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December 23, 2024
Based on advice from the Residential Inspection Safety Compliance Team (RISC) - a multi-agency team including the City’s Community Standards Branch, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Health Services and Government of Alberta - the City of Edmonton has closed the apartment building located at 10603 107 Avenue NW through an emergency order under section 551 of the Municipal Government Act due to serious safety concerns. This order includes the closure of the property, relocation of the residents and boarding of the building.
Safety concerns have escalated and conditions have deteriorated in the past month to the point that continued occupation of this building poses an imminent risk to those living in the building and their visitors. This decision takes effect today, December 23, 2024. Given the timing, this is not a decision that was taken lightly.
The City, in partnership with the Government of Alberta and the Canadian Red Cross, is providing all residents with immediate temporary housing and transportation. The building was occupied by more than 60 people, including approximately 25 children and every effort is being made to support them as they transition to safer accommodations.
The City has had an open investigation on this property. Significant efforts have been made to incentivize and compel building management to address concerns and incremental progress was being made. However, over the last five years and through 60 inspections, 25 citations have been issued in relation to the property and numerous serious issues remain unresolved. The building’s condition now poses significant and imminent risks to the health and safety of its residents.
The issues identified include significant safety and security concerns, neglect of maintenance, active pest infestations and other conditions that severely compromise the safety and well-being of residents. The gravity of the safety and security concerns present in this building were tragically emphasized on December 6 when a security guard was shot and killed in the building. Since that date, the City received additional concerning information leading us to believe that the safety and security of the building have not improved and there remained a serious risk of harm to persons living in or visiting the building.
Any time a decision is made to evacuate people from their homes, the City applies great thought and consideration to the circumstances. In this case, the urgency of the safety concerns left no alternative but to close and evacuate the residences. Until the active safety, security and public health issues can be properly addressed, the continued residential inhabitation of this property poses an imminent and unacceptable safety risk.
The apartment building will remain closed until all safety concerns are resolved and the property owner meets the business licence conditions for health, safety and security. This closure applies only to the residential apartments and does not affect the commercial businesses on the ground floor. The City of Edmonton and its partners will continue to monitor and coordinate as required.
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