City takes step toward possible termination of 10 derelict building leases
Iqaluit municipal planners identify 41 sites in report, single out 10 for possible further action
City planners have identified 10 abandoned properties in breach of their land lease, which would enable city officials to seek a court order to reclaim the properties. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
City planners who investigated 41 suspected derelict buildings presented their findings at Tuesday’s Iqaluit planning committee meeting.
Fourteen of the buildings were identified by the public works department as no longer being supported by water or sewer service, city planner Mathew Dodds said in his presentation.
Of those 14 properties, planners identified 10 that are unoccupied. As well, seven of the properties were found to be in breach of two or more lease conditions.
“Under the City of Iqaluit’s lands administration bylaw, properties [that are] unimproved or abandoned for over two years are subject to regulations,” Dodds said.
He said the bylaw “empowers council to terminate leases or enact other measures if certain conditions are breached.”
“Such breaches might include unpaid lease payments, property taxes and other city accounts, as well as requirements for repair, replacement or construction of improvements on these properties,” Dodds said.
He said planning staff will prepare a report on each of the 10 derelict properties. That will allow the city to seek court approval to terminate leases on the properties, opening them up to possible future development or improvement.
Dodds did not specify the location of those 10 buildings.
Coun. Kyle Sheppard thanked the planning department for the report.
“I think it’s important that at an upcoming [planning committee meeting], we discuss or review a draft policy on what we’re going to do with these lots,” Sheppard said.
If the lots are reclaimed, he said, “there has to be some community benefit to that other than lining the pockets of developers and landlords. I think they should be allocated specifically for affordable housing or some other need along those lines or for individual homeowners.”
Planning committee chairperson Coun. Kimberly Smith was unavailable for comment on this story.
Many years ago I wanted to build a house in Iqaluit, but the city had no lots available.
I identified a building that seemed to be abandoned. The city gave me the name of the lease-holder and told me that the annual $1 had not been paid for several years.
I contacted him. He said no one lived there, but he and his friends used the building regularly for band practice. He said he would pay his back lease fees.
I never built in Iqaluit and continue to pay rent.
C’est la vie.
How long ago was this? I mean you are stating 2 different issues here, but combining it as one, and provide no indication of timeline. Why were you opposed to buying on the open market? Why did you choose to not mention that portion? You act like because of this issue you simply had to keep paying rent, but causation to pay rent does not simply end with building a house, there are other ways to not pay rent, such as buying on the open market. Again you perhaps valid reasons for this,but you do not elaborate on why? Care to share, as it would help make understanding of the bigger issue more clear.
I dont think “Buildings have Uses” would need to go into the buying on open market. thats not what this particular article is about. There are a lot of other things that have issues even with regards to land lots and housing that also aren’t mentioned.
(alex) are you the Real Estate Hate Police ?
factors that goes against new home Buyers in iqaluit, availability and price. i sympathize with the fellow who put up his story here,makes sense to want to build it since price are so astronomical here. but also sympathise more with the musiscians that owns a Derilik House and want a place to jam as i love music too and respect others property. we should never seek or lust over others posession, Greed is Bad, what belongs to other is not ours, let go the greed and jalousy. it is theirs to do whathever they want to with and not yours.
iqaluit, i implore you, let go the greed,jalousy, and hate toward each other and make iqaluit great again.
What hate is there behind critically thinking? I am stating that the position put forth does not clearly define the issue he mentioned. Not being able to build “many years ago” and that he pays rent today, does not connect. Housing today is extremely low and not affordable, yes. Many years ago, isn’t the same as today. Paying rent today for not being able to build on a plot of land many years ago is not fully connected. I do appreciate the story. I am not even stating that he is wrong, I was curious as to what may have prevented the other options without speculating. There is no motive for hate in critically analyzing and asking, you are the one who made an assumption about me.
Wonder who lives in the four derelict properties that have no water or sewage service…
What about the empty lots in Apex? Some lots have been empty for many years, is there a time line for when a person or company gets a lot and they have a certain amount of time to build on the lot? Some lots sit empty for years and even decades.