The city says it is taking action against abandoned construction sites. It says it will now be billing costs back to developers for work the city is forced to complete.
There are several sites around Calgary that the city says it's keeping an eye on. One of those sites is at 5320 2 Street, S.W.
Ashley Norris' boyfriend lives across the street from the future site of the Manchester Station condos. Norris says she keeps a close eye on her two kids whenever they play outside because the abandoned site has left a 46mx40m hole that is up to three stories deep. "He wanted me and my kids to move in and have this big family but I won't raise my children next to that," says Norris.
Back in September, the city gave the developer of the site a month to have the site cleaned and prepared for winter. That meant shoring up the site with something more stable than the current temporary fencing.
By October 31st, the city said none of the work had been done so they have now stepped in. The city is now bringing in dirt to shore up the banks and new secure fences will also be installed. For the first time, the city will then bill all the costs back to the developer Condosource.
On Friday, the CEO of Condosource was at the sight. Todd Gow told CTV News the project is not abandoned, it's just on hold. "The city deems it abandoned when we cease construction. We've kept in touch with the city all the way along from when we decided to halt the project," says Gow. Gow says construction will resume in the spring.
The city is also keeping an eye on other condo projects it deems abandoned. Those are:
- Gateway Midtown (517 10 Avenue SW)
- Sky Tower (201 10 Avenue SW)
- Grand Haras (1215 5 Street SW)
- Grand Park (101 29 Avenue NE)
- Grand Riviera (1505 23 Avenue SW)
