Heritage building impacted by giant hole

[newsposter]

From CTV Calgary:

Condo developer being sued
Updated: Tue Aug. 26 2008 18:42:59

ctvcalgary.ca

The builder of a massive condo development in the beltline received more bad news this week.

Last week, Resiance Corporation announced it can't afford to finish the project, so it's on hold, even though it already sold 5-hundred condos.

Now, CTV News has learned Resiance is being sued by a neighbor, Kevin Kerwin.

Six years ago, Kerwin bought a nearly 1-hundred year old building in the beltline.

Despite its age, Kerwin says there were few flaws, until last summer, when excavation on a massive condo development began across the alley.

Kerwin says that's when cracks in the building and the ground quickly appeared.

"There was telltale signs before the cracks happened. There were doors that didn't open like they should have. We're not smart enough to make a connection to anything going on around us."

After consulting with structural engineers, Kerwin is suing the site's developer, Resiance Corporation.

Just last week, Resiance announced it was abandoning the condo project because of skyrocketing costs.

The company said it would be inappropriate to comment on the lawsuit because it's before the courts, but it did file a statement of defence, denying all the allegations.

The city says it monitored the massive dig and that Resiance followed standard procedures.

Kevin Griffiths, a spokesperson with the city, says the city's efforts are now focused on maintaining the site while its future is in limbo.

"The city is first of all concerned with the safety of the public so we are working with the developer and owner to make sure the site remains safe. We also make sure the city's infrastructure is protected."

Meanwhile, Kerwin says he just wants his building back in the shape it was when he bought it.

"I don't want to be in a lawsuit, that's the last thing I want to be involved with."

Both buildings were built in 1912 and both are on the city's list of potential heritage landmarks.

That means nobody can tear them down or overhaul them without going through the city first because they're an example of industrial Calgary at the turn of the century.

Despite the massive cracks, the city says the buildings are structurally sound.