Whitehorse condo owners aim to take over Falcon Ridge development

Nearly three years after a judge ordered a halt to the construction of a Whitehorse apartment, neighbourhood residents want to take over the development.

The apartment shell still stands in the Falcon Ridge neighbourhood, but condominium owners in the neighbourhood are tired of waiting for a demolition plan. Theywant court permission to clean it up.

"It appears we've been left holding the bag," said Helen Booth, president of the Falcon Ridgecondominium association."We'll know more next week when we goto court and the developer can expand on where they are at."

The condo association isclaiming a lien on the land, and costs to covercleanup and landscaping.

"We need some order that allows us to take control of the project, and finish the development ourselves," said Booth.

A 2013 courtdecision founddeveloper Brian Little bullied and used "subterfuge" to contravene the law and start construction on an apartment building existing tenants did not want.Condo owners argued the new building would diminish their property values. The court ordered a halt to construction.

Since then, residents say the building has become an eyesore and a hazard. They say Falcon Drive is at risk of collapsing onto the property, unless a retaining wall is built to prevent furthererosion.

City officials are equally frustrated. Planning manager Pat Ross says a development permit issued in August included demands for a $70,000landscaping bond.

"I don't believe, based on site inspections, that much has proceeded," Ross said.