Remedial action proceedings against Buta Nannan, owner of 1067 Columbia Ave., have finally reached the point where the city will be demolishing and removing the building located at the site.
A series of bylaw infractions dating as far back as 1998 has led up to this point. The decision made at Monday's city council meeting reflects that the city felt it had no other option than to doze the building. The costs for the cleanup will be recovered from Nannan.
On Apr. 4, after several months of official correspondence with the owner council imposed a remedial action requirement requiring that the property be brought up to the standard of the neighbourhood in compliance with the property maintenance bylaw. Required repairs included removing the coverings currently on the doors and windows and replacing them with actual doors and windows, replacing the exterior cladding, replacing the roof, painting the exterior, repairing the stairs, or alternately, demolishing the building.
An inspection of the premises revealed that the stairs and landings are in a deteriorated and unsafe condition, the floor is in danger of collapse, there is mould, the leaking roof is causing ceiling failure, there is debris and garbage throughout, a broken water line and water running steadily into the basement caused extensive damage and the fire separation has been compromised. The water to the property was turned off when the inspection revealed the water line problem.
Nannan was given until Sept. 30 to complete the work. On Sept. 20, Nanaan sent a letter to the city requesting that an extension be granted to complete the work by Aug. 31, 2017. Council did not grant the extension.
A hazardous and regulated materials pre-demolition assessment will be completed first. Once that is done, contractors considering placing a bid to complete the demolition work will have a chance to do a site inspection.