HOTEL FROM HELL

The house of crack is back, only this time it's the hotel from
hell.Residents on Stockwell Avenue are seething over all-night parties
and drag racing by out-of-town bikers who rent the house by the week
as a vacation destination.

The residence at 726 Stockwell Ave. - formerly a crack house - is
listed on the Vacation Rental Internet site at $1,100 a week.

"Last weekend, there were 15 creeps there from Vancouver, partying all
night," said neighbour Betty, who didn't want her last name used for
fear that one of the guests might try to track her down. "They poured
antifreeze all over the street and had drag races.

"Everybody was awake all night."

When tires spin on antifreeze, they create a smoke
show.

"It's also deadly to cats and dogs that might lick it up," said Betty.
"We had to hose it down."

In 1999, activities at the house were chronicled by The Daily Courier.
Crack cocaine dealers and users who lived in the house, including
girls as young as 14, finally left in the middle of a January night to
avoid any further publicity.

The house is owned by Scott Watson of Summerland. He couldn't be
reached for comment on Wednesday.

The Internet listing describes the house as a "Kelowna character
home," although it still has a seedy look from the outside, complete
with two rusting and junked cars in the backyard.

According to the ad, the house sleeps eight to 10 people. Although
there are no pictures, the ad says they are available upon request.

"The ad says it has a toilet, if you can imagine," said Betty.
"Actually, that's a misprint. The ad should say it is a toilet."

Adds her neighbour, Irene, who also doesn't want her last name used:
"The ad makes a big deal about there being a corkscrew available in
the kitchen. Then it talks about sitting on the back deck awaiting
your dinner on the barbecue. I can just see myself with a corkscrew in
one hand, sitting on the deck and looking at junked cars.

"This is definitely not for the winery tour crowd. The only people who
would rent it are bikers and the like."

RCMP visited the house last weekend, but no action was
taken.

"The police said we'd have to actually be able to identify who poured
the antifreeze out and who was racing," said Betty. "Having their
licence plates wasn't good enough, they said."

Neighbours have complained to the city's bylaw enforcement office. The
city' s bylaw head Al Dixon said the area isn't zoned for this type of
use and he plans to take action. He hasn't yet decided specifically
what he will do.

Watson has the house for rent year-round. During the summer, it's
$1,100 per week for eight people, with $100 more for each additional
visitor. Winter rates start at $750 a week.

"This is worse than what we went through when it was a crack house,"
said Betty. "And he plans to rent it out year-round. We'll never have
any peace."