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Calgary’s Green Line LRT Project Faces Uncertain Future Amid Resident Displacement

With the City of Calgary moving toward the conclusion of the Green Line LRT project, concerns are mounting regarding the fate of Eau Claire, particularly after local residents and businesses were compelled to leave their properties earlier this year.

Homeowners from the River Run townhomes exited their residences in May following a protracted and complicated expropriation process instigated by the city.

“No one wanted to leave,” expressed former River Run resident Joel Gaucher. “It definitely felt as though not just our homes but our livelihoods were taken from us by the city.”

Plans had designated the Eau Claire Market site as the location for the terminus station of the first phase of the Green Line, with additional tracks proposed to be installed beneath the townhomes for train operations.

The situation initiated negotiations between residents and the city beginning in 2019, a dispute that remains unresolved.

Frustration among residents has grown, particularly after Calgary’s city council decided to cease the Green Line project due to the provincial government’s withdrawal of its funding commitment. “We witnessed the city bully us, intimidate us, and ultimately force us out of our homes for no real reason,” Gaucher lamented.

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Another former resident, Patrick Lindsay, voiced his lack of surprise regarding the council’s decision to terminate the project. “We always believed they would struggle to fulfill the commitment, especially given the financial constraints,” he noted.

The city utilized the provincial Expropriation Act to acquire the River Run townhomes earlier this year, providing compensation to residents as determined by an independent appraisal conducted in January.

Homeowners formally contested the city’s expropriation approach and requested a provincial inquiry to assess the fairness and necessity of the intended expropriation. The inquiry yielded a critical 61-page report that scrutinized the city’s actions and communications, concluding that “clear and open communication from the city to the affected owners was noticeably lacking or entirely absent.”

Inquiry officer Sharon Roberts determined that the city “ought to cover the reasonable costs incurred by the landowners involved in this inquiry.”

Former residents claim these costs amounted to approximately $315,000, which the city has yet to reimburse. They are now appealing the inquiry’s decision in hopes of securing that financial support.

“Currently, we are hindered in applying to the Land Rights Tribunal for compensation as we await the city’s reimbursement for our legal fees related to the inquiry,” Lindsay explained. “This situation could prolong for another year or more.”

The City of Calgary has not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing situation. Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong expressed sympathy for the displaced residents and acknowledged that the matter is currently with city administration.

With the Eau Claire Market structure vacant, discussions are ongoing about reimagining the future of the area, aiming to realize a vision of transforming it into a vibrant festival and market destination in Calgary. “We need to assess what direction the province intends to take, and then we can rethink what this place can become, in conjunction with the improvements made to the Eau Claire promenade,” Wong stated.

Demolition of the Eau Claire Market and the River Run townhomes remains paused as the province reviews a potential new alignment for Calgary’s Green Line. However, the province has indicated it does not plan to include a tunnel under the downtown area in the future alignment plans. This expected alignment, projected to be unveiled by the end of the year, will see the Green Line operating at-grade from downtown to Seton, all while adhering to the project’s overall $6.2 billion budget.

Although former residents acknowledge the improbability of returning to their townhome complex, they remain hopeful for a swift ruling on their appeal, which would allow them to proceed with their expropriation dispute. Gaucher emphasized, “It’s vital for the city to recognize that it cannot treat its taxpayers this way. We hope our experience will prompt positive changes in the future.”

Source
globalnews.ca