Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 2008
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Paul Moloney
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CITY EYES PLAN TO FORCE GROW-OP HOMES' REPAIR

Proposal Would Order Owners To Restore Damaged Dwellings Or Else Face 
Municipal Bill For The Work

The City of Toronto has come up with a plan to restore homes badly 
damaged from being used as marijuana grow operations. "As it stands 
right now, you've got some of these buildings boarded up in 
communities," said Councillor Mike Del Grande. "It's a blight. It's 
an eyesore."

Starting next year, the city wants to order restoration work on some 
130 homes damaged by toxic mould from high humidity levels found in 
grow-ops. If the owner refuses, the city can carry out the work and 
add the cost to the property tax bill.

The plan was supported yesterday by council's planning and growth 
management committee and now goes to city council for approval.

"I think this is a win-win in the fight against one of the cancers 
that afflicts the stable neighbourhoods of our city and in particular 
the attractive, stable neighbourhoods of Scarborough," said 
Councillor Norm Kelly, committee chair.

The message to owners - often banks that have foreclosed - is to 
restore the property or the city will do it for them.

"What the city has found is that the owners were not voluntarily 
proceeding in an expeditious manner," said chief building official 
Ann Borooah. "We're hoping that owners will co-operate more 
expeditiously than has been the case."

The province has enacted a powerful legal weapon called the Civil 
Remedies Act, which allows the attorney general to have courts 
freeze, seize and forfeit the proceeds and instruments of unlawful 
activity, such as grow-ops. Properties are then sold and the money 
given to victims of crime. It's designed to discourage crime-minded 
homeowners. But many grow-op houses are not owned by the inhabitants.

Under the city plan, where police have investigated a grow-op and 
noted damage, the buildings department will order owners to make 
repairs, and pay a $5,000 fee to cover the city's inspection costs.

There's a lot of work involved, requiring five additional inspectors 
- - even if, as expected, most owners comply with repair orders, 
Borooah said. "We still have to oversee the process, issue the 
orders, look at the reports, agree to the remediation plan, issue the 
permit, inspect the work and then clear the work."

Del Grande said he's been pushing for six years for a more aggressive 
approach. "You're dealing with fire, police, buildings, licensing, 
public health - everybody and his brother - and nobody wanted to take 
the lead. We've come a long way."

A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. study last year of 12 former 
grow-ops found that most needed extensive and costly restoration.

The investigators recommended gutting rooms used for growing, and 
ensuring no mould was present in the insulation or wall cavity.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom