A New Westminster house that was destroyed by fire in January will be demolished — one way or another.
The City of New Westminster is requiring a property owner to address unsafe and nuisance conditions at a house recently damaged by fire — by demolishing the house. If the property owner doesn’t do it, the city and a contractor will do it at the owner’s expense.
“Given the current condition of the property and the safety risks should the structures remain, city staff recommend that the structures at the property be demolished and the remaining debris and materials at the property be cleaned up and disposed of in a lawful manner,” said a staff report.
A March 10 report to council stated the house at 707 Queens Ave. was “substantially damaged” by fire and the garage was “completely” destroyed in the January 2025 blaze. The report outlined a number of concerns about the property, including:
- There have been persistent attempts at unauthorized entry into the property, despite fencing being raised to prevent this from occurring.
- There are “copious amounts” of combustible waste materials in and around the house that are creating a fire hazard for neighbouring structures and the community.
- There is significant structural damage to studs and the roof, with portions of the roof collapsing.
- The interior of the house is not protected from the elements; water and animals are able to enter via holes in the roof and wall and the blown-out windows.
According to the staff report, the city has the authority under the Community Charter to find that the house and property create an unsafe condition and to be so dilapidated and unclean that it’s offensive to the community.
The city is now requiring the property owner to apply for a demolition permit and to demolish and clean up the property. The owner is also required to ensure all waste, debris and discarded materials are removed from the property and disposed of at an appropriate waste disposal facility.
According to the staff report, the applicant must submit a permit to demolish the house no later than 31 days after being notified of the resolution, which was approved unanimously at council’s March 10 meeting. The owner must complete the remedial action requirements within 120 days of receiving the resolution.
If the property owner fails to comply with all or part of the city’s remedial action requirements within this timeline, council has authorized city staff to have the house demolished. The city will seek to recover demolition and cleanup costs from the property owner.
According to the staff report, the house has “a long history” of noncompliance with maintenance standards and unsightly conditions. The report said the property generates “disproportionate calls for service” to police and emergency health services when compared to other single-family dwellings in the neighbourhood.
The Jan. 31 fire was the second fire at the property in less than a year, as New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services had attended a garage fire at the Brow of the Hill property in March 2024.
“The more recent fire destroyed what was left of the garage and caused significant destruction to the house. Fortunately, there was no injury or loss of life,” said the report. “Since the fire and throughout February 2025, New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services have observed numerous individuals breaking into fencing at the property and entering what remains of the structures at the property.”
A staff report said the estimated cost to demolish the remains of the house is $15,000 but it could be more or less, depending on the specific needs. If the owner fails to pay, the cost could be added to the property taxes.
