No comment from me at this time. Ron
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Rodger, Valerie" <rodgerv(a)halifax.ca>
Subject: RE: [External Email] Re: [Bnranews] Dangerous and unsightly bloomfield
Date: November 29, 2021 at 5:00:41 PM AST
To: Ronald Skibbens <SkibbensPhillips(a)ns.sympatico.ca>
Cc: "Hill, Scott" <hills(a)halifax.ca>
Hi Ron
The Bloomfield site is not deemed unsafe at this time.
As of this afternoon, the waste and debris on the site has been removed.
VALERIE RODGER
COMPLIANCE OFFICER II
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT | BUILDINGS AND COMPLIANCE
H?LIF?X
PO BOX 1749
HALIFAX NS B3J 3A5
C. 902.476.1708
halifax.ca <http://www.halifax.ca/>
From: Ronald Skibbens <SkibbensPhillips(a)ns.sympatico.ca
<mailto:SkibbensPhillips@ns.sympatico.ca>>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2021 4:49 PM
To: Hill, Scott <hills(a)halifax.ca <mailto:hills@halifax.ca>>; Smith, Lindell
<smithli(a)halifax.ca <mailto:smithli@halifax.ca>>; Rodger, Valerie
<rodgerv(a)halifax.ca <mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca>>; Mayor <mayor(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:mayor@halifax.ca>>
Cc: BNRA <bnranews(a)chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:bnranews@chebucto.ns.ca>>
Subject: [External Email] Re: [Bnranews] Dangerous and unsightly bloomfield
Hello Mr Hill and our elected representatives at City Hall,
It appears that section 358(1-5) and section 359 of the City Charter are both relevant to
our ongoing communications about the dangerous and unsightly mess at the Bloomfield site.
I’d appreciate the city’s response to both sections of the Charter, but in particular
section 359 which states that “The Administrator shall post notice that the property is
unsafe in a conspicuous place on the property. The notice must remain posted until the
unsafe condition is remedied.”
Is it possible that with mostly broken windows, broken pavement, scattered garbage,
loose construction debris and the buildings literally crumbling that Bloomfield has not
been deemed unsafe by By Law Enforcement?
Patiently and expectantly yours,
Ron Skibbens
On Nov 23, 2021, at 1:11 PM, Ronald Skibbens <skibbensphillips(a)ns.sympatico.ca
<mailto:skibbensphillips@ns.sympatico.ca>> wrote:
Hi Mr. Hill,
As you may be aware, I got your name from notices of dangerous or unsightly premises
publicly posted on the front door at 2382 Creighton. The notices list the owner and the
fact that the property is unsightly and give the owner a time limit to remedy the issues.
Your recent email says that similar information about the dangerous and unsightly mess at
the Bloomfield School site is confidential. Please explain why the two properties are
treated differently by By Law Enforcement, especially as Bloomfield is so much more
unsightly and is clearly dangerous. As per my emails and pictures of the past 3 weeks, the
grounds there are littered with broken glass, syringes, furniture, pallets, garbage,
bricks and much much more.
Sincerely,
Ron Skibbens
Hi Mr. Skibbens
I just want to confirm the only information we are able to provide is that we have an
open case and continue to follow up.
This is in accordance with Freedom of Information / Protection of Privacy Legislation and
is not a choice made by the Officer nor can be altered by myself or other Staff/Officials
of HRM.
Thanks
SCOTT HILL
SUPERVISOR REGIONAL COMPLIANCE
BUILDINGS AND COMPLIANCE | PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
T. 902.490.3588
H?LIF?X
_______________
-
From: Ron Skibbens <skibbenr7(a)hotmail.com <mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com>>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2021 10:44 PM
To: ab996(a)chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:ab996@chebucto.ns.ca>
Cc: Rodger, Valerie <rodgerv(a)halifax.ca <mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca>>; Smith,
Lindell <smithli(a)halifax.ca <mailto:smithli@halifax.ca>>; Support, By-Law
<bylawsupport(a)halifax.ca <mailto:bylawsupport@halifax.ca>>; BNRA
<bnranews(a)chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:bnranews@chebucto.ns.ca>>; Mayor
<mayor(a)halifax.ca <mailto:mayor@halifax.ca>>; Hill, Scott <hills(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:hills@halifax.ca>>; Hill, Scott <hills(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:hills@halifax.ca>>
Subject: [External Email] Re: [Bnranews] Dangerous and unsightly bloomfield
Hi Roback,
thanks for your letter of support about the dangerous and unsightly mess at Bloomfield,
and Valerie Rodger’s lack of substantive information about ByLaw’s determination of when
and how that will be remedied.
I’ve taken the liberty of forwarding your email to the mayor and additional ByLaw staff
in hopes of the courtesy of a reply to this and past requests for information from
Councillor Smith and Inspector Rodger, as itemized below.
All the best,
Ron
On Nov 18, 2021, at 1:59 PM, ab996(a)chebucto.ns.ca
<mailto:ab996@chebucto.ns.ca><mailto:ab996@chebucto.ns.ca
<mailto:ab996@chebucto.ns.ca>> wrote:
Hello Ms Rodger and Mr Smith,
As a long-time resident of the Bloomfield neighbourhood (40 years at 2620 Fuller
Terrace), I would like to express my support for the issues raised by Ron Skibbens in his
recent communications with you both.
The Bloomfield school site has served both the immediate and larger community very well
for over 100 years. The value placed on the site and its potential was made clear by how
members of the neighbourhood mobilized in an effort to develop a plan incorporating
commercial, housing, recreational, and creative opportunities in this space. Throughout
the long and often interrupted process that followed, the site has been allowed to
deteriorate, and stands now like in a bad dream.
It seems to me that compliance with by-laws should not be ignored by claiming
confidential agreements with the site owner. HRM - its elected representatives as well as
its staff - has a responsibility to ensure its citizens and its built environment are safe
and secure, and that responsibility means clearly demonstrating that the deserved safety
and security be effected.
Thank you for your attention,
David Roback
Quoting Ron Skibbens <skibbenr7(a)hotmail.com
<mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com><mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com
<mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com>>>:
Hi Valerie,
As per this pic, I thought bylaw always posted a notice of dangerous and unsightly
premises at the location indicating issues and the time frame to address the issues. Where
can I find that notice at Bloomfield?
Ron
[cid:54127390-87A2-4E17-9C3B-A62CB481A531-L0-001
<cid:54127390-87A2-4E17-9C3B-A62CB481A531-L0-001>]
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 15, 2021, at 10:09 AM, Rodger, Valerie <rodgerv(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca><mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca
<mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca>>> wrote:
?
Hi Ron
As I stated, I cannot release specific details regarding communications with the property
owners. I have an open case, which means that actions are ongoing.
As for what happens during the winter, we do not expect property owners to do things that
would be considered unreasonable given the weather. I cannot give you specific details
regarding an individual case.
Valerie
From: Ron Skibbens <skibbenr7(a)hotmail.com
<mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com><mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com
<mailto:skibbenr7@hotmail.com>>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 2:36 PM
To: Rodger, Valerie <rodgerv(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca><mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca
<mailto:rodgerv@halifax.ca>>>; Smith, Lindell <smithli(a)halifax.ca
<mailto:smithli@halifax.ca><mailto:smithli@halifax.ca
<mailto:smithli@halifax.ca>>>; BNRA <bnranews(a)chebucto.ns.ca
<mailto:bnranews@chebucto.ns.ca><mailto:bnranews@chebucto.ns.ca
<mailto:bnranews@chebucto.ns.ca>>>
Subject: [External Email] Re: [Bnranews] Dangerous and unsightly bloomfield
Hi Valerie and Lindell,
Again thanks for your replies.
1. First, Lindell, I appreciate that this dangerous and unsightly premises is now the
concern of ByLaw Enforcement. However, I’d appreciate hearing from you about whether the
city put any timing constraints on site remediation and/or development as a condition of
sale this time. As you’ll remember, the city got burned in that regard when It sold the
site to Housing NS and endured 3 years of continued dereliction. Was there a lesson
learned from that multi-year debacle?
2. And Valerie, I live in the area and so walk by the site routinely. I sure wish the
owner and bylaw enforcement would also since it is so obviously dangerous and unsightly.
And although I trust that some debris has been removed, it still appears that hypodermic
needles, broken window glass, broken pallets, broken furniture, scattered garbage, broken
asphalt and loose bricks litter the site. The lack of exterior maintenance and graffiti
is obvious from all sides of the property. In short, it appears that it meets both
conditions for ‘dangerous’ as well as nearly all of the conditions for unsightly, as per
HRM’s website. As I understand, these are the basic requirements for all land owners:
[cid:image003.png@01D7DA08.CAFE5CA0 <cid:image003.png@01D7DA08.CAFE5CA0>]
3. Through past experience, it appears that when By Law Enforcement receives a complaint
it gives the owner a time limit for addressing the complaint. Please advise what that
time limit is for this complaint so that we can continue our dialog as appropriate at the
end of that time.
4. Also, I understand that By Law Enforcement suspends some of their monitoring over the
winter. Please advise if that pertains to this site, and if so when it stops and starts
again.
Thank you both for your continued monitoring of this matter.
Ron
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