Taxpayers in Quesnel will likely be on the hook for the demolition of two derelict buildings.
Council approved remedial action orders against a pair of properties at Tuesday (Dec 17) night’s meeting, one at 340 Dawson Street in West Quesnel and another at 505 Panorama Ridge in the Red Bluff area.
There were fires at both locations and there has been no action taken to repair or to remediate the damaged buildings, and both are also in areas with land stability issues.
Council was told that they were cited to be unsafe and had recently been frequented by squatters.
Tanya Turner, the Director of Development Services, says the owners at the Dawson Street locations will be asked to do the following.
“One, maintain the security fencing around the site with warning signage warning of the danger of the hazard. Two, by January 20,2025 apply for the building permit to repair or demolish the principal building. And three, within thirty days of receiving a demolition permit, to remove the structure and the accessory building from the property, and to lawfully dispose of the structure and accessory building.”
Turner noted that the second property, which is in an area that was evacuated due to land stability issues in 2021 prior to a fire in 2023, also included a requirement a geotechnical assessment by a qualified professional that will provide recommendations for the removal of building foundations.
She went on to say that if the owners didn’t do these things, and the city has been unable to contact either of them, then the city would have to do the work.
That would be at a cost of approximately 185 thousand dollars for both.
Turner was asked by Councillor Mitch Vik if there was any way to recoup those costs.
“Typically the ability is to sell the property to regain your dollars. Of course in certain conditions we may or may not do that. A reminder that this particular property (340 Dawson Street) is in the West Quesnel Land Stability area. It may not be one that we want to sell. Those will be considerations as well.”
Council does plan to have further discussion on the issue at its upcoming Strategic Planning meetings.
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