A Port Alice Village-owned residence will be getting demolished.
Chief Administrative Officer Ronald Campbell recommended in a report that the “village-owned residence at 1116 Matsqui Avenue be demolished following a hazardous materials assessment and that the cost of demolition be funded from the Land Sale Reserve, and that the lot be placed on the market for sale by the Village, and once sold the revenue be placed in the Land Sale Reserve.”
The Village of Port Alice became owners of the property through a 2014 tax sale.
Campbell’s rationale for wanting the property to be torn down is due to the building being “dilapidated and upon investigation cost prohibitive for reconstruction.
“The Port Alice Fire Department indicated in the spring of 2016 that they wanted to use the site for practices and then a controlled burn by the Tri-Port municipalities. Unfortunately the fire department has not been able to organize the practices or controlled burn.”
Campbell continued on in his analysis, stating that although “the property and building could be offered for sale, as is, the sale price would be negatively impacted as a result of the requirement to demolish the building. It is likely that by demolishing the residence now and then selling the vacant lot the Village would realize greater revenue even with the demolition costs. Further there is no guarantee that the site in its current condition would sell and we are receiving numerous complaints about its condition by neighbourhood residents.”
The hazardous material assessment will cost approximately $1,500.
After the assessment has been completed, quotes will “be obtained through a tendering process,” added Campbell.
The decision to demolish the property was unanimously approved by council. Mayor Jan Allen stated that the building is “an eyesore, and the people who live beside it would like to see it disappear. We’re gonna pull it down and put the lot up for sale.”