The District of North Cowichan council has ordered one property to be remediated and two others be demolished over what it describes as safety concerns.

At a council meeting Wednesday, councillors approved of declaring the properties at 5825 and 5827 York Road – formerly operated as the Good Neighbours Thrift Store – a nuisance property after a suspicious fire tore through the building in February.

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Since the fire occurred, the district says it has spoken with the owner of the vacant building about the state of the structure.

Now, council has given the owner a “remedial action requirement” order, which calls on the property owner to obtain an engineering report on the structural integrity of the building’s front-facing wall within 60 days – and to remediate that wall and remove fencing around the building to restore the use of the sidewalk within 90 days.

“Should the owner fail to comply with the Remedial Action Requirements within the specified time frames North Cowichan is empowered to undertake the work and seek recovery of costs associated with fulfilling those requirements,” reads a staff report presented to council on Sept. 17.

The fire is shown on Feb. 10, 2025. (Submitted)The building is shown on July 8, 2025. (District of North Cowichan)

Meanwhile, North Cowichan council also ordered the owner of the other two properties – both houses – located at 5861 and 5865 York Rd. to apply for demolition permits within 90 days, and then proceed to demolish them within 90 days of those permits being received.

The municipality says that both houses have been “boarded up to discourage ongoing problem with squatters” and one of the homes, the one located at 5865 York Rd., recently suffered “extensive fire damage.”

The district declared the properties a “nuisance” that create “an unsafe and hazardous condition,” and added that if the houses are not demolished in time, the municipality may perform the remediation work itself and bill the property owner through property taxes.

“These buildings are more than eyesores – they’re a safety hazard and a blight on the neighbourhood,” said North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas in a statement Friday. 

“These remediation orders send a clear message: we’re taking action to support nearby residents and businesses. Demolishing the abandoned houses and cleaning up the former thrift store site are key steps toward making the area safer and more welcoming for everyone,” he said.

Photos of the two homes can be found below: