One of Whitehorse’s most notorious drug dens is for sale.
But with chipboard nailed over the doors and windows, needles strewn about and the backyard piled high with junk, 810 Wheeler isn’t the prettiest prospect on the market.
“It’s currently not habitable — it’s completely trashed,” said crime prevention and policing director Lesley Carberry on Wednesday.
“Windows were broken, furniture was pitched out the windows, walls were punched in, holes were punched in the floor and there was water in the basement.”
In late May, after the owner of the property passed away, one of her daughters — the will’s executor — contacted Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods.
She wanted help getting her siblings out of the house.
“On June 1st, the occupants were given notice to leave as of June 30th,” said Carberry.
But when Safer Communities staffers showed up at midnight Monday, with RCMP in attendance, there were nine people there.
“Those nine people were taken into custody,” said Carberry.
More than 2,000 used needles and dozens of crack pipes were also discovered in the house, she added.
After the owner died, Downtown Residents Association president John Pattimore also got a call from the will’s executor.
“Her daughter (the executor) told me she had to sell it, because that’s what the will says,” said Pattimore.
Because she lives in Alberta, it’s been tough for the daughter to deal with the property, so she called Pattimore to see if he had any leads.
“It’s prime real estate, if it’s cleaned up,” said Pattimore, who’s already had a lady express interest in the property.
“But all these years it’s had all this crap going on and a lack of maintenance … there could be mould.”
For years, Pattimore and many of his neighbours have been waiting for 810 Wheeler to change hands.
And out in his front garden, at 7th and Wheeler, after the Monday-night bust, Pattimore noticed decidedly fewer taxis roaring by.
“Finally,” he said.
“It took awhile.
“I can only be hopeful that that’s the end of anyone being there.”
There are still “safety challenges around the property, including the yard,” said Carberry.
“We will do our part in cleaning up needles and other things, and we will deal with the executor on the remaining tasks to have the property rehabbed.”
Safer Communities received 16 complaints about 810 Wheeler, she added.