Demolition of Eau Claire condos begins, despite Green Line project unknowns

Townhomes were torn down in Eau Claire Wednesday to make way for the Green Line, even though the project is still up in the air.

The demolition of nearly two dozen condos in the Eau Claire area started Wednesday morning.

The properties will be flattened and filled in by next month.

The River Run Condos were expropriated by the city to make way for the future Green Line LRT project.

The adjacent Eau Claire Market also sits vacant and will be torn down by summer, despite the future of the transit megaproject still being unknown.

“It’s awful to see,” said Patrick Lindsay, former owner of a River Run condo.

“Especially since we never believed it was needed for transit, and they’re destroying them right now. And we have no idea what they’re going to use our property for.”

Lindsay spoke with CTV News as he watched the entrance to the complex he once lived in be demolished.

In December, the Alberta government presented a preferred alignment for the Green Line through downtown, and the proposed route does not reach Eau Claire in phase 1.

Calgary council could vote on whether to proceed with the plan as early as next week.

“The scope of work includes the demolition and removal of all above-ground structures, the below-grade parking structures, the building foundations and all vegetation and hardscaping within the project lands,” reads a statement from the city.

“The removal of these buildings will decrease the potential for safety and security issues while fulfilling contractual obligations.”

Most of the former condo owners, who had to be out of their properties by June 2024, are still disputing the amount they were given as part of the expropriation.

The average compensation paid for each of the properties was about $880,000.

Former owners of 20 of the 23 properties have now filed disputes with the Land and Property Rights Tribunal.

“It just seems like such a waste. It’s a government that talks about a housing crisis and being environmental, and they’re throwing 23 homes in the landfill. And we don’t even know what they’re planning to build,” said Lindsay.

With no certain plan or timeline for redevelopment, a city webpage states, “Interim use opportunities will be explored and delivered with local community and business groups.”