Demolition work set to begin in Victoria Park and Eau Claire

Work is underway in Victoria Park this month to demolish three buildings at the corner of 11 Avenue and 5 Street S.E., with the demolition of Eau Claire Market set to begin this summer. This work marks a significant milestone for the 2024 construction season, as it prepares sites for station construction.

Land acquisition and site preparation are just some of the many challenging elements that large-scale infrastructure projects can face and often a significant cause of schedule delay as contractors wait to begin their work. Green Line has been committed to advancing several Early Works projects across the alignment to reduce schedule and overall project risk. All known land requirements have been acquired and by demolishing these buildings now, we are one step closer to beginning main construction of Phase 1, later this year.

Victoria Park demolition process

Prior to demolition crews arriving on site, utilities will be disconnected (gas, electricity, and water). Then there will be about two to three weeks of hazardous material abatement.

The process of hazardous material abatement involves some initial investigative steps like cutting into the roofs and walls of the buildings to find out if there are any hazardous materials that might need special plans for removal. Common examples include window caulking and drywall mud containing asbestos, thermostats containing mercury and fluorescent light ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyl.

With abatement out of the way, structural demolition of the buildings will begin and will take around four to six weeks, with all work to be complete by the end of June. Material will also be sorted on site to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.

Once the buildings come down and all material has been removed off site, additional soil testing will be needed to assess the ground conditions. Since one of the buildings was a former auto shop, there could be contaminants that have seeped into the soil over the years. If additional work is required for remediation efforts, that will be also be completed.

Eau Claire Market demolition timeline

Green Line officially takes possession of Eau Claire Market on June 1. Site set-up and hazardous material abatement of the building will begin right away, taking about two to three months, with demolition of the building to be complete towards the end of this year.

To mark the closure of Eau Claire Market, Harvard Developments, the current property owner, is planning a farewell event on Saturday, May 11, which will give Calgarians a chance to reminisce and celebrate all the memories that took place since its doors first opened in 1993.

Two restaurants in the area, JOEY Eau Claire and LOCAL Public Eatery, will continue to operate after the market closes, along with a section of the south surface parking lot. Access through Barclay Parade will also be maintained as construction progresses, with work on the Eau Claire Plaza Redesign project also continuing throughout the summer.