Unoccupied buildings: concern to Trois-Rivières

SCREENSHOT, VAT NEW
A major fire raged Tuesday morning at the centre of the city of Trois-Rivières. It is the building of the former Creamery, built in 1908 and abandoned since 2002, which has been the prey of the flames. The fire was reported shortly after 4 a.m. in the night of Monday to Tuesday.

QMI agency

Thursday, December 7, 2017 18:51

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Thursday, December 7, 2017 18:51

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THREE RIVERS – Two days after the fire that ravaged a building unoccupied for Three Rivers, residents are concerned about the presence of squatters in other buildings of the city.

The thesis of the criminal act is still on the table in the folder in the violent fire which destroyed Tuesday morning the old creamery of Trois-Rivières. On the eve of the disaster, squatters are brought into the building unoccupied.

“We had to respond to a call of breaking and entering, on our arrival we found that there was a window broken and items inside,” explained Thursday Luc Mongrain, a spokesman for the public Security Trois-Rivières.

This building is not the only city to receive the visit of the vandals. Last winter, firefighters were called twice to the church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. A year later, the building is still abandoned and the neighbors were pissed.

“I’m not tired, I am nauseated. It is a real dump,” said a neighbor across the street.

“There are young people who are going to walk in there,” added a lady who rest nearby.

In many cases, the City’s hands are tied, but sometimes extreme measures are necessary for security.

“If the owner refuses to cooperate, you can go before a judge to request permission to secure the building and then send the invoice to the owner,” said Yvan Toutant, a spokesman for the City of Trois-Rivières.

This is what has been done in 2015, with the ancient church of Saint-Philippe the city centre. A demolition that was required, but that proved to be expensive for the City.