City cleanup of neglected rubble cost prohibitive: report

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This article was published 06/09/2023 (777 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg has the power to clean debris from neglected demolition sites and charge property owners for the work — but it could lose money doing so, according to a new report.

The idea was proposed to tackle inactive demolition sites, which are covered by the twisted remains of buildings for sometimes months or years at a time.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy argues the city should step in to do the work if such debris remains on a site for six months or more, then add the cost to the owner’s property tax bill.

Instead, a city staff report calls for the community services committee to simply receive the idea “as information,” taking no action on it.

Residents living near such sites say immediate work is needed to address the issue.

“This city is in trouble. It’s filthy and it’s full of vacant lots and burned-out buildings and empty houses… It’s going to cost a lot to clean these lots up, but what does it looks like having them… filled with garbage?”” said Catherine Flynn, acting chairperson of the Point Douglas Residents Committee.

Flynn said the rubble is an obvious example of neglect, which also allows other sites to fill with garbage. She urged the city to find a way to amend and approve the proposed clean-up process, stressing property owners must also be held accountable.

“Overall, the general perspective of people who live close to downtown is that something’s got to be done with the vacant lots and derelict buildings. It’s an eyesore, it’s got an impact on people’s mental health, (and) it’s a danger for people who scavenge for a living.”

For example, Flynn said the former Vulcan Iron Works foundry site at Sutherland Avenue and Maple Street North remained covered in rubble Wednesday morning, after a blaze gutted it in early July.

A property at 694 Sherbrook St. also remains covered in debris, after fire destroyed a three-storey apartment block in February 2022.

Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association, said more than 60 homes throughout his neighbourhood are boarded up due to fires and about 15 properties have been reduced to rubble.

Warren said he also supports the city clean-up call.

“A lot of these properties (are sitting) for far too long,” he said, adding such sites can attract dumping and arson.

“We’ve had some piles that have even been set on fire (repeatedly). It’s bad if you live next door to one of these properties because there’s always that (risk).”

The city staff report suggests the number of rubble-filled sites is on the rise, though it does not list a total.

It warns remediation efforts could involve asbestos, basement excavations and other expensive tasks, for which city council has no current budget.

The report also states taking over demolition clean-ups could cost the city more money than it can recoup, even when it seizes a property with overdue tax bills.

“(A property seizure) does not mean the city will be able to recover the total cost spent cleaning and remediating a site, given that total remediation costs can sometimes exceed the value of the property,” writes Winston Yee, manager of community bylaw enforcement services.

In most cases, rubble was created when a building caught fire and sustained enough structural damage the city had to immediately demolish all or part of it for safety reasons, the report states.

The property owner is then responsible to get permits, complete demolition and remove debris, which can be delayed by insurance, financial and ownership issues.

Gilroy, who introduced the clean-up proposal, said she’s disappointed the report doesn’t recommend action.

“I know that the costs are going to be high. I know there’s lots of complications due to remediation… but what is the plan here? Are we just going to let everyone tear down buildings and not clean them up?” she said Wednesday.

The Daniel McIntyre councillor said she hopes to convince council’s community services committee to direct city staff to determine what the change would cost and set up a reserve fund to help pay for it.

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Coun. Evan Duncan, community services chairman, said he agrees further action is needed. “We can’t have debris sitting on these properties for an indeterminate amount of time. It looks terrible and it makes it look like there’s no accountability.”

However, he said the city must also consider whether it can afford taking over clean-up efforts on a case-by-case basis, potentially by having property and development officials assess each job.

The community services committee will debate the report Sept. 12.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.