stop work order to prevent Yu from repairing the house.

Since the owner was given notice of the problem he has undertaken significant work to remedy the situation and has shown good faith in making those efforts in the face of a demolition order. - John Orr, engineer

"What is the imminent threat to the public, why not allow our people in to fix it?" she said. "Why this extreme haste to demolish this house?"

Churchman said the owner only received direct contact from the city on Sept. 30, the day before it planned to demolish the house, and that the owner had only heard about the planned demolition in the news around Sept. 28.

A backhoe and skid-steer loader sat parked on the front lawn of 166 Beechdale Crescent on Oct.1. The big machines were scheduled to begin tearing down the half-million-dollar, two-storey house.

An engineer says the water and mould damage to the Briarwood house could be repaired for $20,000. (Saskatoon Fire Department)

On the same day, Elson granted a 10-day reprieve, allowing the lawyer for the home's owner to prepare a proper argument to save the property.

Lawyers for Yu and the city provided briefs, reports and affidavits to the court ahead of Friday's hearing.

Churchman said a seven-day national holiday in China had made it harder for the owner to gather evidence before the hearing.

The report did include a six-page report by John Orr, a veteran Saskatoon engineer, who said the house could be made habitable again for $20,000.

"Since the owner was given notice of the problem he has