WATCH ABOVE: Some homes in Mountain View Park overlook the Bow River and owners are worried part of the ridge has started to slip. Global’s Mia Sosiak reports.
CALGARY – Some homeowners in the southeast Calgary neighbourhood of Mountain View Park are nervous about the steep slope behind their yards, fearing it could slip further towards the Bow River.
Fanny and Scott Oliphant bought their home on the ridge above the Bow River for its spectacular view, but never thought the valley would end up nine metres from their back fence.
“Stressful? Yeah, can you imagine the houses start to go down? Whose responsibility is that?” said Fanny Oliphant.
Heavy rain in 2012 and the 2013 Alberta floods took big bites out of the side of the ridge.
“They’re doing studies, but they’ve been doing that for a couple years now and there’s still nothing concrete that’s come out of it,” said Scott Oliphant.
The city hired geotechnical experts to assess over 3 km of the slumping ridge, and fixed damaged pathways. City officials are confident the homeowners are safe.
“It will continue to move over time, but it’s part of a natural process and at this time we’re not concerned that it will impact the private properties,” said City of Calgary slope stability coordinator Brenda Rincon.
Meanwhile, six million-dollar homes are for sale on the Oliphant’s block—an unusually high number considering the views they offer.
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“This is the kind of product that’s been affected by oil prices, and there might some people that have some pressure to sell, and again that’s not uncommon,” said Remax realtor Don Lothian. “But again, it’s one block, it’s not up and down the whole ridge.”
Area homeowner Ian Barron listed his home 18 months ago, and says all the “for sale” signs are just a coincidence, and that many are empty nesters who are buying down.
“This isn’t about the slope slumping…in fact if you were to ask each and every one of the owners, they’ve got very good reasons,” he said.
The city won’t say if any reinforcement is recommended for the ridge until after administrators deliver their report to a municipal committee, set to meet late September.
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