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The City of North Vancouver has filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court, asking for an order that the owner of a property on East 11th Street that was the scene of a recent drive-by shooting stop using the home as an illegal rooming house and bring the property into compliance with local bylaws.
The lawsuit, filed by lawyers for the city, May 2, seeks a declaration that the owner of the property at 462 East 11th is contravening zoning, building and fire bylaws and an order the problems be fixed or the owner seek a demolition permit for the property.
The house is the same one where neighbours were recently shocked by a drive-by shooting into the house around 3 a.m. on April 24, when they woke to the "pop, pop, pop" of multiple shots being fired.
It’s also a property that has been the subject of multiple complaints from neighbours who say they’ve seen everything from police entering the home with guns drawn, and an incident where one person from the house, brandishing a machete, chased another person down the street.
House the scene of assaults, overdoses, burning and shooting
The petition filed in court by the city refers to the many disturbances at the property, complaints from neighbours and calls to the police and fire department, stating incidents at the house have included “assaults, drug related investigations, a sudden death, overdose calls, burning complaints, untidy/unsightly property complaints, parking complaints, zoning complaints and a drive-by shooting.”
The city has demanded the owner stop using the property as a rooming house, according to the petition, but adds the owner hasn’t responded.
The city’s petition includes a long list of alleged bylaw infractions by the owner, dating back 15 years.
10 suites in house, says city
Among those, while the house was originally built as a three-bedroom home with 1.5 bathrooms and “no lawful suite has ever been applied for or approved in the house”, it now contains 10 separate units, many of which also contain cooking facilities as well as padlocks on the outside of the doors, according to the city’s petition.
Since 2007, illegal construction at the house has included installation of interior partitions and drywall, plumbing, electrical works, installation of gas lines and appliances such as baseboard heaters – all without permits or inspections, according to court documents filed by the city.
That has resulted in problems like inadequate window size, windows that don’t open, permanent use of extension cords and portable space heaters without adequate clearance, inadequate dryer venting and insufficient ceiling height in the basement, according to the city.
City alleges health and safety hazards
“The unpermitted use and unlawful construction have created serious health and safety hazards and fire hazards at the property,” the court petition states.
In addition, since 2010, the owner has repeatedly allowed garbage, discarded furniture, bedding, plywood, tires, carpeting and shopping carts to accumulate around the property, the petition alleges.
The owner has also failed to install and maintain smoke, carbon monoxide and gas monitoring alarms as well as fire extinguishers on the property, the city claims.
The city is asking for an order that the owner stop using the property as a rooming house within 30 days to stop occupancy of the property – until it can be reviewed by a building official – within 30 days. The city is also seeking a court order that will require the owner to apply for permits to bring construction, electrical, plumbing and gas work in the house into compliance with bylaws or a demolition permit to remove the house within 60 days, with work to be completed within 90 days of a permit being issued. The city is also seeking an order that the owner remove all rubbish on the property within 15 days.
The property at 462 East 11th St. is owned by Celine Goh, who lives in Lynn Valley and previously told the North Shore News she has rented out rooms in the house to provide an income in her retirement.
In response to questions about the city’s petition, Goh said many of the people currently living in the house are squatters, and she has no control over their activities.
Goh said she wants to stop renting rooms in the house and sell the property.
“I’ve had enough,” she said.
According to B.C. Assessment, the property is assessed at almost $1.85 million, although the house itself is valued at less than $33,000.
