There are around 5,000 homes that were damaged, on top of the 1,600 totally destroyed by the fire.
any better. Instead, the CMHC is now predicting new home
neighbourhoods—Beacon Hill, Abasand and Waterways—could
construction in Fort McMurray will hit the highest levels
find themselves surrounded by cleanup as their new home goes
seen in 20 years.
up. Dirt and debris will find their way into the building, and
But the rebuild has to begin with one home, and it belongs to Darrin Eckel, president and owner of Vis-Star Homes. Located in the Wood Buffalo area, the bi-level house is
crews may even need to wear respirators as they work. It is hardly an environment amenable to creating a good quality finished product.
divided into two rental suites. Eckel, as both the home-
Will people be willing to wait two years to start building a
owner and builder, was able to push forward the cleaning
home? Unfortunately, they may have no choice. There is simply
of the site and quickly line up everything he needed for
not enough building capacity in the city to have shovels in the
his building permit. He was further helped along by the
ground for 2,000 homes come spring 2017, and some of the
house’s location in a less badly damaged area, where in-
worst-hit areas may take much longer to clean up before con-
frastructure remained in good condition. By early August,
struction can even begin on their fire-gutted streets. Frustration
he had the go-ahead to start rebuilding.
will inevitably be part of the process, and all builders can really
Eckel is glad to be building again, but he also knows no one should rush the process, however much they may
do is manage expectations and ensure they do not overextend themselves.
want to get into their homes right away. He has also re-
“I’m not going to take on more than I should, because right
ceived one of the first building permits for Beacon Hill,
there you’re going to let people down,” Eckel says. “They’ve
where 70 per cent of homes were lost, and the client is
been through enough.”
struggling to decide whether to build in the fall.
One of the main arguments for taking a slower approach to
“It’s hard to build one house in the middle of a devas-
rebuilding is that it allows more time for home planning. Before
tated area like that,” Eckel says. “People want to try to live
the fire, companies like Vis-Star focused largely on building
there, and it’s going to be absolute chaos next year. You’d
houses on spec—they made all the decisions, created a final
be one house in the middle. Try to enjoy your life when
product and sold it as-is to someone. Now, almost all of the work
there’s construction going on all around you.”
will be customized, with homeowners having to make dozens
Chaulk has faced a similar challenge as he ex-
of decisions on everything from paint colour to countertops.
plains to clients the pros and cons of starting right
That’s why Chaulk hopes people will take the winter to talk to
away. Anyone rebuilding a home in the most damaged
builders rather than scrambling for a fall start.
BACK FROM THE BRINK
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