The owner of a Port Moody home the city wants torn down is asking for more time before demolition crews are dispatched.
The home, on Dewdney Trunk Road, was heavily damaged by a fire in 2016 that killed a mother of six.
On May 26 city council approved a formal remedial action order against Morgan Crest Development Corp. of Surrey to tear the house down after years of complaints from neighbours and a pair of fines issued under the city’s unsightly premise bylaw that went unpaid.
But on Tuesday, the company’s director, Arian Soheili, told council he’s taken care of the fines and made considerable progress in fixing up the home to make it habitable again as two rental units.
“The home as it stands is very salvageable,” he said, adding contractors have already removed rubbish from the lot, including a patio structure that contravened city bylaws, as well as cleared the house of all finishings, appliances, electrical fixtures, wiring and plumbing.
As well, Soheili said since the demolition order was issued, new windows have been installed, the front of the house has new siding and the landscaping around it has been cleaned up.
“We are working diligently,” he said.
André Boel, Port Moody’s general manager of planning and development, confirmed progress has been made on repairing the house.
Soheili apologized repeatedly for the delays, some of which he attributed to difficulties connecting with the city because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said while his company has constructed new homes from the ground up, this was its first attempt at a fire restoration project, an effort he took on because of a personal connection to the family that was displaced.
Soheili said it’s his intent to divide the house into two affordable rental suites, with his profits being put into a bursary fund for the children who lost their mother.
“It is important for us to have this project survive and continue,” he implored.
Coun. Steve Milani said he’s inclined to give the owner the benefit of the doubt.
“I’d be interested in seeing how this progresses over the next month or so.”
Staff will provide councillors another update on the progress of restoration work by the end of July.
