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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-11-11, Page 21News The Huron Expositor • November 11, 2009 Page 21 Council hopes to clean up Vanastra properties and sell them Despite councillor's concerns about clean- up costs, council hopes to earn back money from subdivision planned for the land From Page trator Jack McLachlan said, adding that there is .a plan of subdivision be- ing registered �n one of the proper- ties. He said the alternative to having the properties vested in the name of the municipality is reverting them back to the previous owners with the present tax arrears. The present owner is in Toronto, he said. Tuckersmith Coun. Les Falconer said that since taxes have not been paid on the prop- erties during the past 10 years, it's time the municipality took over. "These properties have gone on long enough the way they are. It's time something was done," he said. Deputy -Mayor Ber- nie MacLellan agreed, adding that with a 15 - lot plan of subdivision being planned for some of the land, Huron East should be able to get back whatever it invests in the properties to clean them up. "There's been concern about the safety of the kids around these der- elict buildings for a long time and we should make a lot of people hap- py who've been living with this for years," he said. "It's an eyesore - let's, get it done," agreed McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon. McLachlan's report to council said the property at 196 Toronto Blvd. is a 1.35 acre parcel which had a derelict three-storey apartment building re- moved from it by the present owner but a pile of rubble was left behind. The property is fully serviced with municipal water, sewer and storm sewer and has a nine -lot plan of sub- division applied for it. He said he's received estimates of $8,000 to clean up the site, which had outstanding taxes of $37,424.37 at the time of the sale. The derelict building at 197 Toron- to Blvd. is also fully serviced with a seven -lot plan of subdivision planned for it. McLachlan's report said filler pipes at the back of the property might in- dicate an old fuel tank on the prop- erty. He said he's received estimates of $80,000 to remove the building. Out- standing taxes on the property at the time of the sale were $53,069.75. The three-storey red brick building at 36 Winnipeg Road had outstand- ing taxes of $448,303.30 at the time of the sale and Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight pointed out that the cost of the taxes might have prevented the building from being sold. "She's built like a bomb shelter. It would be the only place stand- ing in Huron County if a big wind came along," said Seaforth Coun. Joe Stefller. While the building hasn't been fully oc- cupied since 1977, McLachlan's report said one tenant occupies the lower west wing which contains four or five bays with large garage openings. McLachlan said he'd like to try putting the building up for sale be- fore deciding whether the building needs to be torn down or not. "We can't put it up for tender until it's in our name - right now we can only sit at the roadside and look at it. But, for what could be its poten- tial, we could get $100,000 for it and that's $100,000 we don't have other- wise," agreed MacLellan. Stefer added that the municipal- ity could collect rent on the .property once it's in Huron East's name, as well. "I say we take the loss. It's been over 30 years and we haven't solved the problem and it's not going. to get any cheaper. If we don't do anything, we're showing the people in Vanas- tra we don't care what it looks like," said Stefer. McGrath said he wanted to see the clean-up costs "etched in stone" and McLachlan said he had a written agreement. Mayor Joe Seili said that with 15 new hpuses in Vanastra, there could br 30 more kids using the Vanastra hec Centre. "Doing nothing is not an option anymore," he added. `These properties have gone on long enough the way they are. It's time something was done," -- Huron East Coun. Les Falconer qIt&Afili'.g'. An abandoned apartment at 196 Toronto Blvd. Is being taken over by Huron East. Online courses from Ontario's Colleges and Universities start here in Exeter. tote se eion. Registration. Advanced technology. High-speed Internet. We support you .every step of the way: Go to elearnnetwork.ca/exeter for more information. Drop in or call: 349 Main Street 519-235-1232 Register now for courses. Funded by the Govemment of Ontario @leamnetwork.ca Leam where you live