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A magnet for violence

City councillor wants inner-city 'eyesore' cleaned up

By: Gabrielle Giroday

Posted: 04/8/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

‘I was thinking to myself, 'Man, I can’t imagine what it looks like inside' ’ -- Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas), of crime-ridden Ross Avenue home (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 050822)

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Winnipeg police secure the scene at 406 Ross Ave. Wednesday morning after a woman’s body was found inside a shed on Tuesday. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )

The crime-ridden Ross Avenue property where a 30-year-old woman was found dead Tuesday is an eyesore hurting the neighbourhood, says a city councillor who wants the property cleaned up.

Area residents said the two-storey home and shed at 406 and 406 1/2 Ross Ave. is a neighbourhood nightmare due to the violence within and mess outside.

On Wednesday, police tape surrounded the home's rear shed, with garbage including an empty hairspray bottle, a condom wrapper and a worn-out bra nearby. Police concluded Wednesday that foul play is not suspected in the woman's death.

Her body was discovered early Tuesday inside a shed behind the main home.

On Wednesday, the plywood door behind police tape was sealed with a padlock.

Neighbours said both the home and shed are a magnet for violence, with screaming heard on a regular basis and frequent foot traffic.

"It's an eyesore," said Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas). After noticing garbage strewn outside the home last month, he wanted the landlord to "get this thing fixed up ASAP."

He contacted the city's bylaw enforcement services about dealing with the mess.

"I was thinking to myself, 'Man, I can't imagine what it looks like inside,'" the councillor said.

On March 19, a stabbing reportedly occurred at the property, sending a woman to hospital in critical condition. The home was also the site of a stabbing in March 2006 that killed Patrick Kalcsics, 42.

A neighbour reported recently seeing police lead a "very unkempt" woman from the shed area in handcuffs.

Pagtakhan said he urged the city to clean up the property under the Neighbourhood Liveability Bylaw, which regulates safety and maintenance of city properties. Peter de Graaf, manager of the city's community bylaw enforcement services, said inspectors have worked with the owner since March 19 to clean up the home's yard.

He said inspectors will now go inside the home and the shed to check their condition under the bylaw.

The property was subject to two litter-related complaints in 2009, he said.

"Tear the building down," said one neighbour. She won't let her kids play outside her house because of fears they'll be hurt.

On Wednesday, an empty codeine bottle sat on the corner of Ross Avenue and Ellen Street, next to an abandoned mouthwash bottle.

The home's owner, Dennis Assoignon, said he plans to sell the property because of ongoing issues with low-income tenants. He blames the home's bad luck on no-good tenants.

"People have no respect for property," said Assoignon, who has owned the property for about five years.

"Not much surprises me down there anymore."

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 8, 2010 B1

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