A local homeowner is blaming city inaction for the trouble she and have neighbours been suffering as a result of a derelict house.
Located at 2126 Tamarack St., it has twice been the scene of fires that have damaged adjacent homes.
Lisa Mitchell estimates a blaze that broke out in October reaped $14,000 damage to the vinyl siding of her home. While her insurance covered the cost, she still had to pay a $2,500 deductible and expects to lose a further $1,500 in lost discounts on her premium.
Even before the fire Mitchell had a bad feeling. Thanks to hoarding, the property had become a mess and while the front yard was cleaned up in response to a city order, she said the back yard remained untouched.
Shortly after the fire, Mitchell learned the owner had died and the home was foreclosed by the bank. While the site was fenced off and the back yard was cleaned out, two outbuildings remained standing and Mitchell said they were ripe for squatters and more trouble.
"I told them it was not a matter of if, it was a matter of when," she said.
In early May, and mere days after repairs to her home had been completed, the structures burst into flames and all five adjacent homes were damaged, according to Mitchell, who also said she lost her tenants as a result.
"They moved out immediately," she said. "Wouldn't you if you had two house fires next to you in less than six months?"
She found new tenants but they're paying lower rent.
Mitchell contends the city had the power through its unsightly premises bylaw to deal with the matter more quickly and thoroughly. She wants the home torn down and the property cleaned up.
"There were so many things the city could've done and nothing was not one of the options but that's what they chose," she said.
Bylaw services manager Fred Crittendon said that because the bank is not the owner of the property, it cannot be compelled to tear the structure down and has received legal advice to that effect.
However, he said a sale is awaiting court approval and should be completed by the end of this month and that the potential buyer is aware that the city wants the property remediated.
He said the City opened a file on the property last summer in response to the hoarding and were in the process of following through when the owner died. The fire broke out within just a couple days, Crittendon added.
He said bylaw services has been monitoring the site since the original fire and has spent more than $11,000 on cleaning up and securing the property.
"We know it's urgent for the people who live down there," Crittendon said.
