A2

                         ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                           Date: February 6, 1996
                                           Dept. File No. A368-377


   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Manager of Real Estate

   SUBJECT:  Demolition of House - 1850 West 5th Avenue


   RECOMMENDATION


        THAT  Council  approve  the  demolition  of the  residential
        building at 1850  West 5th  Avenue which is  one of  several
        homes located on a lot legally described as  Lot C Block 267
        DL 526 Plan 16597, see attached Appendix A.  It is estimated
        that  the cost to demolish this property will be $6,500 plus
        $6,000 for asbestos  removal. The cost  of demolition to  be
        charged to PEF Demolition Account #64/80/8009/396.  


   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

        The  General  Manager   of  Corporate  Services   RECOMMENDS
        approval of the foregoing.


   COUNCIL POLICY

   The  Zoning  and Development  Bylaw  Section 10.12  sets  out the
   procedure for demolition of residential rental accommodation.


   PURPOSE

   The  purpose  of  this report  is  to  seek  Council approval  to
   demolish the house at 1850 West 5th Avenue.

   BACKGROUND

   The subject property  adjoins the Arbutus C.P. Rail  corridor and
   was acquired in January  1977 for L.R.T. purposes.   The property
   is held by the Property Endowment  Fund.  The house is located on
   a  parcel of land that  Real Estate Services  recommend should be
   sold, this will be the subject of a further report to Council, to
   follow shortly.               - 2 -


   The  building is  a  2 storey  woodframe  house comprising  1,142
   sq.ft.  The  house was built in  1908 but is not  included on the
   Heritage Inventory List.

   The  building  has  been  leased  to  residential  tenants  until
   recently.  However, the property has now fallen vacant  and is in
   too  poor   a  condition  to  lease   again  without  substantial
   renovations being carried out.   Squatters have used the property
   from time to time.  This use  puts the City at risk in the  event
   of a fire or injury.

   FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

   The costs  of  renovating  this  property  to  meet  the  current
   Building  and Fire codes is  estimated to be  $25,000 plus $6,000
   for  asbestos removal.  Thus  renovation is not  considered to be
   economically viable in this instance.

   The cost of demolition has  been estimated by a contractor  to be
   $6,500 plus $6,000 for asbestos removal.

   CONCLUSION

   Considering  the age and condition  of the subject  house and the
   cost  of upgrading it, the Manager of Real Estate recommends that
   1850 West 5th Avenue be demolished.



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