Collapse of balcony in East Vancouver sparks safety concerns
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | 8:40 AM PT
CBC News
The City of Vancouver has ordered an East Vancouver property owner to submit a full engineering report following the collapse of a balcony early Sunday morning.
A rotten, collapsed balcony was still seen on the E. 5th Avenue building on Monday evening, leaning on another deteriorating deck one floor below.A balcony of an apartment unit on E. 5th Avenue in Vancouver collapsed early Sunday morning.
(CBC)
Rodrigo Martinez said he was outside with four friends when the deck gave way Sunday morning.
"Everyone was scared … [because] we were just having a party … supposed to be good time," he said.
Two men were injured after the collapse. One was rushed to hospital, suffering a concussion.
Martinez said since the accident no one from the building has come to inspect the damage or repair it.Rodrigo Martinez said he didn't feel safe living in his apartment any more.
(CBC)
The only response so far was a written warning asking residents to stay off their decks, added Martinez, who doesn't feel safe in his apartment anymore.
The property owner has 30 days to submit the engineering report.
CBC News asked a certified independent building inspector to check the structure. Hugh Poole said there are signs of rot and severe damage everywhere.
"This is a building that is pretty well done," Poole said. "These people should not be living in most of these units."Certified building inspector Hugh Poole said there are signs of rot and severe damage everywhere in the building.
(CBC)
Currently, there's no law to require regular inspections or repairs of rental units and it's up to the residents to report problems, according to the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization working on behalf of B.C.'s one million tenants.
"Where tenants feel there may be a problem, if they call the city and ask for an inspector to look at a property, the city will do that right away," said Martha Lewis, the centre's executive director.
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A balcony of an apartment unit on E. 5th Avenue in Vancouver collapsed early Sunday morning.
Rodrigo Martinez said he didn't feel safe living in his apartment any more.
Certified building inspector Hugh Poole said there are signs of rot and severe damage everywhere in the building.