There are renewed calls for tougher bylaws to deal with high rise buildings after two pieces of metal fell from a 40 storey skyscraper, slamming into two parked cars on Tuesday.
The sidewalk and street near the Husky Tower at Western Canadian Place was shut down to all traffic for several hours as crews worked to secure the loose material at the top of the building.
This latest incident has people asking questions about why wind is blowing debris off buildings.
Tuesday's incident could have been much worse, like it was three years ago when three year old Michelle Krsek was killed by debris that blew off a building under construction.
Councillor Druh Farrell says the incidents are proof the city needs to take action. "We've had too many incidents of this, some of them resulting in terrible tragedy. Public safety is at risk, so we need to do something, and really – whatever it takes."
Building owners and city officials recently struck a task force to deal with the issue and, coming from that, an early wind warning system in place for buildings under construction could be expanded to include all buildings.
However, the city says that it's ultimately up to building owners to step up because they don't have the authority to enforce anything right now.
"We do not at this time have the authority to enforce a maintenance schedule," says Kevin Griffiths, Calgary building regulations manager. "That would have to be a bylaw, so that's what we're looking at, and other cities have moved to that as a means to ensure the right things happen."
