SUMMERSIDE - It was the first new home Deputy Mayor Bruce MacDougall had purchased.
Some 40 years later the mobile home, situated at 9 Grant Drive, is in such a state of disrepair that the city has been asked to step in.
“I bought that in March 1973. It was brand new at the time and it didn’t look anything like this,” said MacDougall, as he looked at photos of the property.
Council unanimously passed a resolution recently authorizing the city’s building inspector to carry out any work related to securing the mobile home, including condemning or demolishing the building, if necessary.
But, the consensus of council was that the city should not pick up the bill if it is deemed that the home has to be demolished.
In August, the Department of Health and Wellness requested an inspection of the home, located in Vivian Lee Park, after hearing from one of its case workers about the state of the home and its interior.
The owner was a client of the department’s adult protection program and has since been moved to a local villa and will not be returning.
The home was found to be in a state of disrepair, with a large amount of garbage and debris both inside and out.
The inspector found the door unlocked but, once he stepped inside, refused to go further due to the conditions.
Outside, skirting was removed in areas, allowing vermin and other animals to possibly go underneath.
At that time, a ‘dangerous or hazardous building’ notice was placed on the property and, later, power and water supplies disconnected.
The home sits on a rental lot, complicating the issue.
And it was noted at the meeting the homeowner is not capable to pay for its demolition.
Also, there is no way to recoup costs associated in demolishing the home since, once the unit is demolished, there is no property to place a lien on.
Aaron MacDonald, the city’s technical services director, said in the past the city has taken on the task of tearing down such properties and has been left with the task of recouping the costs.
“It has to be torn down,” said MacDonald. “More importantly, all of the stuff has to be taken out of it.”
The cost to demolish the building would be about $5,000 to $6,000.
SUMMERSIDE - It was the first new home Deputy Mayor Bruce MacDougall had purchased.
Some 40 years later the mobile home, situated at 9 Grant Drive, is in such a state of disrepair that the city has been asked to step in.
“I bought that in March 1973. It was brand new at the time and it didn’t look anything like this,” said MacDougall, as he looked at photos of the property.
Council unanimously passed a resolution recently authorizing the city’s building inspector to carry out any work related to securing the mobile home, including condemning or demolishing the building, if necessary.
But, the consensus of council was that the city should not pick up the bill if it is deemed that the home has to be demolished.
In August, the Department of Health and Wellness requested an inspection of the home, located in Vivian Lee Park, after hearing from one of its case workers about the state of the home and its interior.
The owner was a client of the department’s adult protection program and has since been moved to a local villa and will not be returning.
The home was found to be in a state of disrepair, with a large amount of garbage and debris both inside and out.
The inspector found the door unlocked but, once he stepped inside, refused to go further due to the conditions.
Outside, skirting was removed in areas, allowing vermin and other animals to possibly go underneath.
At that time, a ‘dangerous or hazardous building’ notice was placed on the property and, later, power and water supplies disconnected.
The home sits on a rental lot, complicating the issue.
And it was noted at the meeting the homeowner is not capable to pay for its demolition.
Also, there is no way to recoup costs associated in demolishing the home since, once the unit is demolished, there is no property to place a lien on.
Aaron MacDonald, the city’s technical services director, said in the past the city has taken on the task of tearing down such properties and has been left with the task of recouping the costs.
“It has to be torn down,” said MacDonald. “More importantly, all of the stuff has to be taken out of it.”
The cost to demolish the building would be about $5,000 to $6,000.