Wrecking ball to level 17 flood- damaged homes
Residents in some of Calgary’s most prestigious neighbourhoods are angry with the province’s decision to demolish more than a dozen flood- affected homes along the Elbow River, and are demanding to know the fate of the soon- to- be empty lots.
In the wake of the 2013 floods, the government bought out at least 79 properties across southern Alberta — including 17 in Calgary — in neighbourhoods that were deemed most likely to flood again.
Earlier this month, Alberta Infrastructure sent out letters to residents in those communities informing them that 49 homes across the province will be demolished due to mould, contamination, water level issues or the inability to relocate the home elsewhere.
But those who still own homes along the Elbow River say the province’s decision to demolish the houses leaves them with more questions than answers.
Terry Fishman lives on Riverdale Avenue next to a home slated for demolition. He worries about the value of his property once that home is torn down, and added that he’ll lose his privacy in his backyard.
It’s unclear what will happen to the empty lots once the houses are gone, though an email from Alberta Infrastructure says the properties “will be filled, compacted and be made to blend with the surrounding properties.”
“They haven’t consulted with anyone in the community,” said Fishman.
Greg Clark, the MLA for Calgary-Elbow and leader of the Alberta Party, criticized the government for simply “trickling out information” to community members about the demolitions, which are expected to begin in October. He said he wasn’t made aware of the demolitions until a resident showed him the letter from Alberta Infrastructure.
“I’ve been in close contact with the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Infrastructure, and I was given assurances that residents would be kept informed,” Clark said.
He called the province’s flood buyout policy “wrong- headed.”
“We spent over $ 100 million to buy out less than 100 homes,” Clark said. “That will not prevent future flood damage for anyone who is left behind. We could have used that $ 100 million to build upstream flood mitigation and protect downtown Calgary ... and to protect the remaining homeowners.”
Clark’s concerns were echoed by Brenda Leeds Binder, an East Elbow Park resident and a spokesperson for the Calgary River Communities Action Group.
“We’ve always had the position that the buyout policy as it applied to Calgary was flawed and really made no sense,” Leeds Binder said.
“The policy is not going to achieve what it set out to achieve. In fact, it’s going to achieve absolutely nothing in Calgary.”
Once upstream mitigation projects are completed, Leeds Binder said the properties acquired by the province should be put back out on the market.
“There’s no reason that you wouldn’t have homes on those properties,” she said.
“It’s just a patchwork, a handful of homes on different streets, it’s not achieving anything for flood protection. So why not put those properties back on the market, and the government can recoup some of its losses from the high expense it undertook in the first place.”
Aaron Manton, the press secretary for Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason, said the province hasn’t determined its long term-plan for the properties.
“The province concluded a twophased stakeholder engagement process regarding possible restrictions to future development in the floodway,” he wrote in an email.
“The results of this consultation are currently under review and being considered as part of the regulatory development process.”
Clark said he will continue to pressure the NDP for more information on the demolition plans, as well as push for quicker action on mitigation projects.
“What I want is for the minister to tell the neighbourhood here what is going to happen,” he said.
“It’s been three months now they’ve had a chance to review the information, and it’s time. It’s time to move forward on flood mitigation.”