A property management company says the city wants them to manage a long-standing problem: a homeless encampment. The riverbank encampment has existed for years behind the apartment building located at 35 Balmoral Street. And with the camp came heaps of garbage, old mattresses, and used needles. The building is managed by AML Properties, of which Martin Sharp is the CEO of. “All of the traits of an encampment are crystal clear,” said Sharp Wednesday. Sharp pointed out large hole in their chain link fence, saying he believes it was cut by people sheltering under the building’s parking lot. There’s also been fires there. He said he was shocked to get an order from the City of Winnipeg to clean up the mess. “I was furious.” The order said all garbage, which may include tents, must be removed and the site cleaned up, or the city will do it and put the costs on the company’s property tax bill, and penalty fee for noncompliance could also be tacked on. Sharp questions how he can clean everything up with people living in the tents, and why this is on him, especially since the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg are working together to remove encampments. “The city and the political people who are supposed to be responsible for this have decided their best action is to dump the problem on someone else.” A statement from the city said enforcement officers are dispatched based on complaints. It said, in this case, crews observed abandoned goods, furniture and other materials at the rear of the Balmoral building. The statement to CTV News said in part “… Please note that the city responds to encampments on public property. If someone is concerned about an individual experiencing homelessness, or an encampment, they can report this to 311. For situations involving private property, the property owner may contact the Winnipeg Police Service.” Sharp said he has called police in the past. Sherri Rollins, the city councillor for the area, said putting this responsibility on the property owner is unacceptable. “Beyond being unfair, it’s illogical, and it is a crazy commentary on where public safety is at in this city,” said Rollins Wednesday. Sharp said he’s appealing the order, which can be made within 14 days to the city’s community services committee at a cost of $250. “Let’s hope something good comes out of this and the city wakes up,” said Sharp.
