Owner of townhouses fighting City of Winnipeg order to vacate after safety issues found

The owner of a row of townhouses in Winnipeg's Fort Rouge neighbourhood is fighting a City of Winnipeg order to vacate the properties after inspectors found numerous safety issues. 

The city order applies to four properties in a single structure: 346, 348, 350 and 352 Arnold Ave. 

Bricks on the eastern wall of the building have fallen away, the area blocked off by a fence installed by city staff. Inspectors found wood on the back steps had begun to rot, several windows and doors had been damaged, and locks were missing on some units.

Reports from city inspectors found each of four the townhouses had been divided into two units, without proper permits. They also found exposed electrical wires, and in one case, toilet water dripping into a kitchen from a unit above. 

"Based on our findings … [the property] poses a risk of harm to people, animals and neighouring properties, and is therefore in an unsafe condition," reads the report, dated Feb. 16.

The report ordered the properties vacated by Feb. 23, which the owner has appealed. A hearing is scheduled for the property committee meeting on Monday.

CBC News attempted to contact residents, but no one answered the door. 

Neighbours around the townhouses, between Nassau and Osborne streets, say they're happy the city has ordered the buildings vacated.

Justin Pauls says the properties have become a source of near-constant trouble. 

"Some really good neighbours have moved out and moved away, and I don't feel safe … for myself. I don't feel safe for my family," Pauls said.

Pauls and his neighbours set up a Whatsapp group chat where they share stories of violence, thefts, and other suspicious behaviour related to the buildings.

Denis Gendron has lived in the neighbourhood for six years.

"The worst of it was last summer, and there were calls constantly to the city from myself, from other people in the neighborhood," he said.

Pauls says he feels sorry for residents in the townhouses, who he says "were completely abused."

'Cosmetic issues'

CBC News attempted to contact the owner, Alen Planincic, through his lawyers, but did not receive a response. 

This isn't the first time the city has ordered Planincic to fix up the properties. Inspectors issued orders to mitigate unsafe conditions at the four properties in 2023, which Planincic also appealed.  

At a May 15, 2023, meeting of the property committee, Planincic said he was working with a property manager to communicate with city inspectors and complete the repairs.

"I have never and there is no proof – verbal, in writing – that I have said that this work would not be done, nor has my property manager stated that this work wouldn't be done," he said.

At the meeting, Planincic repeatedly identified realtor Rahim Mirza as his property manager, but in an interview with CBC News on Friday, Mirza denied that description of his relationship with Planincic, saying he was merely trying to help him sell the properties.

"I've never acted, nor do I currently act, as a property manager for this property," he said.

But Mirza also disputes the issues raised by the city.

"I guess nothing seemed incredibly dangerous, except for the fact that, you know, there were certain cosmetic issues that, you know, we thought should have been addressed by a new purchaser."

At the May meeting, Planincic said a potential buyer walked away because of the ongoing issues with the city.

Neighbour Shane Nestruck has lived in the neighbourhood for decades. He wishes the city would have acted sooner to deal with the properties, which have been deteriorating for years, he said.

"I would have loved to see it totally renovated and turned into low-income housing, because they'd fit in here," he said.

"It's a disgrace that our city can let something like this happen."