David Badrudin, 20, faces one count of arson to one’s own property. He is scheduled to appear in provincial court July 6 — almost one year to the day after the building burned.
The three-storey Queen Anne-style building — located on 185 Waterford Bridge Rd. — was severely damaged when fire broke out on the evening of July 7, 2016.
At the time, Nas Badrudin told The Telegram that he had received a call from the manager, who reported hearing two explosions and that the building was on fire. No one was in the building at the time and no injuries were reported.
A window had been blown out on the second floor, which was doused with water.
Firefighters with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department worked on the building from the back, where a lot of smoke spilled out. They also took a chainsaw to the roof.
The cause of the fire was not reported. The building, which had been standing since 1905, had several propane stoves and fireplaces.
Several prominent businessmen and politicians have lived there, including Sir Edgar Bowring and Peter Cashin.
The Badrudin family had owned the Waterford Manor since 1992.
The building was recognized as a registered heritage structure in May 1993. It was also awarded the Southcott Award for heritage restoration by the Newfoundland Historic Trust.
With files from Louis Power
