ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: January 9, 1996
File No. 5370TAUN
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: City Building Inspector
SUBJECT: Demolition of Dangerous Building
5370 Taunton Street
Lot 11, Block 18, 19 and 22, District Lot 37, Plan 2220
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council declare that the above building is a nuisance and
dangerous to public safety, pursuant to Section 324A of the
Vancouver Charter.
B. THAT Council approve the attached Resolution and order the
Registered owner of the property to remove the building and all
demolition debris from the site within 14 days of a copy of the
resolution being served pursuant to Section 324A of the
Vancouver Charter.
C. THAT in the event of the failure of the owner to comply with the
order of Council as set forth in Paragraph B, Council further
orders and hereby authorizes the City Building Inspector to have
the building and all demolition debris removed at the expense of
the owner.
D. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice Against
the Certificate of Title to the Property at 5370 Taunton Street
in order to warn prospective purchasers that as a result of the
condition of the building and Council's resolution, the
purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the By-law were
enforced against him.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the
foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter enables Council by resolution or By-
law to declare any building, in or upon any private or public lands a
nuisance or dangerous to the public safety or health and by such By-law or
resolution, to order that building to be removed by the owner, agent,
lessee or occupier thereof.
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DISCUSSION
On January 3, 1995 following a series of orders relative to the
unauthorized occupancy of this building and violations pursuant to the
Electrical and Standards of Maintenance By-laws, the District Property Use
Inspector reported that this house had been vacated.
Since that time the City has issued several orders to the property owner
to board up the building, remove debris and discarded materials from the
site and cut the overgrowth of grass and weeds.
Despite written orders to the owners to maintain the building in a secure
condition, our Inspection Services report that transients are continually
gaining access and that the City has hired a private contractor to reboard
up the building on several occasions.
Attached, also for your information, is a recent report from the Police
Department that advises that this building has become known to police as a
crash pad for various criminal types. The report further advises that the
interior of the building has deteriorated substantially due to leaking
water pipes, vandalism and unsanitary activities.
City staff have contacted the property owner by phone to request that he
obtain a demolition permit and pull down and demolish the building,
however, the owner has demonstrated no desire to cooperate.
Because of the foregoing, it is recommended that Council declare the
building at 5370 Taunton Street a nuisance or dangerous to the public
safety or both, approve the attached Resolution and order the owner to
remove the building and all demolition debris. It is also recommended
that City Council approve the filing of a 336D Notice against the title of
the property to warn any prospective purchasers of the Resolution of
Council.
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VANCOUVER
In the Matter of Section 324A of the
Vancouver Charter and 5370 Taunton Street
RESOLUTION
Be it Resolved, by the Council of the City of Vancouver:
1. THAT the building and discarded materials situated on the property at
5370 Taunton Street, Lot 11, Block 18, 19 and 22, District Lot 37,
Plan 2220 is declared to be a nuisance and to be dangerous to public
safety.
2. THAT the owners are hereby ordered to pull down the building and
remove the resulting debris and the discarded materials from the site
within 14 days of the date from a copy of this Resolution being
served pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.
3. THAT in the event that the owners do not comply with the order set
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forth in the preceding paragraph, the City Building Inspector is
hereby ordered and authorized to pull down the building and remove
the resulting debris and discarded material from the site at the cost
of the owners and dispose of it by selling to the demolition
contractor any material he may agree to purchase, and delivering the
rest to a disposal site.
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