MUMBAI, July 8 -- The BMC has put forth a proposal to the deputy municipal commissioner to appoint a contractor to demolish the 129-year-old Vikas Premises Cooperative society in Fort, which also houses the popular Parsi restaurant, Jimmy Boy, on the ground floor. Despite the civic body's insistence on urgently razing the structure, citing its "dilapidated and dangerous" condition, the building's residents remain defiant. They continue to hold out hope for a resolution that preserves both heritage and history. Last Wednesday, the Bombay high court dismissed a petition filed by the building's occupants, which had challenged the BMC's evacuation and demolition notices issued after the building was officially declared "dilapidated and ruinous". The court emphasised that public safety and preservation of life must take precedence over property concerns. Following the court ruling, the BMC issued a fresh notice to the building's owners, reiterating the need to vacate and demolish the property. "We expected them to comply," said a civic official from the BMC's A Ward. "Meanwhile we have launched the process to appoint a contractor for the demolition. If they fail to demolish, we will do it on our own." The official confirmed that all 37 members of the four-storey society had vacated the premises as reported to the court. The cost of demolition is to be recovered from the society. However, the official noted that if the salvageable debris is of significant value, contractors often waive demolition charges for both the BMC and property owners. "It depends on the contractor and the debris collected," the official added. Despite the legal setback and the building being declared unsafe, Sherzad Irani, owner of Jimmy Boy, stated that demolition was not a certainty and that the restaurant had no plans to shut down, as it will hit a century this September. "All 37 residents are in discussions about the next steps," he told HT. "This place holds a lot of memories. It's easy to move the restaurant elsewhere, but the place itself is iconic." To maintain operations, Jimmy Boy is currently serving food from its Afghan Church outlet to offices in Fort. There is also a Mahim-based cloud kitchen from where the traditional Parsi food is dispatched through food delivery apps. Asked about the feasibility of demolition, Irani pushed back strongly. "If this building is unsafe, then so are all buildings from Bora Bazar to Colaba Market," he said. "This is just a phase, and we will come out of it." Irani acknowledged that redevelopment in Fort, a heritage precinct, is not easy. "This is an ownership society with no single landlord," he said. "All 37 members are owners and decision-makers. We have always been in favour of undertaking 70% repairs. We are working on a solution."...