GROW OP TENANTS NOT AT RISK

The preliminary report from a consultant in charge of an
environmental assessment of three apartment buildings in the city's
east end where police uncovered the city's biggest marijuana grow op
says the current occupants of the buildings aren't in jeopardy.

Police swooped down on the buildings last week uncovering marijuana
worth $11.8 million in 49 different apartments. The owner of the
building was ordered to hire a consultant to look at the buildings.

Marianne Brown, manager of building and construction for the city's
building and licensing division, said the consultant told them the
air quality has been tested in the buildings and that there aren't
any concerns for people living in the unaffected units.

Further air quality tests will be done in the 49 grow-op apartments
before anyone is allowed to move in to those.

Brown said there has been a visual inspection of all of those
apartments and the owner is now allowed to remove all of the growing
apparatus.

Anthony Di Cenzo, vice-president of Di Cenzo Management Inc., which
owns the buildings, estimates the cost to clean the grow ops will be
up to $1 million.

A full report must be given to council by April 23. All of the
reports to the city so far have been verbal. The marijuana grow-op
bust was the largest in the city's history. The original
investigation at 11 Grandville Ave. led police to 77 Delawana Dr.
and 50 Violet Dr. The search warrants for the apartments at 11
Grandville Ave. have been sealed by a justice of the peace. Sergeant
Mike Webber of the Hamilton police said no one has been charged.