Residents thrilled piles of charred rubble removed from properties

Several inner-city properties filled with charred rubble for months or even years have now been cleaned up, sparking relief among neighbours.

An advocate who pleaded with the city to help clear the demolished remains of fire-ravaged buildings in his neighbourhood said nine out of 11 rubble-filled lots are now clear.

“It’s nice to see the progress, really nice,” said Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association.

Warren said the rubble piles attracted dumping, scavenging and rodents, making the empty lots appear beautiful in comparison.

The association has kept count of vacant and derelict properties in various states for about two-and-a-half years and has yet to see this much progress on rubble removal at once, said Warren.

“There’s one particular lot that (was) sitting like that for six years, it’s been a thorn in my side… and it’s even cleaned up now,” he said about a Salter Avenue property. “We actually believe (the city is) listening and it’s not just talking about them being committed to this… It’s a big relief,” he said.

Spence resident Cheryl Martens said she’s seen at least two rubble piles cleared off lots in her area recently, including a city contractor’s removal of debris from a 694 Sherbrook St. apartment block that burned down in February 2022.

Another Sargent Avenue property was cleaned up within the last week, said Martens.

“I’m thrilled. I’m so happy because it is worse having a rubble pile than having a vacant lot … They’re just more dangerous and they’re more unsightly,” she said.

However, the resident fears a growing number of empty lots could now linger in place.

“What (do we do) with all the vacant lots in Spence? It’s 60 vacant lots in six streets. It’s demoralizing,” said Martens.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who has long pushed for the city to clean up rubble-filled lots, said she’s cautiously optimistic about the progress but much more work is needed.

“The city is finally stepping up… using whatever (options) we have (within) our bylaws,” said Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre).

A city spokesman linked the progress to ramped-up enforcement and an expedited demolition process.

“City departments have been able to issue compliance orders with more frequency to owners of vacant and derelict properties that require remediation. When those orders haven’t been complied with, the city has also been able to move through its process more quickly (for) awarding demo contracts and having the work carried out,” wrote Kalen Qually, in an email.

When the city leads a demolition, the cost is added to the owner’s property tax bill, noted Qually.

Gilroy believes increased fines for vacant and derelict buildings may also help spark quicker cleanup efforts.

In 2023, city council approved a series of changes to crack down on empty buildings, which ramped up security standards, added four more bylaw enforcement officers and created new inspection fees.

“The city is really kind of prioritizing this,” said Gilroy.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he’s pleased to see the progress.

“The people of William Whyte have been very patient and, unfortunately, have had to look at derelict properties and burned-out piles of rubble for months on end,” said Gillingham.

“We need those properties turned into housing. So, the sooner we can get the debris cleared, the sooner we can get those properties developed,” the mayor added.

Gilroy noted hundreds of derelict lots remain, stressing provincial help is needed to address the addiction, homelessness and poverty that make the properties more likely to attract vulnerable people.

“Until we deal… with the unsheltered crisis we have, we’re still going to see (effects) of that,” she said.

Meanwhile, work is underway to clear the remains of the former Surplus Direct store, which was gutted by fire at 843 Main St. in February 2023.

Owner Robert McDonald said the city ordered him to clean up the property before provincial stop work orders thwarted his initial demolition plan. McDonald said the province insisted on a much more expensive wet demolition process to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.

He said the requirement was made despite the fact he submitted dozens of tests that found no asbestos is present at the site.

“It’s very, very unfair,” said McDonald.

He said he ultimately paid for the more expensive cleanup for the sake of nearby residents.

“I bit the bullet here because… I feel for the people of the area that (the rubble has) been (in place for so) long,” said McDonald.

The property owner said the cleanup will cost more than $400,000, compared to about $125,000 for a standard debris removal.

McDonald said he will sue the province to try to recoup the cost difference.

In an email, a provincial spokesperson said Workplace Safety and Health detected asbestos at the site.

“The province takes asbestos management very seriously, as asbestos-linked disease is a leading cause of occupational illness and death,” the statement said.

Provincial rules don’t specifically require wet demolitions to deal with asbestos, since requirements depend on circumstances at each site, the spokesman said.

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.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

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