Cold weather causing more problems for residents of low-income highrise

After their building was ordered to shut down by 2023, residents of Bridgeland Place in northeast Calgary are facing more problems during this deep freeze.

There are reports of numerous floods over the past week, leaving residents in the cold with damaged apartments and looking for relief from the city.

“I feel like they just don’t care and they just want us out of here right now,” said Kavin Sheikheldin, who lives on the fifth floor with her mother.

Sheikheldin told CityNews the issues started on Boxing Day and have been persisting all the way up to Jan. 5. Icicles can now be seen on the exterior of the building, showing how much water has leaked to the floors since the temperatures have plunged below -30.

Her mother also has mobility issues, adding to the challenges they face.

“Our unit has flooded in the closet and my poor mom who is disabled had to clean it herself with no assistance, I was out at the time when it happened,” she said. “It’s almost a day to day problem, and it’s causing everyone mental distress and lots of tenants are even freezing inside because their heater isn’t working and some even had to go to the hotel.”

Unfortunately, this is only the latest in a long list of problems to affect the building, as last year the city resolved it will be shut down because it is costing too much money to keep making repairs. Residents have also been dealing with problems like bed bug infestations.

The affordable housing complex is owned by the Calgary Housing Company, which told council last March they were in the process of decommissioning it.

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Bridgeland Place to be decommissioned by 2023

Tenants have been promised that they will be given a new place to live, but there have not been many developments on that front and affordable housing supply is limited throughout Calgary.

“The health, safety, and security of our residents is always our top concern,” said CHC VP of Customer Experience Meaghan Bell. “We are trying to ensure minimal disruption to tenants when any incident, such as a burst pipe, does occur. Last weekend, clean-up crews were dispatched and repairs were started immediately to mitigate any further impact to residents and damage to the building.”

The statement added the Calgary Housing Company is working with tenants to identify new housing options, and unfortunately problems like these are due to the age of the building and are precisely why it does have to close down.

But for the residents like Sheikheldin, they have to sit tight and hope for the best as these problems continue.

“We’re still stressed and worried how accommodations will be for a new place we’re going to.”