The demolition of a vacant home damaged by at least four recent fires finally began Monday morning, after its owner waited months for a permit to tear it down.
The owner, who did not want his name published, said he learned the city would approve the demolition permit for 362 Manitoba Ave. on Aug. 12, the same day an article noting the delay was published in the Free Press.
“It’s no coincidence. It’s like the saying, the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” he said.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS
A work crew demolishes the vacant house at 362 Manitoba Ave. that was the scene of multiple fires in a few short months. The owner of the house waited months for a permit to tear it down and said he learned the city would approve the demolition permit the same day an article noting the delay was published in the Free Press.
The owner said at least four fires ripped through the building between March and August. After applying for a demolition permit in May, he says he’s frustrated by the continued damage and multiple bills to board up the property.
“It’s costly. Every time there was a fire… (they hire) people to board it up and… then they send you the bill,” he said.
The owner said each of the bills cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the repair involved. He estimates it will cost about $70,000 to tear down the house, which will be covered by insurance.
The home’s demolition was well underway by 3 p.m. Monday, with most above-ground materials reduced to rubble by that point.
The owner said he isn’t aware of possible reasons why it took so long to get a permit. He now plans to sell the property and three others he owns in the North End, noting he may buy homes to rent out in other neighbourhoods instead.
“I’ll take whatever I can get (in a sale) and I’m getting out…. There’s no money in this. You fix up something and within two months… it’s completely destroyed,” he said.
While he’s relieved to see the Manitoba Avenue property torn down, the owner said it’s sad to see the destruction of what was originally a nice home.
“It’s a shame. It was a beautiful, beautiful building, with oak trimming, hardwood floors,” he said.
He linked the fires at vacant homes to a surge in addictions and homelessness.
“We have got to do something (for people using drugs). Until we take them off the street and give them some sort of accommodation, this will just keep on going,” he said.
The demolition permit for 362 Manitoba Ave. was granted Aug. 15, a city spokesperson confirmed in an emailed statement Monday.
The statement did not offer specific reasons why this particular permit took months to approve but noted timelines vary for each property.
“It’s important to note that each situation is unique when looking at the timeline for demolition of a vacant building that’s been damaged by a fire. Timelines can vary a great deal depending on a number of factors and on the actions of the property owner. Once a complete application is submitted, and all requirements are met, then a demo permit can be issued,” wrote spokesman Kalen Qually.
The city has taken some steps to speed up the timeline to get a demolition permit, including allowing an area planner to approve one without also requiring a permit to rebuild. Previously, that exemption would require the approval of a community committee, which could add weeks or months to the process.
Qually said other efforts to speed up the timeline are still underway.
“The city’s problem properties committee continues to work on finding efficiencies in the administration of vacant buildings, especially on policies that can speed up demolition and remediation of a property,” he wrote.
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
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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.
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