PEACE RIVER, Alta. – Peace River businesses will never rebuild unless the Heart River bridge is raised to the same level as a dike surrounding the town, says the director of a flooded mall.
“Before the tenants are confident in us, the bridge has to be changed. That’s a 100 percent requirement,” said Gordon Troup, one of 11 shareholders in the Riverdrive mall, which was damaged when floods swept through this northern Alberta town last month.
The dike surrounding the town prevented water from coming in when ice on the Peace River jammed, but water backed into the Heart River and over the bridge into town. The top of the bridge is 1.5 metres lower than the top of the dike surrounding the town.
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Chris Blake, owner of Music City/Book World, moved her store from the now gutted mall farther up main street because she fears another flood in the future.
“Until the bridge is raised there’s no way I’ll go back,” said Blake.
That’s the kind of talk that makes Troup and other shareholders cringe.
There were 22 stores in the 53,000 sq. foot mall. Now it’s a vacant shell still dirty from river water.
Because there are 11 owners, the mall doesn’t qualify for the $100,000 disaster assistance from the government. Troup estimated it will cost about $1 million to get the building back in shape for tenants.
A month after the flood, Troup continues to lobby politicians and officials for help.
“I’m so angry. We’ve tried talking to the MLA and to the mayor. Regardless of whatever aid package, there will be lawsuits,” he vowed.
That doesn’t surprise board of trade president Michael Mathews.
“If I was in their shoes, I’d be talking to lawyers too.”
Getting the mall reopened is key to the town’s survival, said Mathews. The mall was the heart of the business district and other businesses are located nearby. It’s estimated more than 60 percent of the businesses were affected by the flood.
“If we don’t get this mall open, we’re toast,” he said.
Emergency assistance
The board of trade has established an emergency fund. Larger local businesses have given money for bridge financing until disaster assistance comes in. They have about $400,000 now and are hoping for $1million.
MLA Gary Friedel said the government is exploring two options to prevent water from coming over the bridge again. If it raised the bridge by 1.5 metres to the top of the dike, it would have to build a ramp, which may interfere with nearby homes and businesses.
Another option involves putting a lock on the bridge – gates that would close quickly to stop water from rushing in.
Despite words from politicians about rallying support, music store owner Blake said she will no longer sit idly by during town discussions.
“It’s been a letdown from the town. Sure they’ve helped us, but they flooded us first.”
