Winnipeg residents hope new bylaw offences lead to fewer demolished, derelict buildings
Committee delayed vote at request of construction, home builders associations
People living in Winnipeg neighbourhoods plagued by burnt-out and partially demolished buildings hope a host of proposed new bylaw offences lead to the cleanup of more problem properties.
A report from the City of Winnipeg's property and development department recommends adding 37 new offences, under the Municipal By-law Enforcement Act — provincial legislation that allows the city to issue tickets for offences like neighbourhood liveability concerns.
The new recommended offences include failing to start or complete demolition projects on time.
Breaking one of the new rules could carry penalties up to $1,000.
That comes as good news to people like Cheryl Martens, who has documented derelict buildings in the Spence neighbourhood for years.
"I think $1,000 is not that much for somebody who owns property in the area, so I suppose if we were being critical, we could say it could be more," Martens said in an interview.
"But the fact that they're doing it feels like they listened, which is worth a lot."
The property and development committee delayed a vote on the proposal at its Wednesday meeting.
The Winnipeg Construction Association and the Manitoba Home Builders' Association made a joint submission asking the city committee to lay it over to its next meeting, to give them time to consult with their members.
That disappointed William Whyte Neighbourhood Association president Darrell Warren.
"I really would like the city to take a stance, and we need to go ahead and hit these guys where it hurts, and that's in their pocketbooks. And we need to be tough," Warren said.
Like Martens, the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association has asked the city to get tougher with derelict property owners, and recorded dozens of burned and demolished buildings, including a row of four vacant and boarded up houses at the corner of Powers Street and Aberdeen Avenue.
"There are property owners here that own their houses and they take care of their properties. It's not fair that we as homeowners have to take care of our properties … and yet this stands for years and years and years," Warren said.
If approved by council, other offences that would be added include failing to comply with a stop work order, and failing to leave a site or maintain it in a safe condition when work is suspended or terminated.
The property committee will debate adding the new fines at its meeting next month.
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