A house on 3rd Street NE, part of the former Manitoba Developmental Centre (MDC) property, was demolished in recent days. A second home, known as the Evergreen House, came down on the morning of September 22. The work has caught the attention of neighbours, sparking new questions about what lies ahead for the shuttered institution, now referred to by its address, Site 840. The province is currently considering repurposing the facility as a permanent evacuation centre for climate-related disasters such as wildfires or floods. The demolition work is not unusual and doesn’t mean a plan for Site 840 has been finalized. Still, the timing has left residents wondering whether these steps are part of preparing the grounds for a new purpose. Over the summer, the building temporarily reopened to shelter wildfire evacuees, proving it could be a safe and stable space in times of crisis. That experience, combined with the province’s stated interest in long-term preparedness, has put the future of the site back into public focus. Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com. PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.