Ottawa-based remediation company has been on site for the last few months preparing the building for demolition. The $2.5 million contract includes hazardous material abatement and disposal, pest control, building demolition, site security, and removal of building service lines.

Transportation Minister John Abbott was on hand as crews took their first whacks at the building. He says it will be another few weeks before the building is fully knocked down.

He says there’s about a months work left, which will keep them on the timeline to have the project finished by the end of March.