Life in a demolition zone: concerns over Calgary’s Eau Claire Market teardown

Crews started tearing down Calgary’s Eau Claire Market this week and some residents in the area are expressing concern living so close to the demolition that is expected to last for several more months.

Residents tell CityNews things have been a lot noisier this week, including late at night when crews bring in big trucks.

Others say they don’t mind the sound, adding most of the work stops around 6 or 7 p.m., but say they have safety concerns with a large amount of construction trucks and pedestrians sharing the area.

The owner of a local store also shared concerns about reduced sales during the demolition.

“During this period the area has been fenced and cleared leading to a substantial decline in foot traffic and customer engagement for local businesses like ours,” reads an email from Brianna Wang, the owner of Paws Discovery.

While originally planned as part of Calgary’s Green Line LRT project, the area is no longer included in the new alignment for the transit line.

Another business owner says its not the noise or mess that they are worried about, it’s the uncertainty of what will be built there next.

“There has been no transparency on what it is going to be in the future,” says Akshit Trivedi, the owner of Riverfront Wine & Spirits.

Eau Claire Market first opened in 1993 and over the years, housed an arcade, a farmer’s style open market, street performers, magicians, and an IMAX theatre.

The property was handed over to the city last May, after a big farewell party that included music, cultural performances, and interactive art projects.

The tear down of Eau Claire Market is expected to be completed by June.