The owners of a city property that's been called a centre of drug activity may soon be ordered to put a stop to ongoing issues there.
City staff are recommending that council take action to curb ongoing nuisance activities at and around a home at 1105 Vancouver St., a site that has been the subject of repeated complaints and emergency responses from local authorities since 2018.
The property at the southwest corner of 11th Avenue, which includes a single-family residence, is owned by Jarnanak Singh Manhas, Mohinder Kaur Manhas, Ram Singh Manhas and Sudershan Kumari Manhas.
Despite numerous interventions by Bylaw Services, RCMP and Prince George Fire Rescue, the property has been associated with a range of nuisance activities, including illegal drug use and sales, discarded waste, and what a city staff reporter describes as dangerous behavior such as outdoor fires and frequent disturbances.
In a report, Bylaw Services has outlined a series of troubling incidents at the property, including complaints of loud shouting, fights, fires, and the ongoing accumulation of waste, including mattresses and garbage.
Authorities have responded to the site multiple times over the years, often prompted by complaints from concerned neighbours.
One of the most notable incidents occurred in December 2020, when multiple emergency services were called to the residence for a reported structure fire and a dangerous outdoor burning of cardboard and debris.
In other instances, neighbours described the property as a "drug house," citing the frequent presence of individuals involved in criminal activity, including reports of fighting, yelling, and suspected drug use.
In response to the ongoing problems, city staff recommend that council issue an official written order to the property owners under the City of Prince George Nuisance Abatement Bylaw 8940.
The order would require the owners to immediately cease several nuisance activities on the property, including:
- Outdoor discarding of waste and debris, such as mattresses, garbage and cardboard
- Disturbances caused by yelling, shouting, and fighting
- The lighting of outdoor fires
The property owners will be given a formal notice that if these activities persist, the city may take steps to abate the nuisance, with costs potentially being recovered from the owners, the report states.
The Nuisance Abatement Bylaw was introduced in 2018 to provide the city with tools to address recurring nuisances that impact the health and safety of neighbourhoods. It has since been used in several cases to address problem properties and encourage property owners to take responsibility for maintaining safe and orderly living condition.
Since 2018, Bylaw Services has received numerous calls about the property, with the frequency of incidents escalating in recent years.
Efforts to resolve the issues, including evictions and property clean-ups, have proven to be temporary solutions, with the problems recurring as new tenants move in, the report states.
Most recently, in August 2024, a bylaw officer spoke with the property owner, who confirmed plans to evict the tenants and undertake significant renovations or possibly demolish the house. Despite these assurances, issues persisted throughout the summer, with ongoing complaints about the property's unsightly condition and drug-related activity.
In its report, the Bylaw Services department states it's hoped that issuing a formal order will prompt the property owners to take more decisive action to address the root causes of the ongoing nuisance.
Council will discuss the case at its next meeting, set for Nov. 18.
