Main Street hotel owner wants building code fees waived

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This article was published 17/11/2021 (1392 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The owner of a Main Street hotel is lobbying the city to waive $38,400 in penalties tied to safety and building code infractions, arguing that money would be better spent on improving the building for its low-income tenants.

On Tuesday, council’s property and development committee denied an appeal of the fines. Committee members expressed concern the National Hotel at 655 Main St., formerly the Manwin, is not safe for residents.

The vote would have been a final decision but was later deemed invalid after the city learned the owner hadn’t received notice of the meeting after moving to a new address. That means a second appeal hearing will be held.

The initial vote followed warnings from city staff that the building falls short on multiple safety standards.

“We recognize the importance of affordable housing. We recognize that we don’t want to put people on the street… but we want to make sure that the occupants in there are safe,” Rick Klassen, the city’s manager of commercial inspections, told the committee.

Property inspectors say the hotel lacks proper fire separations between floors and some of its 30 housing units appear to have been built without permits.

Klassen said additional fines are pending for permit and building code issues beyond those reflected in the current appeal, which would raise the full penalty amount to nearly $152,000.

Since 2018, the city says it has made repeated calls, emails, letters and in-person visits to the site, attempting to ensure safety standards are met.

The owner did not speak at the meeting, due to the apparent missed notice, and could not be reached for comment.

In a letter to support the appeal, hotel president Akim Kambamba said the business can’t afford the hefty bill.

“Our hotel is providing essential housing to many poor… Manitobans who typically live on the streets … The hotel is therefore charging minimal rent and not making much money to pay the penalties,” writes Kambamba.

The letter states the building, which was purchased in 2016, is more than 100 years old.

Kambamba said hotel revenue dropped 70 per cent during the pandemic, making it even harder to pay for repairs.

“We are now barely able to pay the utility bills at the moment. We are therefore asking for a waiver of all the penalties,” the letter states.

Kambamba adds the hotel has addressed “critical” fire-safety issues by bringing its smoke detectors and sprinkler systems up to code.

The hotel was shut down due to a provincial health hazard order last winter. In February, provincial health inspectors concluded the building lacked heat, which compromised the water supply and fire sprinklers.

At the time, a Winnipeg Regional Health Authority outreach team was tasked with helping residents find alternative housing.

On Tuesday, city staff said a fire inspector would be contacted to assess the building’s current state.

Before the committee decision was rendered invalid, Coun. Cindy Gilroy said she voted against waiving the fees out of a desire to protect residents.

Gilroy, council’s property and development chairperson, said the decision was complicated by the fact the appellants weren’t at the hearing.

“It’s really hard, unless we can talk with them, to really understand what’s going on,” she said.

The councillor stressed she will revisit the issue with an open mind at the new hearing.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga