More than two years after the flood Riverside Motel In the city center Princeton, BC, The owner has not yet rebuilt.
The cabins have been vacant since then and, according to owner Gordon Daw, have become a popular spot for squatters and vandals.
“The river runs through here, and instead of getting a little bit of water, we get the whole river, and it destroys everything,” Dow said.
“As for people, I come in maybe a couple times a week just to check, but you can tell they’ve been here because we went into some of the sheds and there was trash there.”
Just this week, a fire broke out on the property. Crews quickly extinguished the blaze, and it appears that only one cabin was damaged.
Although the reason is still unclear, Dao suspects that someone may be hiding in the building.
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“It's common for properties that are vacant, and it does attract this type of activity. It's a real concern for us,” said Lyle Thomas, chief administrative officer for the Town of Princeton.
“That's why we're monitoring how things are going. We want to be sensitive to his situation and we know he's been badly affected by the flooding.”
According to town staff, the town has no control over, nor financial responsibility for, the subsequent disposal of flood-damaged property.
However, especially after the fire, staff paid more attention to the property.
“If he wants to rebuild, the only involvement of the town is that he has to apply for a building permit and meet all the requirements. But if he just wants to clean up his property, then he can do that on his own,” Thomas said.
“Anytime there's a vacant, abandoned or derelict property, it comes into our sights and becomes a concern for us. It could be a safety hazard or it could just be unsightly. This property is starting to come into our sights and we've had some initial conversations with the owner.”
As for Dolph and his wife, they have no plans for the property’s future just yet.
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