Park Place strata president Stuart Syme (left) talks to a worker on site during phase 2 of a geotechnical study involving drilling and core sampling to determine the cause of building damage in 2011 and 2012.
File photo
The lives of displaced residents of Park Place in Oliver continue to hang in the balance as lawsuits are brewing over a troubling saga in a place they are supposed to call home.
A writ has been reportedly filed in Vancouver court, where the case is scheduled to be heard.
Stuart Syme, president of the strata corporation, could only confirm that the group has taken the “necessary legal action to protect our interests within the time frames allowed by the law.”
On the advice of legal council, he would not elaborate.
The strata corporation’s lawyer has not returned a request for comment.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said he couldn’t speak to the matter before the courts, but did say that Town council empathizes with the strata owners who are still dealing with this life-changing issue.
It all began about four years ago when owners observed significant damage to the structure in the form of cracks in the floors and walls.
In 2013, all residents were given a notice to vacate the 43 units on McKinney Road, at which time they had to find other accommodations, which was a hardship for many.
An investigation ensued, with the strata corporation filing a claim with its insurance company. The corporation submitted that the suspected cause was an earthquake in late 2011. But to date there has been no resolution, and residents are still waiting in limbo.
