DRUGS, NOISE ANGER NEIGHBOURS

City Loath To Close Low-Income Housing Despite Drugs And Crime

VANCOUVER - Paul Sahota isn't the only landlord with an east Vancouver
apartment building that has been a longtime source of woe for
neighbours, police and city inspectors.

Giovanni Zen's apartment complex at 2255 Pandora has been the subject
of allegations of rampant drug-dealing and other criminal activities.

Zen's notorious building is about one block east of Sahota's apartment
building at 2131 Pandora, which was closed last week by the city after
heavy rains leaked through a tarped-over roof.

Unlike Sahota, Zen isn't accused of keeping the building in unsafe
condition. But neighbours and the city argue that he hasn't done
enough to screen out bad tenants.

"We can sit in our living room and watch people high on drugs going in
and out of the apartment building," said Shoni Field, a member of the
Pandora Street Residents Association.

"We are constantly calling 911 because of people coming into our yard
or people selling drugs outside. Syringes are thrown on to our yard.

"And we hear people whistling at night to get the attention of the
sellers."

Field said there is a "constant stream" of police cars to 2255
Pandora. Someone tossed a wooden plank through a neighbour's
living-room window, she added.

Zen could not be reached for comment Monday.

Barb Windsor, deputy chief licence inspector, said city staff have
talked with Zen and urged him to deal with complaints from the neighbours.

However, said Windsor, there have been evictions and the building's
managers have taken courses on how to screen out poor tenants.

Now that the lengthy civic strike is over, the city plans to renew its
scrutiny of the Zen building, she said.

Buildings such as 2255 Pandora and 2131 Pandora pose a problem for
city officials because there is a dearth of affordable housing for
low-income people.

"We don't want to close down housing," Windsor said. "But we want the
housing managed in such a way that it does not have a negative impact
on the community."

Non-Partisan Association Coun. Kim Capri is also familiar with the
complaints surrounding the Zen building.

Capri said the city's policy of trying to persuade owners to improve
management of troubled apartment buildings is the best course because
of the need to keep affordable housing.

"But I think there has to be a sunset clause on that where we say,
'Time's up.' The neighbours should not have to live with the threats
and violence and disorder."

Field, 34, a freelance writer, said the city should force the owner to
cover the expenses the city incurs in monitoring the building,
including all policing costs.

"It's got to the point where we are desperate. We've been talking so
long to the city and nothing has happened," Field said. "And we know
that other people are having similar problems with poorly run buildings."

About 10 years ago, the city brought in a bylaw requiring landlords to
get a business licence to rent to tenants.

The city uses the bylaw to shut down problem houses, which are
typically rented to several people.

Field said the bylaw is effective in shutting down crack houses, but
the city is loath to use it close down buildings that house a large
number of residents.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Emergency Program will extend by three days
the relief funding for those forced out of Sahota's building.