A home on Dale Crescent in Bradford West Gwillimbury still sits vacant, after 5+ years with weeds growing all around it, and neighbours are fed up.
Dale Crescent resident Jessica Saunders said the home sat vacant for two years before a roof was ever built, which has allowed the interior to be exposed to the elements.
"The basement was full of hay, it started to stink," she said. "The entire street is so tired of it, t has been so long and nothing has been done."
The weeds surrounding the home are Queen Anne's Lace - wild carrot - listed as a noxious weed in agricultural areas where carrots are grown.
"The grass is wild," said Saunders, "(We) can't walk our dogs near it because they keep picking up ticks, our kid's bus stop is right there, skunks live in it because we constantly smell them."
Saunders also says the lot has become a dumping ground for garbage and believes it has affected the resale value of the homes on that side of the street, noting the lot beside it has been up for sale on and off many times.
According to the town's Clean-Yards By-Law, any grass/weeds in excess of 7.8 inches/20 centimetres "shall be trimmed." This applies to both vacant and occupied lots.
The large privately owned home, still under construction, has been vacant for at least five years.
As per BradfordToday's story from Aug. 2020, a legal dispute regarding ownership has tied up construction. The owner fenced the building and is supposed to keep the weed growth down.
Town staff have reached out to the owner over the past several years to encourage the completion or demolition of the structure. A spokesperson for the town says they will be contacting them again to address the unfinished project.
"Although we cannot force demolition of the structure, the Town’s Clean Yards By-law (2012-025) does allow us to enforce properties are kept free and clear of garbage and debris, weeds or grass are maintained, free of holes, etc.," said a spokesperson from the town. "The Town will get involved only after a formal complaint is made by a neighbouring property owner. At that point, the Town’s Enforcement Division will attend the property. If they confirm a violation has been made, an order is issued to the property owner requiring them to complete the necessary work to meet the requirements of the By-law, within a certain timeframe."
In the case of the vacant Dale Crescent property, the town has in the past, completed some maintenance at the property at the owner’s expense.
"With that being said, the town can only step in after an order has been issued and has not been addressed within the timeframe specified in the order."
According to the town, no formal complaints have been made about the property to by-law this year, but there were three in 2021.
