A while back Urbanrat sent me some photos of the slums at 501 Erie St. W.
He wrote:
A very concerned resident of the area bounded by Erie Street west, between Bruce Ave and Janette Ave, is very upset about this derelict property at 501 – 529 Erie Street West, a row of townhouses.
This citizen and other residents are very concerned about the state of the building, especially the back wall of some units. They have called the city, their councillors Jones and Postma to have some action taken towards the property, many a time!
The owner has it listed for a rental property but refuses to repair or demolish the building (thus losing revenue tax credit).
There has been reports of squatters, kids et al entering the building at night under the tarps, with neighbours seeing candles or flashlights on in the rooms.
He sent along the following photos:
When I got to this photo he took, of the City Issued order, I stopped, because the order was AN ORDER TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING AND CLEAR THE SITE ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2008.
Seeing as it’s now October 3, I thought, I better make sure the place isn’t gone before I post these photos… So yesterday afternoon, I cruised on over to 501 Erie St. W.
Guess what?
The mess is still there… Unbelievable. For the amount of money we spend in taxes living in this city, someone should be embarrassed that this mess is still standing 63 days AFTER the deadline to demolish it. However, I guess if it’s not something sexy like a canal or a big new shiny arena, then it’s not high on the list of priorities for the City to deal with?
Where are Councillors Jones and Postma? Obviously, this isn’t in Sandwich, so Ron Jones will have no interest in looking after it… But where’s Postma? This is kind of her neighbourhood? Too busy with her own burned out rental properties? Nothing like looking after the people who elected you. What a mess Ward 2 is. 2010 isn’t coming quick enough.
Here are a few photos from yesterday afternoon.
I was blown, away to drive over there and to find this place still standing. Is it standard practice for a building to be standing a full two months after the deadline to demolish has passed? This place is a danger to the surrounding community.
Broken, boarded up windows…
Bricks falling off the back of the building… Yeah. I’m sure the neighbours feel much safer with that tarp in place.
The screen door is missing off one of the entrances, the window is missing from the one next to it…
Overgrowing plants, and yellowing, mouldering mail from who knows when in the mail boxes.
There’s that same order.
Based on the extent and nature of the defects the owner shall demolish this structure in its entirety and leave the site in a clear and level manner.
…
YOU ARE HEREBY REQUIRED, by this Order, to do the work required to repair the defects set forth in this Order and make the said property conform to the standards set forth in the said By-law ON OR BEFORE: AUGUST 1st, 2008
Click here to download legible copy of the order.
Looking at the owner’s name it is listed as:
Philip Katz
c/o Walter Muroff
333 Riverside Dr. W.
Suite 218
Windsor, ON
N9A 7C5
A quick google turns up nothing on Katz, but Walter Muroff is a mortgage broker… http://www.waltermuroff.yp.ca/index.htm. But, oh look at this… http://www.fstontario.ca/english/decisions/mortgagebroker/M0280-2006-1.pdf… It just happens to be a a copy of the hearing of the Financial Services Tribunal against Walter Muroff & Co., Ltd.
Muroff was nailed for not filing his financial statements in a timely manner, for 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004, and had his registration suspended for nine months.
Talk about bad judgement! Either Larry Horwitz:
or
or
Maybe Larry should call his “team” to go remove those signs. Probably not the best building to associate with.
So the ball is in your court City of Windsor… Why is this dangerous eyesore still standing? Ward 2 residents, call or email your councillor to ask why this building is still standing in direct violation of a City issued order.
Maybe A-Channel, CBC or the Windsor Star could pick up this story and run with it. If any readers have any contacts in the media, feel free to tip them off.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention Urbanrat. Hopefully, the readers of this blog can help get some action taken on this issue.
From the Border Cities Star - December 6, 1924, almost a century ago to the…
Built in 1929, the house at 2177 Victoria Avenue was originally numbered 1545 Victoria, pre…
Crescent Lanes first opened on Ottawa Street in 1944 at 1055 Ottawa Street, opposite Lanspeary…
Above is a photo of the home of Mr & Mrs Oswald Janisse, located at…
in 1917 two Greek brothers Gus & Harry Lukos purchased a one story building on…
View Comments
I did try to call 311 earlier but it was difficult to get through. We should all call on Monday and ask why this order is not being followed.
(Gentlemen, With all due respect it is alleys not allies)
lol....that's how i was gonna spell it, but i wasn't sure so i followed my elder and look where it lands me!
i live fairly close to there. i've been thinking about going inside to take some pictures. i'm a photographer. has anyone been inside? how safe is it? i'm not going to step on some junkies needle am i?
Not unless you go inside, then you should wear junkie proof galoshes
After years of water penetration (as mentioned on the notice) I'd be concerned also about all those mould spores entering your respiratory tract. If you do run into any characters squatting in there, I'm sure they won't make you a pot of coffee either. ;)
I looked through those big bay windows and didn't see any junkies. I wouldn't be worried about that. This isn't Detroit. You need a lot longer term exposure to the small volume of mold and asbestos than 5-10 minutes for it to have any effect on you. If that were the case, then the police would be required to wear a mask every time a neighbour called that someone walked into the building and they went inside to arrest them.
5-10 minute exposure for mold i'll agree with, but not asbestos. when it comes to exposure of anything toxic to your body, the difference between 5 and 10 minutes is critical and in most cases the difference between life and death. chances are that place is lined with the stuff, and since you guys say there's water damage the asbestos has probly been carried out of the ceiling and walls to the floor where you're going to go ahead and kick it all up....then breath it in. apparently, you may not show any symptoms for anywhere from 10 - 40 years. remember that mould is more like an infection you can kill, it's alive. i don't think there's anything out there that kills a bunch of chemical fibers that slowly destroy your lungs and give you cancer.
with that being said, go have fun but please wear a mask. even one of them simple painters masks will give you protection....but it's not ideal for asbestos. and be careful on the second level, who knows how long this water damage has been going on.
oh yeah....and plan on throwing all your clothes away that you wear to take these pictures before you even get home. if there is asbestos, it'll be all over your clothes that you'll wear in the house, sit on the couch, put in the wash, etc, etc........
oh...shoes too. at least wash them outside real good.
do you see where i'm going with this? lol
Fortunately this is one area of ignorance and risk taking where the only victim is one's self. So I'll gladly concede with David on all his points but will govern myself accordingly just the same. ;)
yeah......that was the HAZMAT part of me talking lol. in all reality, 5 minutes for a couple pics in that place, and a painters mask would be good for me. i just felt the need to give a warning should someone get really dusty/dirty in there....you may want to chuck everything.
....sounds like you've made some urban exploration plans john :)