This house in the 1000 block of 18th St. W. is among over a dozen boarded up homes in the city, and in this specific case the file has been forwarded for prosecution. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Concerns with empty space

Issues related to boarded up homes ‘complicated’: City councillor

Jan 14, 2020 | 4:42 PM

There are currently 17 homes boarded up in Prince Albert, and 28 outstanding files.

Those figures are contained in a report, which was discussed briefly during Monday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting. Ward 1 Councillor Charlene Miller asked Police Chief Jon Bergen how many of the boarded up homes were owned by the same person. Bergen passed the question on to Bylaw Manager Suzanne Stubbs.

“There’s one owner who’s on here two times,” she said.

Miller further questioned how many of the houses were rental properties, to which Stubbs replied the majority of them were.

This house in the 1000 block of fourth St. E. was nearly destroyed by a fire last June. The investigation resulted in no charges. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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Last week, a vacant house in the city’s midtown area was consumed by a fire. The cause remains under investigation. Ward 3 Councillor Evert Botha told paNOW council is working hard to find solutions to the issues that come from vacant homes, but added it’s a complicated matter.

“I wish there was a magic wand, but right now our most powerful tool is our bylaw department and I think they are doing an exceptional job given the limited resources they have,” he said.

The owner of this house (800 block of 17th St. W.) is current appealing the decision of a provincial court judge. The appeal date has not yet been set. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Botha welcomed the report from bylaw, adding it represents the success of residents continually calling their councillors and engaging bylaw to make sure the properties are dealt with. He explained council has reached out to bylaw “time and time again” to see how much more they could do with respect to improving or fast tracking the process when dealing with homes that may require demolition.

“Ultimately there is a variety of acts and statutes, not just within the city, but also in the province that we also need to abide by,” he said, adding some complications arise from some of the landlords not physically living in the city.

At this week’s executive committee meeting, council discussed a new incentive that would essentially see the city provide financial assistance to first time home buyers. Botha said as many as five home buyers could receive assistance each year.

“Hopefully some of these home buyers will buy properties to fix them up,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell