Whitehorse condo owners aim to take over Falcon Ridge development
'It appears we've been left holding the bag,' says condo association president
Nearly three years after a judge ordered a halt to the construction of a Whitehorse apartment, neighbourhood residents want to take over the development.
The apartment shell still stands in the Falcon Ridge neighbourhood, but condominium owners in the neighbourhood are tired of waiting for a demolition plan. They want court permission to clean it up.
"It appears we've been left holding the bag," said Helen Booth, president of the Falcon Ridge condominium association. "We'll know more next week when we go to court and the developer can expand on where they are at."
The condo association is claiming a lien on the land, and costs to cover clean up and landscaping.
"We need some order that allows us to take control of the project, and finish the development ourselves," said Booth.
A 2013 court decision found developer Brian Little bullied and used "subterfuge" to contravene the law and start construction on an apartment building existing tenants did not want. Condo owners argued the new building would diminish their property values. The court ordered a halt to construction.
Since then, residents say the building has become an eyesore and a hazard. They say Falcon Drive is at risk of collapsing onto the property, unless a retaining wall is built to prevent further erosion.
City officials are equally frustrated. Planning manager Pat Ross says a development permit issued in August included demands for a $70,000 landscaping bond.
"I don't believe, based on site inspections, that much has proceeded," Ross said.