Leaky co-op residents set to lose homes

[Guest guest]

Leaky co-op residents set to lose homes

MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER

Cena peers through extra wooden beams that had to be erected

in the common areas of the Norman Bethune Co-op after the original

support beams started to fail because of moisture and rot. Residents

of the leaky co-op could lose their homes as the company which holds

the mortgage on the building threatens to foreclose.

http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?

paper=41 & cat=23 & id=733264 & more=

By Clare TattersallNewsLeader Contributor

Sep 21 2006

Burnaby Newsleader - British Columbia, Canada

The beginning of the rainy season is only a couple weeks away, which

is bad news for an already leaky co-op in North Burnaby.

Water's been leaking through the roof and seeping into the walls of

Norman Bethune Co-op since 2001, warping the wood and encouraging

mould to grow.

" We have a family that's moving out at the end of the month because

of the moisture, mildew and mould, " said the co-op's president

Cena.

" The son has had sinus infections for the past two years and his mom

doesn't want him to recuperate here. "

While Cena's disappointed another family is moving – eight of 24

units will be vacant by the end of October – she's not surprised.

" I'm prepared for things like that … There's probably four units

that the mould will come up, and the dampness and leaks will start

soon. "

But she wasn't prepared for a beam to come crashing down in the

middle of the night last December, making it impossible for some

residents to exit their homes.

" It could've happened during the day and children could've gotten

hurt. "

While no one was physically injured, Cena's concerned that might not

be the case should it happen again.

" I really don't know if we can go though another fall or winter in

this state. The exterior of the building is falling and rotting. "

And two of the units have already been condemned.

" Those units aren't liveable. The ceiling is out in one of them and

there's about two feet of mould up the walls. "

Despite the current state of disrepair, 18 families, including

Cena's, call the co-op home, that is, until Oct. 14.

In less than 30 days, the co-op will face foreclosure.

Just last week, Cena received a letter from Bill Chopiak of

Equitable Life of Canada, the company holding the co-op's mortgage,

demanding Norman Bethune pay off its $709,000 mortgage.

Cena said the letter was not only upsetting but unexpected.

" I was surprised to get the letter because the lender came out in

August … and it seemed like a positive conversation. "

Cena, a single mother of two, said she's been struggling with the co-

op's mortgage payments – $10,900 per month – for years.

Equitable Life of Canada had given the co-op five separate mortgage

extensions but decided this month not to grant any further

extensions because of the state of the dilapidated property and the

cost to repair it.

Cena said the extension would have given the co-op a chance to

arrange a refinancing plan with the Canada Mortgage and Housing

Corporation (CMHC), a government-owned agency that assists Canadians

who cannot afford housing.

" It's still so surreal, " said Cena, choking back the tears. " I

really hope someone will step up to the plate and come and save us. "

While Burnaby- MP Bill Siksay said he'd like to be the one to

do so, it's out of his hands.

" It's in Minister Diane Finley's court, " said Siksay, adding he

spoke with the minister responsible for CMHC Monday about the dire

situation at Norman Bethune. " I'm hoping minister Finley will go

where no previous minister has been able to go. "

A spokesperson for Finley said the minister is currently reviewing

the documentation.

" I feel so strongly for the people who live at Norman Bethune, "

Siksay continued. " They're victims of this leaky building crisis

that we've had in B.C., and it's coming to a head for them very

quickly. "

" I really hate waiting until the day before the proceedings will

start to know if we're going to be staying or going, " said Cena,

who's lived in the co-op for the past four years.

" I guess somebody's going to have to knock on our doors before we

really move out because I'm not really prepared to leave. "