‘It was like a Value Village exploded’: Home condemned by bylaw

Jul 22, 2019 | 4:00 PM

A home harbouring needles, propane tanks and other debris was recently condemned by city bylaw.

Geoff Gaucher, manager of protective services for the City of Vernon said staff issued a notice to the home on 39^th Avenue on July 12, because the property was deemed unsafe.

The order was issued after city staff learned the home had no hydro access and the tenant was relying on a generator for power.

“The noise from the generator was what was irritating the residents in the area,” Gaucher said.

On July 16, another order was issued after city staff learned that people had re-entered the house after the first order was issued to move out.

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(Tiffany Goodwein/ VernonMatters Staff)

“They had the 13^th and 14^th to be out and take their property. We attended on the 15^th to ensure that everyone was out of the house because their time was up and they were just sort of moving out and so on the 16^th, the Tuesday we found people had entered back into the residence,” he said.

Only one tenant was lawfully allowed in the home, but Gaucher said it’s likely that more people may have been staying at the home.

(Ray Cusmano/ Facebook)

For the past year, the home has become the subject of numerous noise and unsightly premises complaints, according to Gaucher.

All kinds of debris, including needles were found.

Ray Cusmano was getting treatment at a nearby medical clinic when he saw all the debris last Friday and offered to help clean it up.

“A lot of brand new clothes with tags on them from Wal-Mart, and bicycle parts, and propane tanks, there were like three barbecues,” he said. “There was construction material there, lots of wood and plywood and different things the needles were everywhere of course, it just looked like a Value Village exploded there really.”

Cusmano posted photos of the home on Facebook and even more people offered to pitch in.

“I just posted it and I put my pictures out there and people started contacting me that they wanted to help, a truck came and a couple people showed up. I was there helping and we just loaded up the truck with a bunch of stuff,” Cusmano said.

Offers have also been pouring in to help the property owner, who is described as an elderly woman, clean up and re-paint the inside of the home.

The home was brought back into compliance as of Saturday.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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