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Senior vs bulldozers

It's a case of a senior citizen versus bulldozers – and it's holding up a $198-million highway project in North Vancouver.

The district is seeking an injunction against Juanna Hanlon, who refuses to leave her old home. 

Her home is the last one in the path of the Lower Lynn Interchange Project, and Hanlon was given until March 31 to vacate the property after the municipality expropriated the land and paid her $2 million, CTV News reports.

But, the senior said she needs several more months to clear out and was underpaid.

"It's not that I haven't been trying to get out," Hanlon told CTV. "I really do not know what physical time it's going to take to be out completely."

The saga began more than a year ago, after the parties were unable to negotiate a sale. The government then expropriated Hanlon's home in November, but she feels she should have received $3 million for it.

The city's lawyer, Paul Hildebrand, says Hanlon is now "essentially a trespasser or squatter."

Officials have offered to fund moving and storage fees if she agrees to leave immediately.

"In a project of this magnitude, there are significant risks to the completion timeline and costs to the taxpayer resulting from work stoppage or work delay," the city said in an email.

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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