Fate of Minto Apartments still uncertain

Holash said the board should uphold the demolition order and not allow the transfer of ownership. He said Temple, who runs the Full Gospel Outreach church and the apartments above it, would be unable to bring anything to the building other that more nuisance complaints.

He cited several pages of complaints generated from the outreach apartments as proof that more of the same would occur. He said the local community had no confidence that there would be any improvement.

“The community was very significantly affected by the nuisance,” said Holash.

“We know (the community) have a great stake in the decision you will make and any decision that allows a similar nuisance to reappear in this building.

“What’s being proposed, it relates to a purchaser that is having difficulty managing the same type of property in the same neighbourhood up until the current time.”

McMillan said it was unfair to blame the problems of an entire neighbourhood on one building.

“I believe there is a severe problem in the downtown area. Is it all because of the Minto Apartments or the old CB Store? The whole downtown’s got a problem,” he said.

He added that the entire process was drawn out and badly in need of a conclusion whatever it was.

“We’ve done just about everything you asked. We just want a decision. If you want to bulldoze it, then bulldoze it, just let us know,” he said.

Temple further argued that while his tenants had in the past been unruly or unsavoury, they had since moved from that to offer housing to people with strong backgrounds and the potential to contribute to society.

“I believe that we are working towards revitalizing the downtown area. I really do believe that,” said Temple.

“Right now, we’re not really accepting or dealing with renters that have alcohol or drug problems. Most—in fact all—have a proven track record of no drug or alcohol abuse.”

Both Temple and Markwart argued that the number of nuisance calls weren’t caused by the residents, but were in fact reported by the residents.

For Markwart, the process has been long and drawn out, having gone through the city’s appeal boards and provincial courts. He said all he wanted to do was get rid of the building and that the effort it was taking was too much for him.

“My health has been very poor and the continued attack on my character with what we’re trying to do is upsetting,” he said.

“The process is not fair. The process is not realistic. The process goes against the property owner more than I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The board adjourned without making a decision. Chairman Fred Payton said the parties would be notified of a decision through mail. It’s expected to take a few weeks.

A demolition order was ordered against the apartments in 2004. The order has been appealed the city and challenged in courts several times since that date.

The most recent court challenge of the order from Markwart was denied by the courts and a separate appeal of the order was withdrawn.

The city’s property maintenance appeal board has the power to approve either the building’s demolition or transfer of ownership.

adesouza@panow.com

by Andrew de Souza

Fate of Minto Apartments still uncertain

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