House of ‘filth’ council’s focus
For the last four years, 356 McGowan Ave. hasn’t been popular with neighbours.
In September 2008, candles set too close to a curtain caused a fire in the house.
According to a report by city staff, follow-up inspections by the Interior Health Authority, Kamloops Fire Rescue and the city building inspector found an “accumulation of filth” inside the North Kamloops home, including animal feces and old food containers, as well as smoke and water damage.
“The amount of accumulated debris covered the entire surface of the interiors of the house and was several feet in depth,” the report states.
The building was declared uninhabitable and has stood vacant for the past four years.
During that time, it’s been the subject of numerous neighbourhood complaints — including a petition calling for the house’s demolition submitted to the city in March by 14 neighbouring property owners.
City staff say concerns have included weeds and debris in the yard, “the use of the dwelling by transients, pigeons and other vermin” and concern the house could become a target for arsonists that have been setting fires on the North Shore during the past year.
At its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 21, Kamloops city council will decide whether to declare the home a nuisance and issue a remediation order.
Should council agree to do so, the owner of the property would have to supply the city with a professional report on all repairs needed to make the home habitable again, along with a timeline for completing the work.
If repairs aren’t completed, the city could consider having the home demolished.
According to the BC Assessment Authority the property at 356 McGowan Ave. has an assessed value of $127,000.
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