Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Owners lose 'Alphabet House' appeal

By: Staff Writer

3/12/2009 11:47 AM | Comments: 13

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

"Alphabet House," built in 1891 at 89 Gertie Street, seen in an October 2009 file photo, is decorated with sign letters, some from the a former SAAN Store.

WINNIPEG - The owners of an inner-city home have lost an appeal against a city order to fix it up or have it demolished.

Ed and Brandon Ackerman appealed an Oct. 13 city order to make extensive repairs to a home at 89 Gertie Street or fence it off and have it demolished.

Related Items

Articles
- City gets more power to deal with derelict buildings

City council’s property committee denied the appeal this morning at the conclusion of 75-minute public hearing.

The city will now enter into discussions with the duo about a time frame for making the repairs. The house, which the Ackermans call "Alphabet House," is not on the city’s heritage inventory.

The October order regarding the property described it as "structurally unsound," with major foundation issues, open excavations on the property, and missing windows, doors and stairs. The building requires "urgent intervention" and "major rebuilding."

The Ackermans argued that they had been in the process of restoring the house for years, and that the house is also being used as a set for a film in progress.

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

13 Comments

Posted by: Old Dog

December 11, 2009 at 7:02 PM

It has letter on the house because it is being used as a stop motion animation set. The owner is an animator for the National Filmboard of Canada.

I must add the house is neither derilect nor abandoned, only in a state of disrepair. He has dumped tens of thousands of dollars into the house already and has every intentions of continuing to do so. He is willing and trying in every way possible to restore the house. The city wont issue him building permits.

As an example of the his dedication to the project, he has proven the house is NOT abandoned by sleeping there every night. Its Dec 11th as I write this. It was -35 last night. If thats not dedication to saving and building this house up to proper condition i dont know what is. Would you have that kind of dedication to fixing your house up?????

Hes not a slumlord, he is restoring these houses to leave for his children. All good people working to rebuild a fractured community. Maybe all of you are just so rich you dont have to care about these kind of things.

Report abusive comment

Posted by: B.

December 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM

If this house was deemed "structurally unsound" then how could these people use it for a set for a "film in progress"? I think that's just a darn excuse!

This "house" is an eyesore AND a hazard! It's about time that the city start getting tough with these "slumlords"! It's thier property, they can pay for the maintainence/demolish costs, etc.

Report abusive comment

Posted by: Jim

December 4, 2009 at 5:41 AM

We have a house on our block that has been unoccupied for over twelve years. Has no foundation (Mud foundation) and is the worst eyesore I believe in the West End. The City just keeps saying it can't do anything because the taxes are paid. The City even allowed the owner to board up the property on several occasions.

After all the media coverage over the last few years saying City Hall has changed By-Laws to get rid of these eyesores nothing is being done. And for those not aware, the City By-Laws already covered eyesores and derelict/abandoned houses. They did not enforce them then and they are still not enforcing their own By-Laws.

Report abusive comment

Posted by:

December 3, 2009 at 10:38 PM

i bot a house on Balmoral about 10 years ago - was secured and i painted and renovated it - was broken into 18x in a year ( the last time they stole the hot water tank )-- i didnt want to rent it as i didnt think it was a safe place to have tenants - got a quote from imrie for $4000 to tear it down - the city wrote and said because it was unoccupied they wanted to tear it down and add the bill to the taxes - so i said ok -- they added $13,000 to the taxes .. so i let it go for tax sale
- every time i drove by it someone was urinating on it .. when i tried to rent it as parking to the school division they said that the city needed it for widening balmoral and that they were told not to rent it from me --
- so theres probably another side to this story as well

Report abusive comment

Posted by: Deeds

December 3, 2009 at 7:57 PM

I hope that the province and the City will move just as quickly with legislation and action to deal with the scores of derelict buildings in the city. What a great opportunity for quality, habitable in fill housing where these derelict eyesores now stand.

Report abusive comment

Posted by: SnoWRoller

December 3, 2009 at 5:50 PM

The derelict property bylaws apply to everyone.

I truly hope the city doesn't bend on this. This house is a dump, an eyesore and a public safety hazard.

"...the house is also being used as a set for a film in progress"

LOL what are they filming there, a scene from a Rob Zombie movie?