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Citing dangerous and unsanitary living conditions, Saskatoon’s fire chief says more than a dozen suites inside a notorious Saskatoon apartment building are being closed and its occupants moved to safe accommodations.
The Saskatoon Fire Department, as of Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., has “taken the necessary steps” to close 16 suites at Prairie Heights apartment at 1416 20th Street West, fire Chief Morgan Hackl said.
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Try refreshing your browser, or Sewage, human waste, cockroaches, no water: Saskatoon Fire Department closes 16 suites at Prairie Heights apartment Back to video
A visit to the building on Tuesday included a suite-by-suite inspection during which hazards found include unsafe and unsanitary conditions, no water to some suites, damaged fire separations, sewer waste back up, stolen copper pipes in some suites, unauthorized entry where suites are to be vacant, food and human waste, cockroaches, damaged s
SASKATOON The Saskatoon Fire Department was called to the Prairie Heights condo 20 times in February, according to Feb. 25 condo board meeting minutes obtained by CTV News. At the meeting, Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer said 1416 20th St. W. is the worst building in the city and she recommended the condo board seek legal counsel. The condo owners in the meeting said that some landlords who own units in the building are not managing their tenants and that their tenants are allowing people into the building who should not be there, including to buy drugs and do drugs. “Anytime we’ve spoken to the condo owners we’ve advised them to seek legal counsel in order to go before the court and appoint an administrator or exercise their authority under the Condo Corporation Act, to take whatever measure needed to mitigate concerns within the building where vandalism is occurring and if some of the suites have problem tenants,” Raymer told CTV News.
At the board meeting, Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer said 1416 20th St. W. is the worst building in the city and she recommended the condo board seek legal counsel. The condo owners in the meeting said that some landlords who own units in the building are not managing their tenants and that their tenants are allowing people into the building who should not be there, including to buy drugs and do drugs. “Anytime we’ve spoken to the condo owners we’ve advised them to seek legal counsel in order to go before the court and appoint an administrator or exercise their authority under the Condo Corporation Act, to take whatever measure needed to mitigate concerns within the building where vandalism is occurring and if some of the suites have problem tenants,” Raymer told CTV News.
From May 2019 to January 2021, Bryan Pisesky has been monitoring the video captured by the security cameras at the Prairie Heights condo in Pleasant Hill.
Saskatoon / 650 CKOM
Apr 13, 2021 10:24 AM
The Prairie Heights apartment building at 1417 20th Street West on June 29, 2018. (Daniella Ponticelli/650 CKOM)
The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) is invoicing the condo board of Prairie Heights nearly $58,000 for repairs as well as being a drain on police and fire resources.
In 2020, the fire department responded to the Prairie Heights condo tower 109 times for criminal activity and vandalism. This year, firefighters have been called 45 times.
Early in the new year, the building sustained damage to the sprinklers, smoke alarms and an elevator. The cost of repairs and the time for the SFD and police to co-ordinate and provide security for contractors totalled nearly $58,000.