WATCH ABOVE: A yard sale in McKernan has been going on for months and neighbours say it’s time to take out the trash. Kendra Slugoski reports.
EDMONTON — At the beginning of August, neighbours alerted Global News to a massive yard sale they said had been going on for over a month. Despite warnings from the city, the yard sale is still there.
Used cutlery, deflated beach balls, old lawn mowers, doors, even a hot tub fill a south Edmonton yard on the corner of 114 Street and 78 Avenue. McKernan residents said it’s been continuing for far too long.
“Our ongoing, two-month garage sale?” said Roberta Franchuk, president of the McKernan Community League. “It’s not a yard sale; it’s junk.”
“One of our community members took photos of it at the beginning of July, so it’s been going on for more than two months.”
She said the neighbours have a number of concerns with the display, the first being that it is an illegal business.
“Number two: it is a major hazard,” said Franchuk. “It is a health hazard. There have been some reports of pests, rodents, things like that.”
She added people who may buy items from the yard sale might not realize they’ve been sitting there for days, weeks, even months.
READ MORE: ‘It is so terribly unsightly’: south Edmonton residents want month-long yard sale gone
Franchuk said it’s also a nuisance for people who live in the area.
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“It’s a threat to the entire community. It’s in a highly visible location. People drive by and go, ‘what is that horrible thing going on in your neighbourhood?'”
“It’s hard to attract people to this neighbourhood when it looks like it’s somebody’s dump right in front of the community hall.”
According to City of Edmonton bylaws, one property is only allowed to hold three yard or garage sales in a calendar year and each of those sales cannot be longer than three consecutive days.
The city previously issued an order for the owner to remove the items from his yard. The property owner appealed the decision with the Community Standards and Licence Appeal Committee. He lost that appeal. The city then issued a written order, giving the homeowner 22 days to appeal for a judicial review.
When contacted over the phone by Global News, the owner of the property, Matt Peter, would not comment on his communication with the city or respond to neighbours’ complaints.
“I can’t comment on any of that at this time,” he said. “The yard sale is a lot of fun if you want to come down and have a look. They’re great for the environment too.”
He wouldn’t say if he’s appealing the city’s written order or how long the yard sale would continue.
Franchuk doesn’t point fingers at the city or its bylaw enforcement.
In a statement, Ryan Pleckaitis, the city’s Director of Complaints & Investigations, said:
“Due to the sensitivity of the investigation, we are unable to speak to specifics on the investigation itself and any enforcement details.
“We are doing everything we can to resolve these matters as quickly as we can within all legal parameters. This is currently one of our highest priorities and we appreciate the community’s concern and patience with us as we work to remedy the situation.”
If the City of Edmonton is required to come in and seize the items, the cost can be recovered by applying it to the owner’s tax bill.
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