Canada/The City of Edmonton wants to curb the problem of abandoned houses

In almost three years, over 470 properties have been demolished in Edmonton as part of the Problem Property Initiative.

This phenomenon affects several neighborhoods such as Alberta Avenue, Pleasantview and Eastwood, and involves houses left abandoned, where illegal occupancy or fires can occur.

In 2023, the city introduced a tax to penalize the owners of these vacant homes.

It also deployed security teams in the neighborhoods to prevent fire hazards.

According to the city, this measure has helped secure nearly 1,200 properties over the past three years.

The situation is improving in some neighborhoods

Abandoned houses and buildings have been a security problem in Edmonton for decades. Neighbors report illegal occupancy, noise pollution and even fires.

Every week, residents would report fires in some of these buildings," says Métis District Councillor Ashley Salvador.

Christy Morin has lived on Alberta Avenue for 30 years and has seen several neighbors leave the neighborhood because of this problem.

You don't even want to go home at night when you live next to this type of building. There was drug use. There were gangs around. There were also a lot of stolen vehicles in our neighborhood. And it's turning into a real nest of crime," she explains.

According to Ahsley Salvador, measures taken in recent years have improved the situation in some neighborhoods.

This is the case in Alberta Avenue, according to Christy Morin. Children can now go out to play, the elderly can walk through the alleys without fear, and everyone has a better quality of life," she says.

Measures for commercial properties

Currently, 62 residential properties are declared unsecured and vacant, according to the City. They must now be secured, either by their owners or by the City.

In early January, a commercial building on 111th Avenue, near The Aviary concert hall, was affected by a fire. This building was not affected by measures aimed at residential property, such as the tax on dilapidated dwellings.

Community members and businesses have called for stronger measures to be taken against these commercial properties," says city councillor Ashley Salvador. I think this is the kind of tool I want to develop and apply to the commercial sector.

Council is expected to present a number of options next spring, including the creation of a new tax subcategory for commercial properties.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/