Dangerous events downtown highlight need for maintenance bylaw

CALGARY- A series of incidents downtown including falling bricks and raining glass has highlighted the need for a maintenance bylaw, which is now in the works.

It would legislate better maintenance for tall buildings in Calgary, in hopes of preventing a possible tragedy.

“The bylaw is constantly being worked on,” says chief building official Marco Civitarese. “We are looking into the fall to have a draft in place, hopefully enactment in 2015.”

Those who frequent the core welcome the new rules.

“Anything that is going to help the enforcement and adherence to safety is very important to us,” says Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Downtown Calgary Association. “They have done a great job for the actual construction piece, and now they have to go a little farther and look after the maintenance piece.”

Officials have been consulting with building organizations, condo boards and industry owners in an effort to come up with comprehensive legislation.