City Acquires Anderton Arms to Address Safety Risk

The City of Courtenay has acquired the Anderton Arms Apartment Building, located at 426 Anderton Avenue. This acquisition is part of the City’s response to safety concerns. The City has plans to demolish the Anderton Arms once tenants have relocated.

The acquisition and demolition will address the risk posed by the Retaining Wall located between the property and the Courtenay River. In December 2023, the City issued a public safety notice after monitoring by structural engineers detected movement of the sheet pile wall. Since then, structural assessments of Anderton Arms have identified several signs of structural distress.  

As part of the City’s safety response, tenants of the Anderton Arms have been informed that they will have to find new housing.

“We know this is very difficult news for tenants, who must relocate. The City does not take these steps lightly, and the City is working to provide support to ease the relocation process,” said Geoff Garbutt, City Manager.  

Tenants of the Anderton Arms have been given at least four months notice to relocate in accordance with the Residential Tenancy Act. The City has also offered tenants compensation aligned with the best practices of other municipalities in BC, which exceed the minimum requirements. The amount of compensation offered is calculated based on the length of their tenancy at the Anderton Arms, plus moving costs. In addition, the City has retained the M’akola Housing Society to support tenants in their search for new housing, and help coordinate their move.

“The Comox Valley – like many other communities in BC – is facing an affordable housing crisis that makes this situation particularly challenging. We have brought M’akola on board to help these tenants navigate the path ahead,” said Garbutt.

Structural monitoring of the Retaining Wall and the Anderton Arms will continue. If this structural monitoring detects any signs of imminent failure, tenants will be immediately evacuated. Tenants have also been informed of the signs of imminent failure and the steps to take if such failure is detected.

The Anderton Arms Apartment Building is one of two buildings located behind the sheet pile section of the Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall. The City intends to expropriate the former Cona Hostel located at 440 Anderton Avenue, to address the risk with the Retaining Wall.

For more information visit www.courtenay.ca/andertonwall.