The Shannondale (née Electrohome, 152 Shanley St) | 8 fl | U/C

[danbrotherston]

Was there anything that Kitchener could have done differently to prevent this from happening? Property tax rules are provincial, right? What about allowing buildings to get to this state of disrepair? Who sets those laws?

I still want to know why expropriation wouldn’t work. I’m pretty sure back taxes have to be paid out of the proceeds of any property transfer, so presumably it would just be an administrative action involving no transfer of money (assuming the taxes exceed the property value).

Why do you think expropriation doesn't work? That's my impression of exactly what happened last time.  The city took and sold the property to pay for the taxes.