As the abandoned homes downtown deteriorate over time City Council is seeking to remove derelict buildings under its Blight Mitigation Strategy.
Ward 3 Councilor Fulvio Valentinis has his own top 10 list of buildings he wants to see removed, and due to updates to bylaws it is now easier to demolish derelict homes.
In the past as long as a building was not falling down and was secure so no one could get in, the city would leave the building to age. Now if the building has been abandoned the city can come in and order repairs or if the structure is beyond repair it can be ordered for demolition and put on the tax bill.
This strategy is not something that will be completed over night, different buildings are at different stages in the process and it costs the city money that it may not be able to recoup due to tax arrears.
A row of townhouses on 501 Erie Street West that have been vacant since 2005 was scheduled to be razed on Tuesday January 24th by Guadet Demolition Inc. Although the townhouses are still standing the demolition will cost $12,464.16. $720.80 and $838.86 of which are permit and administration fees.
“The cost of the tax arrears and the demolition are going to exceed what we’ll be able to sell the property for.” said Valentinis.
The Trustee responsible for the townhouses applied to turn the building into low-income housing but this was never made good which is part of the reason the building is still standing.
“I know people go in there and try to steal copper and stuff, it’s a beacon for crime” said Douglas Laport who lives in the area and says he has seen flashlights in the windows at night.
“One way or the other there’s going to be compliance, so whether you do it or we have to step in to do it as a city, there’s going to be some cleanup.” said Valentinis.
Fulvio’s Top 10:
636 University Avenue West
530 Janette Avenue
532 Chatham East
533 Chatham East
515-523 Chatham East
411 Elliott Street West
425 Elliott Street West
1010 Wyandotte Street West
501-529 Erie Street West
Former Grace Hospital Site – Crawford and University
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