Partially demolished property in Westsyde (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

NUISANCE PROPERTY

Neighbours concerned as partially demolished Westsyde home sits vacant with asbestos unabated

Feb 7, 2023 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a home with no siding, holes through the walls, broken windows, and an open door inviting in curious teenagers and wild animals. Demolition on the nuisance property at 3269 Bank Road in Westsyde was stopped as the old house has never been properly abated of asbestos.

“From what I know of houses of this age there is vermiculite and asbestos in the insulation and the walls and so on. As someone living next door, I’m obviously concerned about the particulates in the air and I have two young kids,” said nextdoor neighbour Chad Pearson.

Asbestos only becomes harmful when disturbed, such as during a demo. Pearson recently underwent a reno on his own property, noting the abatement cost nearly $30,000.

Pearson hopes that at a minimum, the home can be boarded up to keep any dangerous building materials inside, and the animals and teenagers out.

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“You got teens going in there and there is dangerous materials in there and I’m worried they are maybe smoking in there, and there could be a fire. As well as if anybody decides maybe they are going to squat in there, we don’t know who it is. My kids are playing next door, neighbourhood kids are riding their bikes around here,” added Pearson.

(image credit – CFJC Today)

Kamloops residents living near nuisance or unsafe properties do have a few tools available to them through City of Kamloops Community Services, which in turn can utilize the Good Neighbour bylaw.

“It allows the city to (collect) associated fees to a property for calls to service, if it’s police related or a nuisance in nature. It can be community service officers, could be fire service or it could be the RCMP attending the file,” said Will Beatty, Acting Community Services Manager for the City of Kamloops.

The fees levied against the owner are based off of the time spent on site those responding. The city has the ability, under the charter, to enter the building and fine the owner, but can’t physically secure the home.

Pearson agreed that the city was helpful in evicting the previous tenants and putting a stop to the unsafe demo, but noted their hands are now tied as the property sits empty.

“(The city was) incredibly helpful with the former tenants. They had security hired out here 24/7. They would clean up the yard, it was overgrown with weeds, deemed a fire hazard. The city has been helpful in some areas but the legal area is beyond my scope of what can be done. I just know it can’t sit like this. It’s getting worse,” said Pearson.

Despite the state of the property, the house and land are valued at over half-a-million dollars, according to B.C. Assessment.

Pearson is hoping that the owner will consider selling it so it can be redeveloped.