File photo: Nicholas Johansen
What remains of a burned-down condominium has been purchased by an Edmonton home-building company.
Carrington Homes announced on Tuesday it had purchased the former Water’s Edge North building development on Truswell Road, which was destroyed in July 2017.
The condo collapsed after a fire was started by a construction worker working on the building at about 11:30 a.m.
A large section of the adjacent completed condo building was gutted, leaving many people homeless.
Resident Douglas Cebryk, who was forced from his home due to the fire, said he fears the new building will be built just like the old one.
“If the City of Kelowna allows Carrington to proceed with the original footprint of the Water’s Edge North building then Carrington’s new complex will retain the southern side yard setback that was reduced from three meters to zero meters by a now invalid development variance permit that has expired,” he said.
Carrington Homes “plans to develop Essence Condos, a six-storey, wood frame, 21-unit luxury condominium building.”
The previous building, Water’s Edge North, was also six storeys.
Cebryk said he hopes the City of Kelowna has learned a lesson from last year’s fire.
“If the reduction of the southern side yard setback from three meters to zero meters remains in place then the City of Kelowna has not learned a lesson,” he said.
Cebryk says firetrucks couldn’t enter the alley between the two buildings, during last year
“The risk of a second fire impacting the original Water’s Edge will be just as high as it was before.”
The company has conducted land development at Silverstar Mountain Resort and Lone Pine in Kelowna, and has owned and operated Tower Ranch Golf Course in Kelowna.
“Unprecedented safety practices in wood construction going beyond building code will be utilized,” reads a press release. “Carrington’s extensive experience and proven capabilities will be an asset to this development.”
Construction on the building has already begun.
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