Penticton property owner to get demolition bill

A Penticton property owner might be stuck with a bill to demolish his own building.

Denis Hildebrand, owner of 597 Ellis St., has until June to finish what a fire started in 2011. He has to begin the demolition process of his former boarding house. Only a broken concrete foundation jutting up from the yard remains.

City council made the order to begin the demolition process at Tuesday's council meeting but the bill will go to the property owner.

Building manager Ken Kunka said the city has spent hours dealing with complaints, carrying out inspections and trying to work with the property owner. The site has become a dumping ground for wind-blown trash and if water is allowed to collect it could provide a mosquito-breeding area.

Hildebrand or a representative was given the chance to speak but no one stepped forward at Tuesday's meeting.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1