A controversial poultry processing plant in Calgary is finally being demolished to the glee of many area residents who complained for years about the smell and noise.
A decommissioned Calgary poultry processing plant at the centre of numerous controversies over the years is finally being torn down. Crews started demolishing the Lilydale plant in the community of Ramsay, Alta.
, Wednesday morning, with a large crowd on hand to witness its demise. Most of them, like Robin Tufts, who moved to the community in 1992, are glad to see it go.“The plant was hard to live with. There was a lot of trucking, a lot of noise, a lot of light pollution and dust. And, of course, the odor from a chicken factory.”The plant, which set up shop in the early 1940s, employed tens of thousands of Calgarians over the years. It has gone by other names and other owners but again, what never changed was the love-hate relationship many had with the plant.“To see Lilydale gone is sad but it’s wonderful in retrospect,” Ramsay resident Joanne Nickiford added.Once the building is fully demolished, the site will be staged and prepped for the future development of Calgary’s $5.5-billion Green Line project. The city took control of the former poultry processing plant site back in January 2022 after it expressed a desire to buy the land from Sofina Foods in 2017. The plant then moved to a different location in an industrial part of the city. “For us, the biggest advantage of this acquisition wasn’t just for the LRT,” Green Line CEO Darshpreet Bhatti said. “It was really an opportunity for redevelopment. This is a pretty big site, as you can see. There’s lots of opportunities.”Those opportunities are expected to include a mix of commercial and residential, something that sounds much better than a poultry processing plant to area residents. “I think it’s time for the city to change,” Tufts said. “For this to be more of a residential and commercial neighbourhood as opposed to an industrial neighbourhood.” “I’m thrilled for the new development to come through this area,” Houston agreed. “Looking forward to seeing the plans that replaces this.”The Ramsay Community Association has called for more clarity from the city about the LRT project’s construction and timeline, adding it hopes the noise and dust created can be limited. “More details are needed from the city about the Green Line — exactly the routing of the Green Line and what that’s going to look like,” Community Association President Kolja Vainstein told Global News. “Especially those people really close to the Green Line.”The plan for the Green Line is to roughly follow the existing rail lines that skirt the Ramsay neighbourhood with a station a couple of blocks north. It’s anticipated Green Line work could begin by late 2024 but officials said it could take five to six years to see an actual train come through.Students in N.S. and the ‘unbearable’ costs of trying to make ends meet
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Calgary's infamous Lilydale poultry plant to be demolished starting this weekThe City of Calgary will begin demolishing the decommissioned Lilydale poultry plant on Wednesday.
Read more »
Tucker Carlson coming to Calgary to share stage with SmithA right-wing news commentator is to have a conversation with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in January when he's scheduled to speak in Calgary.
Read more »
Albertans charging ahead with EVs as Calgary dealerships report record salesMore people are driving electric vehicles (EV) in Alberta, though the industry believes more incentives and improved infrastructure could help improve the shift to the green technology.
Read more »
'He's just heartbroken': Calgary man looking for answers after disability scooter stolenA Calgary man who lives with cerebral palsy is heartbroken after his disability scooter was stolen from the parkade of his low-income housing complex over the weekend.
Read more »
Calgary’s Veterans Association Food Bank in need of donations as demand increasesThe Veterans Association Food Bank in Calgary is in need of donations as demand increases.
Read more »
Proposed Calgary budget adjustments call for more cash from homeownersCalgary's city council decided to give Shepard residents a break on their property taxes this year during a meeting Tuesday.
Read more »