Unfinished Cardel project a point of contention
June 18, 2009 by Bram Rossman
Filed under Business, Columbia Valley, Headlines, Homes, Invermere, Local government, Local news
Cardel promotional water bottle -- 'Cardel Homes / Really well built / Rules to build by / Always finish what you start' (Photo by CV News)
There’s not much the District of Invermere can do about a prominent building project in the municipality that’s been sitting unfinished for months.
The Purcell Point townhome project, overlooking Invermere’s downtown core between 9th and 12th Streets on 10th Ave., has been under construction for approximately two years. While parts of the multi-building project are finished, and even occupied, there are still large sections that have been left to weather throughout the winter and into summer.
District of Invermere (DOI) Chief Administrative Officer Chris Prosser acknowledged that work on the project, being done by Calgary builder Cardel Homes, has lapsed long enough that a number of the building permits have expired or will soon expire.
Of the seven building permits granted between November 2006 and August 2007, only four buildings have been granted occupancy. One building, although at lock-up stage, has an expired building permit. Another, with just a foundation, has a building permit that will expire on August 1, 2009. A third building that hasn’t even been started yet, which was issued a building permit on August 1, 2007, has a building permit that will also expire on August 1 of this year.
Cardel Homes' Purcell Point development in Invermere has been sitting unfinished for months, but the District of Invermere can't order it finished or cleaned up. Some buildings have been sitting for so long that their building permits have expired. (Photo by Bram Rossman)
Nonetheless, the DOI has no policy on the length of time a construction project can continue.
“[Builders] can continue to renew or re-apply for their permits and remain active,” Prosser advised. “In order to get it re-instated, they simply have to renew their existing permits.”
Given that DOI has recently spent a significant amount of time discussing the potential colour schemes of a long-standing downtown business, wanting to ensure it suits the OCP vision of how the downtown should look, Prosser was asked if the DOI had any policy regarding general property appearances.
He explained that the municipality’s powers are limited to what is defined as an “unsightly premise.”
“The Courts have not been supportive of municipalities interpretation of what is unsightly, unless there is a measurable criteria (height of weeds, etc.),” said Prosser, noting the District is contemplating a new bylaw that will require all developers and homebuilders to post a security to ensure the completion of building exteriors.
Prosser admitted the District has proposed similar bylaws in the past, but they were not “well received” by the building and development community.
Down the highway, in the Village of Radium Hot Springs (VRHS), things aren’t much different. Although known for its desire to strictly control the appearance of its municipality, VRHS CAO Mark Read advised that their Unsightly Premises bylaw wouldn’t make a difference if applied to a situation similar to that of Purcell Point.
“Our [bylaw] basically discusses issues like abandoned car bodies, weeds, garbage et cetera,” stated Read. Unfortunately, the building code and building bylaw doesn’t help either so there is not much the municipality can do.”
He noted the same issue Prosser pointed out, suggesting that the option of requiring a security deposit is essentially the only avenue of control the municipality has. “Then the question becomes: at what point will it become a barrier to development?”
For its part, Cardel Homes’ Purcell Point website states that phase one of the three-phase project is sold out and 42 units are available.
Copyright © 2009 columbiavalleynews.com
Perfect photo for this. Ironic or what?
Cardel and the District of Invermere should be embarassed by what they have done in the heart of town.
Quite ironic photos. Building codes, bylaws etc must be changed to enforce builders to finish what they start in a predetermined time. Who would take over though? Maybe a hefty start bond could help!! Why would anybody turn around and later buy/support these builders and their associates??
I must post a comment because in the rush to “develop” this area, I see why it is in a demise. It has been 3 years since I have been to the valley and I am saddened. Nothing but high end vacation and time share properties, empty, for sale and not finished. Most of the quaint and affordable motels I remember are gone. I looked online before coming here and couldn’t understand why the rates for accomodation were so high and why there was so little available. Although I can afford to pay the higher rates, this is not what I wanted to see happen here. I always hoped this valley would not become a rich man’s playground and go the way of other pristine and beautiful areas. Sadly.in three years, much damage has been done that cannot be undone. I feel this will be my last visit here. The changes are too much and too great. Your gem is no longer and I leave the valley with it’s time shares, condos, golf courses and high end accomodation to those who not only can afford it but want to.