City wants old Holland College property secured

Summerside municipal council has asked an Island developer to once again board up an abandoned building in the city and put security in place.

They said it's a matter of public safety.

There have been eight fires set at the old Holland College property, the latest one on Boxing day.

The building has been vacant for years, but developer Tim Banks of APM Construction Serviceshas plans to develop it.

Council said something has to be done to secure the building immediately.

Jim Peters is the chief of the Summerside fire department. He said young people have been going into the building, gathering up debris and setting it on fire.

"We're worried that some of these young people that are setting them are going to get themselves caught in the building when they actually set the fires," said Peters. "There is that danger, and then the building itself. There is a lot of debris in the building that could be harmful, like shards of glass sticking out windows, interior windows and doors."

Banks said he will board up the property again and will likely put in cameras, but he said the city has to do a better job of policing the area.

"We put a six-foot fence around the entire property with no trespassing signs. And we boarded up all the windows," said Banks. "Kids in the neighbourhood continue to jump the fence, cut the fence, tear down the boards and get into the property. There doesn't appear to be a very good policing of it."

Banks said he won't be hiring security officers, he believes that's the job of police.

Banks also questions the timing of the request from the city. He said he had informed the city before Christmas that he planned to re-secure the building.