Sylvie Paillard
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A downtown residence described by many as the scourge of the neighbourhood may soon be a thing of the past. The RCMP, Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Safety Authority, the district and neighbours have partnered to clean up the problem property on Cleveland Avenue nicknamed the Purple Palace, which even the 70-year-old property owner calls "a nightmare."
Drug addicted and drug dealing tenants coming and going over the years have taken over the residential units in the back of the building to the point where the property manager is afraid to enter the premises. The current tenants haven't occupied the building very long, but the same problems reoccur, said owner Denis McDougall.
"I would've liked them all out of there two months ago, but contrary to what people think, there's no quick way to do that," he said.
But neighbourhood concerns may have sped up the process, prompting agencies to undertake an inspection of the interior of the property to establish compliance with municipal bylaws and regulations.
"In response to neighbourhood concerns about drug activity, safety issues and unsightly premises complaints, the partners have pulled together to reduce and interrupt recurring illicit activities," stated a March 30 district news release.
Over the past six months, the RCMP executed two search warrants that resulted in drug and firearms charges against residents at the house. Since then, the RCMP have continued to disrupt recurring drug activities with active enforcement and regular visits to the property checking ID's and compliance with orders and gathering evidence in order to pursue further search warrants when required. The property has also been the subject of several recent unsightly premises compliance orders and was recently investigated and inspected for potential health and safety issues.
"Although only minor bylaw infractions were found this time, it sends a message to the tenants that we will continue to investigate problem properties," said Mayor Ian Sutherland. "It also sends a message to the owners that they are ultimately responsible for what happens on the property and for who is living there. The district encourages landlords to screen prospective tenants and conduct regular inspections of their property. It could soon be a legal requirement."The district is proposing a new bylaw to give them teeth in dealing with "problem properties" such as the Purple Palace. In May, council will consider adopting a controlled substances health, nuisance and safety bylaw, which would require landlords to inspect their property at least every three months. And if they notice anything that contravenes the bylaw, or that appears criminal or dangerous, they must report it.
On first reading, McDougall said he felt that the bylaw will "just make the nightmare bigger."
"The District of Squamish needs to assist property owners, not make it worse," he said. He said he's already paid the $200 unsightly premises fine and, thanks to the agencies, two truckloads of "junk" were hauled away. He's still frustrated, however, with the eviction process. But he said he sure knows what he'll do once they're gone.
"Once I get these groups of four residential tenants out, I'm going to padlock it up," he said. "But they are what they are. They'll just go somewhere else."
