East Village residents lose parking access for four months with less than three weeks' notice

Over 100 residents of the Verve condominium complex in East Village are facing a sudden loss of their underground parking access for four months to make way for construction of an adjacent residential project called the Vibe.

Property management notified residents on June 17 that they must vacate their parking stalls by June 29—less than two weeks' notice. The deadline has since been pushed back to July 13. The residents, who own titled underground parking spaces and pay monthly fees for them, say the short notice has left them scrambling for alternatives and questioning whether the eviction is legal.

"That is pretty shocking for titled secured underground parking owners," said resident Joel Muir. The property management company offered $275 per month in compensation, but residents say this falls short of actual market parking costs.

Residents have limited options. A nearby Superstore parking lot is considered unsafe, and Alt Hotel parking across the street costs $340 monthly. The buildings sit beside the Riff, East Village's pedestrian corridor for large events such as the Stampede Parade, making street parking especially difficult. Resident Ryan Zerr expressed concern about vehicle security during Calgary's hail season and noted the area has a history of break-ins and thefts. Flight attendant Kruti Sutaria worries about her safety walking from remote parking lots at odd hours for work shifts.

Some residents only learned of the move five days before the original June 29 deadline. Resident Rob Rhodenizer said no compensation has been paid yet and no timeline has been given for payment. Residents have since banded together, forming a WhatsApp group to seek answers about the legality of the forced eviction. Property management sent out legal advice on July 8 outlining the developer's position, but many questions remain unresolved.