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Imperial Oil is in “early-stage discussions” with the City of Calgary and the province to redevelop its former refinery lands in southeast Calgary for housing, according to Alberta’s environment ministry.
Twenty-five years ago, hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes in Lynnview Ridge when it was discovered the land — the former site of an Imperial Oil refinery — was contaminated with high levels of lead and hydrocarbons.
Alberta’s Environment and Protected Areas said it “has requested more detailed information on the location, concentration of contamination and the proposed development Imperial Oil is considering.
“At this time, it is too early to know what remedial work may be required until Imperial Oil provides further information.”
Imperial Oil says it will not act as the developer for the Millican Estates area, located on Lynnview Road. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Imperial Oil told CBC News it will not act as the developer for the Millican Estates area, located on Lynnview Road, but instead will focus on preparing the site.
“Decisions regarding future redevelopment, including land use, design, density and potential amenities, would be made by a future purchaser and would proceed through the City of Calgary’s planning and approval processes,” a statement read.
“At this time, no final determinations have been made regarding additional work for specific parcels.”
Plans creating ‘bit of buzz,’ but some residents apprehensive
The councillor for the area, Harrison Clark, told reporters Wednesday that the plans are “really quite preliminary right now.”
“But when a large organization like Imperial Oil wants to make something happen in a community like Ogden, it’s created quite a bit of buzz, especially with the history of the site.”
Imperial Oil’s petroleum facility operated in Lynnwood from 1924 to 1975. The area was later developed into the Lynnview Ridge subdivision.
After the contamination was discovered in 2001, residents took up a four-year-long battle to hold the company responsible.
In 2005, Imperial Oil reached a deal with the province to clean up a number of contaminated properties in Lynnview Ridge.
The company later bought and demolished about 140 homes and several apartment blocks in the neighbourhood.
In 2008, the once-contaminated community reopened as a greenspace.
Clark said he’s heard from community members who shared concerns about the quality of the soil.
Imperial Oil is responsible for approximately 12 hectares in the area, and while it hasn’t released finalized plans, the company said in a slide deck shared with the Millican Ogden Community Association that it wants to return the land to “productive use.”
The presentation also noted that Imperial Oil intends to begin marketing vacant lots in the Lower West Ridge of Millican Estates in the coming months.
Zev Klymochko, president of the Millican Ogden Community Association, says the community isn’t sure about whether or not the land is good enough for housing development. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Zev Klymochko, president of the Millican Ogden Community Association, said while it would be great for the land to be used for housing again, he questioned if the area was still in good enough shape to accommodate residential development.
Klymochko added he has many questions for Imperial Oil: “What kind of remediation is planned? When? How long?
“And then we would like to be included on what kind of housing might be planned as well.”
Longtime resident says development could revitalize community
Barry Bickford, a resident of Lynnview Ridge, was among a small group who refused to take Imperial Oil’s buyout about two decades ago.
He’s hopeful redevelopment could help revitalize the community.
Barry Bickford, a resident of Lynnview Ridge, is hopeful redevelopment could help revitalize the community. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
“We’ve lost a lot of our residents over the last 10 or so years. Our schools hurt. Our businesses hurt,” he said.
“Now we’re getting two LRT Green Line stations in the community, and it just makes sense that if we have room available, increased density would help the community.”
Despite the clash between Imperial Oil and the community about two decades ago, Bickford said this time, there seems to be a friendlier relationship between the parties.