CITY EYES PLAN TO FORCE GROW-OP HOMES' REPAIR

Proposal Would Order Owners To Restore Damaged Dwellings Or Else Face
Municipal Bill For The Work

The City of Toronto has come up with a plan to restore homes badly
damaged from being used as marijuana grow operations. "As it stands
right now, you've got some of these buildings boarded up in
communities," said Councillor Mike Del Grande. "It's a blight. It's
an eyesore."

Starting next year, the city wants to order restoration work on some
130 homes damaged by toxic mould from high humidity levels found in
grow-ops. If the owner refuses, the city can carry out the work and
add the cost to the property tax bill.

The plan was supported yesterday by council's planning and growth
management committee and now goes to city council for approval.

"I think this is a win-win in the fight against one of the cancers
that afflicts the stable neighbourhoods of our city and in particular
the attractive, stable neighbourhoods of Scarborough," said
Councillor Norm Kelly, committee chair.

The message to owners - often banks that have foreclosed - is to
restore the property or the city will do it for them.

"What the city has found is that the owners were not voluntarily
proceeding in an expeditious manner," said chief building official
Ann Borooah. "We're hoping that owners will co-operate more
expeditiously than has been the case."

The province has enacted a powerful legal weapon called the Civil
Remedies Act, which allows the attorney general to have courts
freeze, seize and forfeit the proceeds and instruments of unlawful
activity, such as grow-ops. Properties are then sold and the money
given to victims of crime. It's designed to discourage crime-minded
homeowners. But many grow-op houses are not owned by the inhabitants.

Under the city plan, where police have investigated a grow-op and
noted damage, the buildings department will order owners to make
repairs, and pay a $5,000 fee to cover the city's inspection costs.

There's a lot of work involved, requiring five additional inspectors
- - even if, as expected, most owners comply with repair orders,
Borooah said. "We still have to oversee the process, issue the
orders, look at the reports, agree to the remediation plan, issue the
permit, inspect the work and then clear the work."

Del Grande said he's been pushing for six years for a more aggressive
approach. "You're dealing with fire, police, buildings, licensing,
public health - everybody and his brother - and nobody wanted to take
the lead. We've come a long way."

A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. study last year of 12 former
grow-ops found that most needed extensive and costly restoration.

The investigators recommended gutting rooms used for growing, and
ensuring no mould was present in the insulation or wall cavity.