A problem-plagued highrise apartment building in Langford, B.C., is set to be destroyed just seven years after welcoming its first tenants. The 11-storey Ridgeview Place tower, which was formerly known as Danbrook One, has sat empty since its latest evacuation in April 2023, when significant structural deficiencies had been identified. On Thursday, the building’s owner, Centurion Apartment Properties, informed the city that it will have to be torn down, according to Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson. “This is deeply disappointing news for our community,” Goodmanson said in a statement. “The loss of 96 rental housing units in the heart of downtown Langford is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, particularly at a time when housing availability remains a significant challenge for many residents.” ‘Significant defects’ The building was first vacated in December 2019, when the City of Langford pulled the occupancy permit for the structure just months after completion. An engineering review deemed the building unsafe for the more than 200 residents who already called it home, while an investigation by Engineers and Geoscientists BC found the building’s structural engineer was unqualified for a project of its scope. Centurion launched a lawsuit against the builder, the engineer and the city, claiming negligence caused the defects, which should have been identified during the permitting stage. In 2022, lead engineer Brian McClure was stripped of his engineering licence and banned from the profession due to incompetence. McClure was ordered to pay $57,000 in fines and investigation costs after more than a dozen “significant defects” were identified with the building’s seismic design and load resistance system. ‘Life-safety’ concerns Centurion completed extensive remediation work to reinforce the structure. Tenants moved back in as the building reopened with a new name and a new street address, but the problems persisted. In April 2023, an independent engineering review found the remediation work was still deficient, prompting Langford to again revoke the occupancy permit due to “life-safety” concerns. Goodmanson said Thursday the decision to tear down the building “will be difficult for many in our community,” adding the city will provide more information on the situation as it becomes available. “I understand this announcement will create uncertainty and concern for those who work, attend the John Horgan Campus, and operate businesses in the area,” the mayor said. “While the city can only comment on matters within its jurisdiction and role in the process, to the city’s knowledge, the businesses, and park are not expected to be affected and remain available for occupancy and use.”
