Residents evacuated from Garneau condo tower due to persistent heating issues

A Garneau-area condo building has been struggling with heating issues, leaving residents to find another place to stay as the complex was evacuated.

A Garneau-area condo building has been struggling with heating issues, leaving residents to find another place to stay as the complex was evacuated.

On Saturday, Strathcona House residents got notice that the building's boiler had failed and required a full shutdown and that the entire tower would be without heat until repairs were completed.

"As there is no heat and no domestic water, the building is no longer deemed habitable," an evacuation notice to residents read. "All residents will need to make alternate arrangements for accommodations."

Several unit owners previously told CTV News Edmonton that the building's parking access door had broken in November, leaving the garage open to the elements. That caused heating issues, flooding and frozen pipes.

Emma Lawczynski has called the building home for more than three years. Her landlord told her the news this past weekend that she would have to take what she needed and leave the building for the time being.

"They were going to have to flush out all the water so that the pipes wouldn't freeze," she told CTV News Edmonton.

She moved to Strathcona House to be close to the University of Alberta. Now she is staying with family in the west end.