Councillors give nod to stricter property standards enforcement in Jamestown

City Council voted unanimously tonight in favour of tougher property standards bylaw enforcement in Jamestown.

Ward 4 Councillor Rick Niro said he brought the matter forward after hearing concerns from business people who've made substantial investments in the once-proud neighbourhood, which was prominently featured in February's W5/ Vice Canada documentary Steel Town Down about Canada's small-town fentanyl epidemic.

Niro said he doesn't mean to criticize the city's bylaw enforcement staff, but the condition of some buildings creates a disincentive for neighbouring property owners to invest further.

Niro wants the crackdown on Jamestown property standards to be just the beginning of a series of Jamestown initiatives.

He also wants to see crackdowns on dirty yards and trash-littered city-owned laneways there.

"The Jamestown area could be a start," Niro said, "but it's not the only area that needs attention."

The Ward 4 councillor said he's interested in similar enforcement in neighbourhoods east of Jamestown.

Ward 1's Steve Butland said Jamestown has other problems: crime, bed bugs, too much concrete and not enough colour.

Butland said he wants to see a more comprehensive approach to the neighbourhood's issues.

Ward 5 Councillor Frank Fata expressed concern that overly aggressive enforcement might push some property owners too hard, causing the properties to end up in the hands of the municipality.

The resolution passed unanimously by City Council tonight calls for city building officials to report on actions needed to ensure all buildings in the Jamestown area comply with the property standards bylaw.

In other business, councillors voted tonight to briefly defer a decision on removing traffic signals at the Wellington and Huron intersection until the issue can be discussed with merchants in that area.

Carl Rumiel, a city design and construction engineer, had recommended that the lights be permanently removed during this summer's reconstruction of the Fort Creek aqueduct along Wellington Street West from St. Andrew's Terrace to Carmen's Way.

But Rumiel said the work is just getting started and any decision on traffic signals could be delayed a month.

Councillors agreed to look into establishing a new parking lot in the Gore Street area.