ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: September 9, 1999
Author/Local: C. Robbins
RTS No. 00983

CC File No. 2701-1

P&E: September 23, 1999

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	City Building Inspector
SUBJECT:	Nuisance Building 536 East 30th Avenue Lots 7 & 6 Ex W 15ft of 207 to 209 Block 10 - 13 & 22 - 25 District Lot 391 & 392 Plan 1220

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council declare that the building and site at 536 East 30th Avenue, are 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 cut the overgrowth of bushes, grass and weeds on the site and demolish the building and remove all resulting 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, Council further orders and hereby authorizes the City Building

Inspector to have the overgrowth of bushes, grass and weeds cut, and the
building demolished and all resulting debris removed from the site 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 536 East 30th Avenue, in order to warn any
prospective purchasers that as a result of the condition of the building and
site and Council’s Resolution, the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against him.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services recommends approval of the foregoing

POLICY

Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter enables Council by resolution or by-law to
declare any building or any other matter or thing in or upon any private or public lands a nuisance or dangerous to public safety or health and by such by-law or

resolution, to order that building or thing to be removed or corrected by the owner,
agent, leasee or occupier thereof

Section 336D of the Vancouver Charter provides a mechanism whereby the City
of Vancouver can warn prospective purchasers of contraventions of City By-laws
relating to land or a building or structure. It provides that the City Building Inspector may recommend to City Council that a resolution be considered directing

the City Clerk to file a notice against the Title to the Property in the Land Title
Office to warn prospective purchasers of the violation.

BACKGROUND

This is a single family dwelling that was constructed on or about September of 1930.

A review of our records for the property reveals that the building has been vacant since 1996 and is currently boarded-up. This department has received complaints from neighbouring residents about the unsightly condition of the yards and the house. A recent inspection of the property revealed that the site is extremely overgrown with bushes, grass and weeds and that the house is in a dilapidated condition and beyond rehabilitation.

In July of this year, the City Building Inspector sent a letter to the owner of the property requesting that he obtain a permit, demolish the building and remove the overgrowth of bushes and weeds. In response to the letter, staff received a phone call from a concerned neighbour who was acting on behalf of the owner who is a senior citizen. The neighbour confirmed that the building is in very poor condition and that the owner had requested her assistance in complying with the City’s requirements. Staff outlined the process for obtaining a demolition permit and confirmed that if there was no action taken by the owner or his representative to demolish the building by September of 1999, a report would be prepared for Council’s consideration.

DISCUSSION

To date, the owner has not obtained a permit to demolish the building and a reinspection has confirmed that the building and site are still in an untidy and dilapidated condition.

It is therefore recommended that City Council declare the building and site a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order the owner to demolish the building, remove the demolition debris and cut the overgrowth of bushes, weeds and grass from the site.

It is further recommended that a 336D Notice be filed against the Title to the property in order to warn any prospective purchasers of Council’s order.

* * * * *

In the Matter of Sections 324A and 336D of the

Vancouver Charter and 536 East 30th Avenue

R E S O L U T I O N

Be it resolved, by the Council of the City of Vancouver:

1. THAT the building and site situated at 536 East 30th Avenue, Lots 7 & 6 Ex W

15ft of 207 - 209, Block 10 - 13 and 22 - 25, District Lot 391 and 392 Plan 1220
are declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to public safety

2. THAT the owner is hereby ordered to cut the overgrowth of bushes, weeds and

grass, pull down and demolish the building and remove the resulting debris
from the site within 14 days of a copy of this Resolution being served pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter

3. THAT in the event that the owner does not comply with the order set forth

in the preceding paragraph, the City Building Inspector is hereby ordered and
authorized to cut the overgrowth of bushes, weeds and grass, pull down and demolish the building and remove the resulting debris from the site at the cost of the
owners and dispose of it by selling to a demolition contractor any material he may
agree to purchase and delivering the rest to a disposal site.

4. THAT the City Clerk is directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title

to the property at 536 East 30th Avenue, in order to warn any prospective purchasers
that as a result of Council’s Resolution, the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against him.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver