Editor:
Recently, three fully livable single family homes were demolished within a one-block radius of where I live.
Probably a common occurrence.
Each will be replaced with yet another single-family home on each site. This will not increase the housing stock in Burnaby but it will add to the discomfort of the local residents with noise, banging, trucks, etc.
Not only that, all our taxes will go up even more, as these buildings will sell for very high prices. Worst of all, in my opinion, is that these homes were fully livable and one even had hardwood floors. How can people be so destructive? And why does the City of Burnaby allow this? How is it that anyone can get a permit to demolish a sound, livable house with no justification? This needs to change.
Only permits for dismantling a building should be allowed. This means that the building will be taken apart by hand and the building materials will be salvaged for reuse or repurposing. I saw an example of this just down the street. A house was partially dismantled. The sides were stripped down to the studs and then another level was added, plus more basement space. Good for them. This should be the rule.
No huge, noisy excavator should be used to destroy a house.
Even better, sell these older houses as a “house to be moved” just like I saw on TV recently. This means that others can have a home and put it on a lot somewhere else. People need housing. Then, even if a new house is built on the site, at least the housing stock is being increased and there is respect for the building materials in the old house.
The City of Burnaby can make this happen. All they have to do is change their permit system. No more permits for demolition. Only give ones for dismantling. This type of practice should be mandatory. What kind of culture can be so destructive and have the local government support this behaviour?
One wonders.
Barbara Westerman, Burnaby
