Expropriated Eau Claire condos catch fire amidst demolition for freshly rerouted Green Line LRT
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Posted Jan 29, 2025 7:41 am.
Last Updated Jan 29, 2025 8:14 am.
The last remnants of Eau Claire’s River Run condo complex is in ruins following a fire Tuesday night.
Vacant since the city expropriated the site for the Green Line more than a year ago, the demolition site was engulfed in flames last night, just hours after council approved a new LRT alignment that won’t reach the area.
The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says crews were called to the area on 2 Street SW around 9 p.m. for reports of a building fire.
Once on scene, firefighters found the multi-story condo complex with heavy flames and smoke.
Due to demolition, which began last week, the site was fenced off and unoccupied.
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Significant flames prevented crews from entered the unit where the fire started, according to CFD.
Due to the size of the blaze, more resources were called in to help.
CFD says the flames were doused using large hoses and aerial apparatus.
The section of the site which caught fire was the last to be knocked down and was set for demolition this week, according to the fire department.
Fire crews worked with on-site demolition contractors to bring down the damaged building while putting out hot spots.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and the site is secured against entry.
Complex site of controversy
The City of Calgary took possession of Eau Claire Market and the River Run condos on June 1, 2024, with the intention of clearing the buildings to make way for the Green Line LRT.
Owners of the expropriated condos have long been at odds with the city over what they consider to be fair compensation.
An inquiry found the city previously had not communicated properly with homeowners.
“It’s been an absolute horror to deal with,” former homeowner Patrick Lindsay previously told CityNews.
A new alignment for the project, proposed by the province and approved by council Tuesday, doesn’t include a station at Eau Claire, meaning the whole scenario may have been unnecessary.
River Run residents and the city have been going back and forth for almost six years.
The city says despite the area not being needed for the massive project, the condos and Eau Claire Market need to be torn down because vacant properties are unsafe.
On its website, the city says the removal of the buildings will decrease the potential for safety and security issues, while also fulfilling contractual obligations.