ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 29, 1995
File No. 55SWMARI
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Director of Permits and Licenses
SUBJECT: Demolition of Dangerous Building
55 Southwest Marine Drive
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council declare that the above building and garage 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 remove the building and
garage and all demolition debris from the site within 60 days
from a copy of the Resolution being delivered by return
registered mail to the address of the owner as it appears in the
records of the Land Title Office.
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 Director of Permits and
Licenses to have the building and all demolition debris removed
at the expense of the owner.
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.
DISCUSSION
This one family dwelling has been vacant since July of 1991.
The building has been the subject of eleven Orders under the Building By-
law and Untidy Premises By-law since July 5, 1991. It has been
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boarded up by the City Building Inspector on one occasion, and the owner
has not paid the City the costs of that board up.
Although the premises have been cleared up from time to time as a result
of Orders issued pursuant to the Untidy Premises By-law, the site quickly
deteriorates thereafter. As well, the vacant building has been boarded up
several times over the past four years, but the boards have been pulled
off resulting in the premises becoming insecure. There has been evidence
of vagrants, fires and vermin. There have been a number of complaints
from the neighbours about drug activity and drinking on the premises. The
above indicates a lack of responsibility on the part of the owner to
monitor and regularly maintain his property. A pattern has developed
wherein the owner only responds to orders issued by the City in response
to neighbourhood complaints.
Our records indicate that the owners gutted the interior of the dwelling,
and subsequently obtained Combined Development and Building Permit No.
JP812618 on July 6, 1994 for alterations and an addition. However, no
work has progressed. The building is currently open, although the owner
has erected an 8' hoarding around the property ostensively for security
reasons. However, there has been evidence to support the fact that the
height and obscured visibility created by the hoarding contributes to
vandalism in the neighbourhood and to dumping of refuse.
In May, the City wrote to the owner and his solicitor requiring that the
height of the hoarding be lowered and requiring the name of the contractor
for the building alteration project, a detailed construction schedule and
a written guarantee from the owners that the site would be properly
maintained.
The owner has not complied with the requirements set out and consequently,
Combined Development and Building Permit No. JP812618 has expired.
Because the property is up for sale, City Council approved the filing of a
336D Notice against the title of the property on June 6, 1995 to warn any
prospective purchasers of the By-law violations against this site.
This building and site attract illegal dumping, vagrants, vermin and
alcohol and drug related activity. As well, an inordinate amount of
public time and money has been expended as City Inspectors attend the
premises in response to complaints.
Because of the foregoing, it is recommended that Council declare the
building at 55 Southwest Marine Drive a nuisance or dangerous to public
safety or both, and order the owners of the property to remove the
building and all demolition debris.
* * * * *
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VANCOUVER
In the Matter of Section 324A of the
Vancouver Charter and 55 Southwest Marine Drive
RESOLUTION
Be it Resolved, by the Council of the City of Vancouver:
1. THAT buildings and discarded materials situate on the property at 55
Southwest Marine Drive being Lot A of 5, Block 5, District Lot 322,
Plan 11012, are declared to be a nuisance and to be dangerous to
public safety.
2. THAT the owner is hereby ordered to pull down the buildings and
remove the resulting debris and the discarded materials from the site
within 60 days from a copy of this Resolution being delivered to the
address of the owner appearing in the records of the Land Title
Office, being #220 - 830 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 4J2.
3. THAT in the event that the owner does not comply with the order set
forth in the preceding paragraph, the Director of Permits and
Licenses is hereby ordered and authorized to pull down the buildings
and remove the resulting debris and discarded material from the site
at the cost of the owner 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.