Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO: Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM: City Building Inspector
SUBJECT: Nuisance Building
1249 East Pender Street
Lot 11 W Hlf of 10 Block A District Lot 182 Plan 176
 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

POLICY

BACKGROUND

This is a single family dwelling that was damaged by fire in November of 1998 and has been vacant and boarded-up since that time. The building is listed on the Heritage Inventory as a Heritage B building.

A review of our records for this property reveals that since 1996, the City has received complaints from neighbouring residents concerning the occupancy of the building, lack of maintenance and the untidy condition of the site. In May of 1998, the owners erected a large canvass tent structure that covered the entire rear of the property. The tent structure contained a large amount of discarded materials and was in violation of the Zoning and Development and Untidy Premises By-laws. The owners were ordered to remove the structure but failed to comply.

In November of 1998 the building suffered fire damage, was vacated and boarded-up.

Since that time, the condition of the building and site further deteriorated. The rear tent
was torn and ripped and partially collapsed. As a result, and because the owners failed to comply with the City’s order, the tent structure and discarded materials were removed from the site by a private contractor hired by the City at the owners’ expense. The costs of this work were not paid by the owners and have been applied to the tax roll.

In July of this year, the District Property Use, Building Inspector, Heritage Planner as well as a Fire Prevention Officer inspected the building and reported the following:

It was also noted that the house is full of debris and discarded materials, some of which are combustible.

Because of the above, the building was certified to be in an unsafe condition and listed as an imminent danger and risk to firefighters.

The owners were subsequently ordered to demolish the building and was also put on notice that should a fire occur in the meantime, the Fire Department would take defensive action only and would not enter the building to fight the fire.

DISCUSSION

To date the owners have not complied with the order from the City.

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 and remove all resulting demolition debris 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.

* * * * *


pe990923.htm

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

1. THAT the building situated at 1249 East Pender Street, Lot 11 W Hlf of 10 Block A District Lot 182 plan 176 is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to public safety

2. THAT the owners are hereby ordered to pull down and demolish the building and remove the resulting demolition 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 owners do not comply with the order set forth in the preceding paragraph, the City Building Inspector is hereby ordered and authorized to pull down and demolish the building and remove the resulting demolition debris from the site at the cost of the owner 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


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