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Derelict property ordered demolished

Councillors lined up to blast the derelict and unsafe building at 231 and 233 George Street, before unanimously ordering it demolished at Monday night's city council meeting.
GeorgeSt.Laundromat.2.jpg
The old laundromat on George Street. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten June 30 2015

Councillors lined up to blast the derelict and unsafe building at 231 and 233 George Street, before unanimously ordering it demolished at Monday night's city council meeting.

"It's a health hazard, it's a safety hazard, it's a blight on the downtown," said Coun. Murry Krause after a presentation from the director of bylaw services detailing the property owner's history of inactivity and showing picture after picture of the building's disrepair.

"We are asking the property owner to demolish or remove the building and eliminate the unsafe nuisance conditions by August 3, 2015 and that administration given the authority to carry out the work if not completed," said Fred Crittenden to start the report to council about the old laundromat.

The property, owned by Commonwealth Campuses since December 2009, has been a problem for years. In 2010, the city responded to a broken water line that filled the basement with water. The tenants were removed from the building and hydro, water and gas were all disconnected.

In July 2011 Crittenden said the RCMP sent a letter to the property owner about decommissioning the fire alarm system and got a response in October of that year to say it had plans to demolish the building within 18 months.

"Obviously that time has come and gone," he said.

Council unanimously passed all six recommendations, among them declaring it in "unsafe condition," "offensive to the community," and authorizing the city to remove the building if the owner doesn't comply and then demand the cost.

"You had me at the first slide," said Coun. Jillian Merrick. "I feel quite ill to my stomach actually."

The building bothered Merrick in 2009 when she worked next to it and watched people live in the space.

"I thought how is it even possible that this building exists right in the core of the city, right across from our justice system?" she said. "While I'm glad to see there's no longer anyone living there's obviously access issues and safety issues."

Though the building is considered "locked and secured" the city has three cases on file in just over a year where people have found a way in, Crittenden said.

"People have accessed it either by prying off parts of the window concealment or a doorway," or climbing up through fire escape, Crittenden said.

Krause took issue with the hazard it presents to people who still gain entry.

"One (reason for removal) of course is the pure aesthetic of it, but the other piece is that people will be creative when they need to be and they'll gain access when they want," Krause said.

Coun. Brian Skakun said this city council has committed to addressing problematic buildings.

"I think we should have taken action years ago but we have said around here is it's a new day and with that comes change and with that comes action," said Skakun, who sat on last city council along with six of the nine elected representatives.

That support is being felt at the staff level, Crittenden said.

"The support the council has given our staff really, they're becoming a bit more empowered."

In the first five months of 2015, public complaints are up about 50 per cent, he said.

"There seems to be a passion for reporting some of these things."

Mayor Lyn Hall said there was no question in his mind that the George Street spot needed to be addressed.

"It's our responsibility to be a good corporate neighbour and we need to take action," Hall said.

"There's a list and we're moving on. It's absolutely a new day and it needs to be cleaned up," Hall said. "This is one of those issues that I think the community can look at and be rest assured if you have an issue in your neighbourhood, let us know."

Commonwealth Campuses has until July 17 to ask council to reconsider its recommendations.