Pubdate: Thu, 21 Sep 2006
Source: Review, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2907
Author: Alison Langley

NEIGHBOURS GLAD MARIJUANA HOUSE TORN DOWN

A former marijuana grow house on Morrison Street is demolished, much 
to the delight of area residents.

The small property near Fourth Avenue had been sealed up tight since 
Feb. 22, 2005 after firefighters responding to a blaze discovered a 
marijuana-growing operation in the basement.

"I'm glad it's gone.

"It was such an eyesore," said a woman who lives nearby, who did not 
want to be identified.

"More than a year and a half later, you could still smell smoke and 
other odours. It wasn't pleasant."

The damage caused by both the fire and the drug lab led the Niagara 
Falls Fire Department to issued closure and unsafe to occupy orders 
against the property.

The orders prohibited anyone from living in the residence until it 
was cleaned up.

The property owner determined it was more cost-effective to demolish 
the former residence rather than clean it up. The building was 
subsequently taken over by a financial institution which arranged for 
the demolition that happened earlier this month.

This is the first time in Niagara Falls a residential home that 
housed a grow-op has been levelled.

"It was cheaper to tear it down than it was to comply with 
remediating it because of the fire and the marijuana grow operation," 
said fire prevention officer Jim Jessop.

The fire department currently has unsafe to occupy orders against 
over 40 properties in Niagara Falls that once housed marijuana grow operations.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine