Tenants of evacuated Calgary apartment building allowed to return home

Tenants are starting to move back into the Westview Heights apartment building in downtown Calgary after being forced out just after Christmas.

Flooding, inoperable elevators and electricity and heat outagesprompted the evacuation of the 297-unit tower in the 800 block of EighthAvenue S.W. on Boxing Day.

An email sent to residents on Thursday by the building's management company, Mayflower Ventures, says repairs are advanced enough that the city is allowing people to move back in beginning Friday.

"The team at Westview are now cleaning the building, and we are delighted to welcome our tenants home,starting tomorrow morning," the email said.

WATCH |This video shows some sights and sounds of the flooding, which happenedin late December:

Calgary apartment building evacuated after flooding and power outages

3 years ago

Duration 0:26

Venkat Balasubramanian says his family of four had been in their apartment for only a few days before being forced out.

He says the whole experience has been very disruptive.

"I've been living out of a suitcase until now for the last four weeks," he said.

With just two elevators operating, the re-entry is being staggered. Residents of the top 20 floors are being allowed to move back first while lower floor residents will receive an update on Saturday.

The management company said tenants will be given a rent credit for the period from Dec. 26 to Jan. 13.