The early results are in for a pilot program which has set its initial sights on getting unsightly premises in the city cleaned up.
It’s called the Enhanced Community Standards program which was launched in June by the city of Saint John and was created to tackle issues having to do with community standards that impact the look and enjoyment of urban city neighborhoods.
When the program started there were 178 cases in the city and since it started 53 cases, or 30-percent, have been closed. The year-end target is 80 closed cases. Of the initial 178 cases in the city, 59 were in the north end, 19 in the south end, 56 on the east side and 44 on the west side.
11 projected clean-ups are heading to council this year to be dealt with, which is what happens when a written letter to the owner and notice to comply haven’t worked. After getting the green-light from council to have the property cleaned up, arrangements are then made for the property to be cleaned up and an invoice is sent to the owner for the cost of clean-up. If the bill isn’t paid by the end of the year, then staff will submit the bill to the province and get reimbursement.
The report on the initial results of the project is going to be presented to the growth committee at its meeting on Tuesday.
(Photo from report to growth committee, which can be found here.)
