Unfinished condos in Columbia Valley declared a 'nuisance property'

When oil money was gushing into Alberta, many turned to B.C.'s Columbia Valley for vacation homes. But when the oil markets dried up in 2008, construction came to a stop.

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"There was a lot of development going on, then everything came to a screeching halt," said Clara Reinhardt, mayor of the Village of Radium Hot Springs.

The half-finished husks of apartments have been the centre of legal battles for years. Now, the city is declaring one of thecondo projects a 'nuisance property' to get it either torn down or completed.

"The owners that are in the rest of the development are finding they've had enough," said Reinhardt.

"I don't blame them because that is not the view they bought into when they bought into Radium."

The empty apartment has become a magnetfor rodents and vagrants.

Reinhardt says the city isworking with the developer to reach an agreement. The developer has until June 15to either finish it or tear it down.

With files from the CBC's Daybreak South and Bob Keating.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled:Unfinished condos in Columbia Valley declared a nuisance.