What to do with a deteriorating Maple Park Mall that is the target of vandalism, theft and squatters ?
Quesnel City Council was presented with that dilemma at last (Tuesday) night’s meeting
Tanya Turner, the Director of Development Services, noted that they were running out of options.
“Staff are receiving complaints regarding the mall on a regular basis. We have been trying to engage with the current owners, with mortgage holders, to try and get this mall in good condition, but we have not been successful. Probably the only way forward is a remedial action order on this property.”
Turner said she had reached out to a company to determine what the cost is going to be.
“If the property owner does not do those remedial actions themselves, the city can do those actions and we will assume the costs, but we will be able to charge them back on taxation. The quote that I have is about 30 thousand dollars to completely seal up the building.”
Director of Finance Kari Bolton said there is a risk to that however, as the owner is currently two years behind in their taxes and a third year in the rears would mean a tax sale.
“The problem is if this actually goes to tax sale, it is very unlikely it would be bid on. It’s hard to know right, and then the city would be responsible for the outstanding property taxes, the 30 thousand in remediation, and then suddenly be the owner of the property and have to deal with it. I mean I think we want to do everything we can to avoid that.”
Staff is working with legal counsel and will bring back a report on the actual steps that need to be taken to move forward on a remedial action order.
