Sault mayor sets sights on derelict properties
Buildings that fall below the city’s property standards are on the radar of Sault Ste. Marie’s new mayor.
Of specific concern are former institutional and industrial properties that have been allowed to fall into disrepair and are a safety hazard to residents.
The former General Hospital site is one such property. Despite plants to redevelop the structure, the site is vacant. Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said he’s disappointed at the state of the building, and that he’s been hearing about it from nearby residents.
“They’re worried about petty crimes with their vehicles that are parked outside, property crimes -- they can’t leave anything outside or anything of that nature,” said Shoemaker.
“It’s a real problem.”
Shoemaker said the city has issued orders in the past about broken windows and lack of yard maintenance, which he said were dealt with. However, there are other concerns.
“There are obviously more foundational issues with that property in terms of access, people continuing to get access to them,” he said.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said there have been instances of people entering derelict properties, prompting officers to respond.
“From a criminal perspective, obviously there’s trespassing, potentially break-and-enter, unlawfully in a dwelling, there are a number of different criminal charges that could be laid,” said police spokesman Lincoln Louttit.
Police said such structures are unsafe and there could be a number of hazards inside.
“You fall and twist your ankle or hurt yourself and you’re unable to get out, or you get lost and turned around, 100 per cent you’re putting first responders at risk,” said Louttit.
“Police officers, firefighters, medical professionals, their job is to come in and help you. And by you putting yourself at risk, you’re also putting their health and well-being at risk.”
The state of the former St. Marys Paper site is another property standards issue facing city council. However, there are plans in the works to convert that site to a battery storage facility.
Meantime, Shoemaker said he doesn’t want to see out-of-town investors buying property in the city and letting it fall into disrepair.
“That will not be accepted on a go-forward basis, and we’re going to ensure that we crack down on each and every one of these derelict properties,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.