Residents of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gibson Road are about to get something they鈥檝e been wishing for the past 11 years.

A dilapidated home at 424 Gibson Road has been of concern to neighbours since the current owner purchased it in 2010. Several complaints regarding the unsightly state of the house, construction traffic, waste storage, construction noise and other nuisances have resulted in 24 visits to the property by city staff.

On Monday, after several attempts over the years to have the owner clean up the property, 琉璃神社 city council approved a measure city planning director Ryan Smith called their 鈥渓ast resort鈥� 鈥� a full demolition of the site.

鈥淚 think the message to be sent is that we do mean business in these cases and it鈥檚 not acceptable to impact neighbourhoods this way.鈥�

READ MORE: 鈥楽lap in the face鈥�: 琉璃神社 council slams door on 35-storey Bertram highrise

READ MORE: Civic closures in 琉璃神社 for B.C. Day

The property owner now needs to apply for a demolition permit by Aug. 9. Within 42 days, the owner needs to remove all contents from the site and, by 60 days, have it cleared of hazardous materials. Within four months, the whole site has to be levelled, including the house, its foundation, a swimming pool and any other material on site.

And if the owner doesn鈥檛 do it, they鈥檒l still be on the hook for the cost of the demolition. The city plans to move forward with the demolition itself and bill the owner if work doesn鈥檛 get underway as planned.

The owner still has the opportunity to suggest another way. They have 14 days to petition any alternatives to council, but Smith said staff doesn鈥檛 believe the owner can make the necessary improvements themselves.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on , follow us on and subscribe to our daily newsletter.