ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 10, 2001
Author/Local: C .Robbins 873-7535

RTS No. 02204

CC File No. 2701

P&E: August 2, 2001

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	City Building Inspector
SUBJECT:	Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 942 - 950 Granville Street

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council declare that the building at 942-950 Granville Street, Lot 10 Block 73 District Lot 541 Plan 210 PID 015-456-650 and 015-456-633 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

owners of the property to demolish the building, remove the resulting demolition debris and discarded materials from the site and provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property within 30 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 owners to comply with the order of

Council, Council further orders and hereby authorizes the City Building
Inspector to have the work outlined in paragraph B above carried out 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 942- 950 Granville Street in order to provide notice of the by-law violations and Council's Resolution and to warn any 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 order of Council 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, 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 to be a contravention of a by-law relating to the construction or safety of buildings; or as a result of that condition, a building or structure is unsafe or unlikely to be usable for its expected purpose; or is of a nature that a purchaser unaware of the contravention, would suffer a significant loss or 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 Title to the property in the Land Title Office.

BACKGROUND

This one storey with basement building was previously occupied as restaurant and retail, however, it has been vacant for the past four (4) years. There is no original construction permit on file, however, the records date back as far as 1934. It has no heritage designation and is located in the DD Downtown District.

A recent inspection revealed that this wood frame building is in a dilapidated and unsafe condition. The Health Inspector reports that the building is harbouring rats and mice. It has been an attraction to vagrants and squatters over the years and has not been properly monitored or secured by the property owners. The local Granville Entertainment Group advised City staff that they have been continually boarding-up the building themselves over the past three years. The interior has been vandalized and there are no fire protection systems in place.

The exterior has continually been an eyesore with graffiti, posters and bills plastered on the face of the building. Now due to a coordinated effort between the City of Vancouver Anti-Graffiti program and the Neighbourhood Police Office, the building is painted every two weeks and the posters and bills are removed. When volunteers did the first poster removal, 15 large garbage bags were filled.

The City Building Inspector has written to the property owners expressing his concerns about the poor condition of the building and requesting that they obtain a demolition permit and demolish the building. They were advised that if a demolition permit was not obtained, this matter would be brought to Council for consideration as a nuisance property. To date, the owners have not obtained the required demolition permit.

The building in its present state, is in violation of the Vancouver Building and Standards of Maintenance By-laws and the Health By-law. It is detrimental to the neighbourhood and is an attraction to squatters and transients. It is at risk of being set on fire.

It is therefore recommended that City Council declare the building a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order the owners to demolish the building, remove all the demolition debris and provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property to prevent trespass and dumping.

In addition, it is recommended that a 336D Notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the property in order to provide notice of the by-law violations and Council's Resolution.

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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 situated at 942-950 Granville Street, Lots 10 & 11 Block 73 District Lot 541 Plan 210 PID 015-456-650 & 015-456-633 is a nuisance and dangerous to public safety pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.

2. THAT the owners are hereby ordered to demolish the building, remove the resulting demolition debris and discarded materials from the site and provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property within 30 days of a copy of the 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 forth in the preceding paragraph, the City Building Inspector is hereby authorized to have the work outlined in the preceding paragraph carried out at the expense of the owners. 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 942-950 Granville Street in order to provide notice of the by-law violations and Council's Resolution and to warn any prospective purchasers that they could suffer a significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against them.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver