WATCH: As if the owners of the condemned Penhorwood condos in Fort McMurray didn’t already have enough to deal with, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo handed them a nasty surprise this week.
EDMONTON – You could say that the Penhorwood condos in Fort McMurray have been a homeowner’s nightmare.
In 2011, the complex was deemed unsafe to live in due to structural safety concerns. Hundreds of residents were given just 15 minutes to vacate the premises. Despite the condos sitting empty since then, the owners have still been forced to pay mortgages and taxes for their units.
To add insult to injury, this week the condo owners were told by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo that they could face major fines or even jail time if the building isn’t demolished soon.
“When I heard about it, I didn’t believe it,” said Bob Brace, one of the nearly 170 condo owners.
“The first thing that popped into my mind was outrage. I was flabbergasted.”
Christine Burton, president of the Penhorwood Condo Association, said this is the last thing owners need.
The municipality has since apologized for the harshly worded letter.
Civic officials determined the building needs to come down as soon as possible as it now poses a serious danger to the public. But before a demolition order is issued, it is legally required to list punishments for non-compliance. The municipality reportedly had, “no intention of charging or prosecuting anyone.”
“To me, it’s a breakdown of communication and maybe lawyers not interpreting how Joe Public, a resident who’s already in distress, would interpret a letter that includes legal speak,” said Fort McMurray councillor Tyran Ault.
“I think it’s a big lesson learned for the municipality moving forward.”
The owners are currently trying to recoup more than $60 million in damages, and will soon be going into mediation with some of the defendants which include the municipality, developer and construction companies.
The municipality says there is no date set for demolition.
With files from Eric Szeto, Global News
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