News Release
Dangerous/Unsightly Buildings Ordered Demolished
(Tuesday, July 3/2001)-- Councillor Sue Uteck said today that a group of properties in central Halifax that have been termed a "public eyesore" since the mid-90s will soon be torn down.
Halifax Regional Municipality's Dangerous and Unsightly Premises Committee this morning ordered the demolition of buildings located at 1934-58 Robie Street. The properties are assessed to A.N. Koskolos Limited.
"The residents of this area, and everybody else who has had to look at them while walking or driving by them, can finally breathe a sigh of relief. These buildings are a disgrace to the neighbourhood and to the entire community. The neighbourhood is looking forward to a compatible development on this site, " Councillor Uteck said.
The Councillor said "The Koskolos company has been very insensitive to the residents of the Robie Street community and has gone out of its way to make these properties as unattractive as possible in an effort to bring pressure to bear on Council to change the land-use by-law for these properties."
She said the property owner has been trying to get approval for a high-density development on these lands since 1994 and has been turned down by successful Councils. It is understood the developer now wants to build a 108-room, no-service hotel. Area residents have repeatedly stated publicly that they are opposed to any high-density project on that site.
Councillor Uteck said A.N. Koskolos Limited has 30 days to demolish the buildings at 1934, 1940, 1944, 1948, 1950, 1956 and 1958 Robie Street or they will be torn down by the municipality and the cost will be charged as a lien against the properties.
On another matter, the Committee also ordered demolition of a building located at 1083 Wellington Street, in south end Halifax. The property is assessed to J & I Investments.
Councillor Uteck said the building is structurally-unsound and essentially abandoned for the last two years. Area residents have been pressing for HRM to have the building torn down.
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Councillor Sue Uteck
District 13 (Northwest Arm-South End)
(902) 221-7651
Councillor Bruce Hetherington
Chair, Dangerous and Unsightly Premises Committee
(902) 488-4808
