Full Breakdown
RidgeView Place Set for Demolition After Years of Structural Failures
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
RidgeView Place, an 11-storey residential tower in downtown Langford, British Columbia, was originally marketed as Danbrook One. Residents first moved in early 2019, but just days before Christmas that year the city revoked the building’s occupancy permit after declaring it structurally unsafe. After temporary repairs, occupants were allowed to return, only to be evacuated again in 2023 when a follow-up inspection found the tower still unsafe.
Demolition Decision
Centurion Properties, the current owner, announced that the tower will be torn down and the site redeveloped as a “modern residential community” emphasizing safety and durability. The company said the decision followed extensive engineering assessments and remediation attempts that ultimately proved insufficient to guarantee resident safety.
Impact on Residents and Community
The evacuation displaced dozens of families, including Ashley MacDonald, her father and their seven-year-old son with autism. MacDonald reported spending roughly $10,000 on relocation within two weeks and described the experience as a “long-lasting toll” on her family. Local businesses have also felt anxiety; Derek Pace, executive director of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul on Vancouver Island, noted repeated two-week evacuations disrupted the thrift store operating near the building. Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson, who declined to comment on the demolition amid ongoing litigation, stated that nearby businesses are not expected to suffer direct impacts, though he called the loss of 96 rental units “deeply disappointing” given the region’s housing shortage.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
Engineers and Geoscientists B.C., the provincial regulatory body, determined that the original design violated British Columbia’s building code and contained “significant defects” in its structural engineering. One of the engineers involved was subsequently barred from practice. Centurion Properties is currently in litigation with Loco Investments Inc., DB Services of Victoria (the original owners and designers), and the City of Langford over responsibility for the building’s failures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The decision to demolish Ridgeway Place wasn't one we came to lightly,” — Lucian Ionescu, chief operating officer for owner Centurion Properties, in a statement
- “After years of engineering work and remediation efforts, we concluded that tearing down Ridgeview Place was the right call for the safety of future residents.” — Lucian Ionescu, chief operating officer for owner Centurion Properties, in a statement