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Frustration mounts over deteriorating properties on David Street in Kitchener
April 21, 2014 | Brent Davis | The Record | LINK

KITCHENER — Frustration is mounting around Victoria Park as a pair of derelict buildings stands untouched by a developer ordered to take action in January.

The city issued a property standards order to the Revel Development Corp. in late January for 51 and 53 David St., telling the owner to either fix up the dilapidated homes or tear them down.

But the two-month deadline came and went in late March with nothing done to the properties. The developer appealed the order, seeking an extension to allow the homes to become a temporary art installation during the Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA) festival this spring.

Even though the developer missed an appeal deadline by several weeks, the appeal will still be considered April 30 by the city's property standards appeal committee, said director of enforcement Shayne Turner.

"The appeal wasn't made within the proper time frame," but it's not up to staff to refuse to hear it, Turner said.

"At this point, we need to let the appeal process play itself out."

Representatives from Revel did not respond to a request for comment.

On April 30, the committee could simply decide not to hear the appeal and rule that the initial order stands, Turner said. The city could then put the wheels in motion to proceed with a demolition application.

The developer could still apply to a court to have the committee decision overturned, Turner said.

"There is a level of frustration … but we're bound by the legal process," he said. "I completely understand why the general public is frustrated."

If an extension is granted, the committee could issue conditions requiring the demolition permit process to begin while the art festival is under way, Turner said.

Following complaints, city crews were sent to the property last week to remove garbage from the site, including a tire and a couple pieces of furniture dumped on the site.

"That's minor compared to the buildings themselves," Turner said.

The former drug dens were purchased in 2012, and Revel plans a condominium project for the property.

An application for a demolition permit, whether it's launched by the developer or the city, would have to go before a heritage committee for approval as the homes sit within the Victoria Park heritage conservation district.

"Enough's enough," said area resident Tim Willcox. "They've been sitting there empty long enough."

Willcox called the idea of painting one home completely white and the other completely black for the art festival scheduled for May 31 to June 29 "beyond ridiculous."

He said the fact the city is spending $567,000 to build new park washrooms while these homes stand, untouched, directly across the street is a "farce."

"Where are the city's priorities?" Willcox asked.

CAFKA's artistic director, Karie Liao, said they were excited by the prospect of transforming the "infamous" buildings.

"I think that it will force people to have a different perspective or a different view of these houses," she said. "Once they're gone, maybe they'll have a lasting memory."

Liao said they were aware of the property standards order, but didn't know an extension has not yet been granted to allow for the CAFKA installation.

"That does sound a little bit concerning," she said. "I think that we are an organization that's pretty flexible. We have to work with the conditions that are set before us."

But Liao said they would be disappointed if Shelburne-area artist Don Miller isn't able to paint the homes.

"We never have the chance to work with an empty space like this."

While Ward Coun. Frank Etherington said he supports CAFKA itself, he won't support this particular idea.

"In my opinion, it's one more move in a stupid game to delay the demolition."

Etherington said he's quickly running out of patience on the issue, adding he's been fielding plenty of complaints from area residents.

"It's been a disgusting sight and I want it cleaned up as soon as possible," he said. "The next step is to demolish those buildings."