The District of West Vancouver Council will consider ordering the demolition of a severely deteriorated home at 6507 Nelson Avenue at its upcoming meeting of March 30, 2026, following more than a decade of failed attempts to bring the property into compliance.
If approved, the measure would require registered owner Yvonne Gabriele Mischke to apply for a demolition permit within 30 days and remove all debris from the site.
The District of West Vancouver staff report recommends that Council formally declare the home both a hazard and a nuisance under the Community Charter — and authorize district staff to carry out the work at the owner’s expense if she does not comply.
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Collapse Risk, Mould, and Fire Hazard
District staff inspected the property on September 10, 2025, wearing hazmat coveralls and respirators, and found every floor packed to ceiling height with garbage and debris, the building unsecured, and no sign of recent occupancy.
A structural engineer from Rockingham Engineering Limited identified an imminent collapse risk on the front deck and stairs. According to the staff report, the rear load-bearing wall was visibly tilting outward from advanced rot, ceiling panels were bowing and falling, and the brick chimney showed deterioration and seismic instability. Water damage and mould were present throughout.
The West Vancouver Fire Department determined the building posed a significant fire risk. Staff noted there were no working smoke alarms, all electrical panels and heating units were blocked, and no clear exit paths existed. The fire department flagged the property for defensive operations only, meaning firefighters would not enter the structure in an emergency.
More Than a Decade of Warnings
Complaints about the property date to 2013, when district staff, police, Vancouver Coastal Health, and provincial agencies first became involved. According to the staff report, bylaw officers issued repeated notices to comply, arranged tiered cleanup plans, and held on-site meetings with the owner — with little lasting result.
In July 2021, a contracted restoration company abandoned a cleanup after completing roughly 10 percent of the work. Staff noted the owner interfered with the process, prompting police to attend. A follow-up inspection in December 2025 found conditions nearly unchanged.
The building carries an assessed value of $9,900 as of July 2024. According to the staff report, the staff concluded that repair costs would far exceed that figure, making demolition the only financially viable option.
If the Council approves the recommendation, the owner will have 14 days to request reconsideration and address the Council directly. Should she miss the required deadlines, district staff will be authorized to proceed with demolition, with all costs recovered through the property tax roll if unpaid.
