In the end, the cleanup of what are termed as “unsightly properties” will be billed to the owners, but this situation in Burnaby is out of control.
The City of Burnaby has been forced to tie up loads of staff time dealing with multiple disgusting properties that are a blight on our communities – and a safety hazard.
And all because the homeowners are too lazy – or too absent – to do even minimal care.
What’s ironic is these properties are all worth more than a million dollars and the homeowners will eventually sell and laugh off into the sunset.
Burnaby even had to demolish one of these properties because it was so dangerous.
Burnaby council had to take the extraordinary step of ordering the property owner to demolish a fire-damaged building that sat derelict on a Kingsway lot for close to two years.
The four-unit residential building had been approved for demolition since 2018 after a fire, according to a staff report, but the property owner never went to city hall to pick up the demolition permit, despite reminders sent by the city over email.
Since the fire, Burnaby RCMP reported to the city that it had received nine calls for service at the property for allegations of trespassing and theft. Police determined the building was unsafe for officers to enter on four of those occasions. Multiple conversations and visits by staff to also deal with piles of garbage just sitting out proved fruitless.
That’s time that could be spent working on other city issues.
In September, city staff sought permission to go in and clean up an unsightly property of “filth” after numerous complaints from neighbours and little action from the homeowners, said a city report.
It was the second time the city has had to do this for the home, which is located on Nithsdale Street, just north of Burnaby Hospital and east of Boundary Road.
The staff report says the city has received multiple complaints going back to 2008, with 12 inspections being conducted by city staff just since 2018.
Inspections have discovered the following:
- Overgrown grass, weeds, vines and blackberry bushes
- Discarded items including, but not limited to, cardboard boxes, plastic bags, kitchenware, lumber, insulation, luggage, and bags of garbage, plus various electronic items
- An unlicensed and possibly derelict vehicle. A derelict vehicle is considered any vehicle that is uninsured for highway use and is inoperable.
“This place is disgraceful,” said a Nithsdale resident when the NOW dropped by the property. “The entire neighbourhood is embarrassed by it and no matter how much we complain to the city and to the owner, nothing gets done. But now I’m happy to hear the city will clean it up.”
There have been a total of five unsightliness complaints against the property since 2008, received from three different people, said the report.
And earlier this year, city staff sought permission to enter onto a property on Georgia Street in order to bring the property into compliance.
The report wanted permission to “remove and dispose of any overgrowth, materials or debris contributing to the unsightliness of the property at the expense of the property owner.”
According to the report, city staff have conducted 10 inspections of this property from May 2019 to June 2021
“These inspections have confirmed the property remains unsightly due to overgrown vegetation, particularly blackberry bushes and weeds, some of which are growing on the house itself,” reads the report.
In total since 2016, there have been 10 complaints received from four different individuals about the property.
Imagine having one of these homes on your street and having to look at them or worry that someone will be injured or that there will be a rat infestation.
These properties are a tremendous suck on city staff time – time that would be better spent on other things.Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44
