About 20 residents attended a council meeting to discuss concerns about the Channelside neighbourhood, located in Airdrie’s northwest, Nov. 5.
The group stood in solidarity behind resident and local Realtor Matt Carre, who gave a presentation complete with pictures showing garbage, old furniture, broken-down vehicles, improperly parked RVs, unkempt yards and vacant lots scattered throughout the neighbourhood.
Carre said the state of the area is affecting property values and complaints to the City’s Municipal Enforcement department have not yielded results.
“We are here to ask for a commitment from the City to help us clean up our area,” said Carre, who requested a meeting with the City manager, mayor, planning staff, municipal enforcement staff and Genesis Land Development, the area’s developer, to take place within two weeks.
“(We want to know) what’s in the works to clean up our community, what it will take to clean it up and how the vacant lots will be cleaned up and managed until built on, and what is everyone’s role in the process?” asked Carre.
The group also asked for a member of the City’s administration to act as a go-to person for complaints from the community.
The group’s plea to council was motivated by a lack of response to repeated complaints, as well as feedback received by members of the community from those living outside of Channelside, according to Carre.
Carre listed a number of comments he has heard about the community, which include:
“That place is a dump, it’s the ghetto over there, it’s the hood, it’s a swamp over there and it’s a lost cause because the City doesn’t care.”
Carre said the group was also frustrated by the developer, which sold homes in the community with the promise of a lifestyle that haven’t come to fruition.
“The area was sold as picnic baskets, beach bags and rafts…,” said Carre. “We are here asking the City to demand from Genesis to finish what they started and provide what they promised.”
Mayor Peter Brown admitted there are problems in Channelside, including garbage and unkempt yards.
“I am really happy to meet with you,” he said.
“I am just as frustrated as you are. I’m sorry it has taken so long but I know there’s work being done to expedite the cleanup of the neighbourhood.”
Alderman Allan Hunter said the area is a mess.
“I’ve seen it,” he said. “It seems to be getting worse, not better.”
Council agreed to a meeting, as requested by Carre, later this month.
