CALGARY- The province has announced strict new building rules in light of the extensive damage from the June flood, and it’s bound to have major implications for decades to come.
Legislative changes this fall will prohibit municipalities from approving development in floodways, and while the province says it’ll provide funding to rebuild homes in flood-prone areas, homeowners living in flood fringe zones who do not take steps to mitigate their risk will take on all future damages.
Residents do have the option to relocate, which has left those who live in Calgary’s inner city with a tough choice.
“Obviously there will be a discount at this point, if somebody was to sell,” says realtor Gary Cronin. “However, eventually the fundamentals of all these areas will return. Those fundamentals are a charming area, lots of beauty.”
Roxboro is one of the affected neighbourhoods, where homes cost up to $5 million—especially those along the Elbow River.
Retired school teacher Bill Taylor lives in the community and suffered tens of thousands of dollars damage, but says he’s already made a decision on the government’s offer.
“Well, I think I’ll stay and rebuild,” he says. “It’s a lovely area, great neighbours, convenient to downtown. You don’t want to go…I don’t really want to go, no.”
The province says new flood maps will determine who is in the flood way, and who is located on the fringe. It’s not clear how long that will take.
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