TAINTED

Re: "Former grow op homes a blight, residents say," March 21.

I agree former grow op homes need to be repaired and brought up to
living standards.

Part of the problem I see is, even when the home has been rebuilt and
passes the city building inspection, chemical analysis and air
quality, the address remains on the Calgary Health Region record as an
inactive grow op home.

The owners can end up spending $50,000 or more to repair the home. The
home then goes through a detailed structural, electrical, water, air
quality and chemical testing. The testing alone can cost an additional
$1,500 to $2,000.

In the end, the home has been given a better clean bill of health than
any new or other home in the city.

Still, Calgary Health identifies the home as an inactive grow op.
Realtors must still identify that the home was at one time a grow op,
even if it has passed all the tests and is inactive.

Why bother; let the bank have the home and leave the community with
the problem.

Ron Lehmann

Calgary