North Cowichan Council is ordering the owners of three derelict buildings on York Road to clean up the sites or demolish the buildings.
In a news release the municipality says the remediation orders cover the site of the former Good Neighbours Thrift Shop and two houses on York Road that have been declared nuisance properties with unsafe and hazardous conditions.
An order to have the houses demolished was issued on August 20, but council was asked to reconsider the order due to extenuating circumstances.
At its meeting on Wednesday (Sept 17) North Cowichan Council upheld the order.
Both houses have been boarded up, and on Sunday evening one of the houses was damaged by a fire.
The property owner has 60 days to apply for a demolition permit, and the structures must be demolished within 90 days after the permit is issued.
The Good Neighbours Thrift Store was destroyed by fire in February of 2024 and municipal staff have held meetings about the condition of the remaining structure with the property owner.
The remediation order requires the owner to have an engineering report done on the structural integrity of the front-facing wall, and then clean up and remediate that portion of the building within 90 days.
Mayor Rob Douglas says the buildings are more than eyesores – they’re a safety hazard and a blight on the neighbourhood.
“Demolishing the abandoned houses and cleaning up the former thrift store site are key steps toward making the area safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
Douglas says North Cowichan is sending a clear message that the municipality is taking action to support nearby residents and businesses.
