Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

City Building Inspector

SUBJECT:

Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 720 East Cordova Street

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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 public safety or health, and by such by-law or resolution, to order that Building to be removed 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 if the City Building Inspector observes a condition that he considers is of a nature that a prospective purchaser, unaware of the contravention, would suffer a significant expense if the by-law were enforced against him, he may recommend to City Council that a resolution be considered directing the City Clerk to file a notice against the Certificate of Title to the property in the Land Title Office.

BACKGROUND

This is a vacant, auto body/repair building that was constructed in 1971. It is located in an M-2 Industrial District. The site consists of a principal building of steel construction. Attached to the principal building are two large open storage sheds. The sheds are made up of steel support posts and beams and have combustible roofs.

A review of our records for this property indicates that the business license was closed in December of 1998 and that the building and site has been vacant since that time. In January of this year, the owners received notice from the City advising them of their obligations as property owners to maintain the building and site in a secure and tidy condition.

The Vancouver Police Department advises that they have attended the building nine (9) times since August of last year in order to assist the City in having the squatters removed and to have the building boarded-up.

However, a recent inspection of the building revealed that it was open to the public and was again being occupied by squatters. There were used needles and condoms in the building, storage sheds and on the site. There were mattresses, a couch, personal belongings and a makeshift lean-to construction in one of the open sheds. There was evidence that thesquatters are defecating and urinating on site. There were also approximately 8 x 40 gallon plastic drums that are full of an unknown liquid. Because of the unsafe condition of the building and the potential fire hazard, the City arranged to have the transients removed, the principal building boarded-up and the exterior hoarding repaired at the expense of the owners pursuant to the provisions of the Vancouver Building By-law.

DISCUSSION

In its present state and without any management or control being exercised by the property owners, the building/site is a nuisance and detrimental to the neighbourhood. There is evidence of drug use and sexual activity. There have been no applications for redevelopment or reoccupancy submitted. The property is in violation of the Zoning and Development, Building, Standards of Maintenance and Untidy Premises By-laws. It is an attraction to transients and squatters.

It is therefore recommended that City Council declare the building and site at the above location a nuisance and dangerous to public safety, and order the owners to securely board-up the principal building, remove all combustible materials including the roofs over the shed areas, remove all materials stored on the site, remove the unsightly exterior hoarding and replace it with a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property to allow visibility and prevent trespass and/or dumping.

In addition, it is recommended that a 336D Notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the property to warn any prospective purchasers of Council's Resolution.

- - - - -

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

Vancouver Charter and 720 East Cordova

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 720 East Cordova Street, Lot E, Block 60, District Lot 181, Plan 13966, PID 007-986-386 are declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to public safety.

2. THAT the owner is hereby ordered to securely board-up the principal building, remove all combustible elements on the site including the combustible roofs over the attached storage sheds, remove all materials stored on the site, remove the unsightly exterior wood hoarding and replace it with a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property within 30 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 have the work outlined in the preceding paragraph carried out at the expense of the owner. The City Building Inspector may dispose of any resulting debris by selling to the contractor any material he may agree to purchase and delivering the rest to a disposal site.

4. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title to the property at 720 East Cordova Street, in order to warn any prospective purchasers that as a result of Council's Resolution and the violations of the Vancouver Zoning, Building, Standards of Maintenance and Untidy Premises By-laws, the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the by-law and/or order of Council were enforced against him.

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