Vancouver residents concerned after cancelled Ardea project | Daily Hive

‘It’s a lake now’: River District residents concerned after cancelled Ardea project

Standing water has filled the excavation pit at Wesgroup’s cancelled Ardea project in the River District. (Supplied)

Residents in Vancouver’s River District say they’re left with more questions than answers after Wesgroup abruptly cancelled its Ardea condo project, leaving behind what some locals describe as a “lake.”

The developer announced last month it would not move forward with the 210-unit development at 3202 Riverwalk Ave., citing “higher-than-anticipated construction and delivery costs.”

But nearby residents like Hazel Dissky and Charley McCormack told Daily Hive Urbanized that the giant excavation pit has now filled with standing water, creating what looks more like a reservoir than a construction site.

“It’s not a pool, it’s a lake,” said Dissky, who first noticed the water rising in September.

“At one point, it went up three or four inches in a single downpour. You can’t even see the bottom.”

Ducks floating on the surface of standing water inside the unfinished Ardea development site in Vancouver’s River District. (Supplied)

McCormack, who lives three blocks from the site, told Daily Hive Urbanized the pooling has become a talking point in her co-op Facebook group.

“People are joking about having a ‘lake view’ now. But the truth is, we already had flooding issues here before this,” she said.

Concerns over mosquitoes and safety

Dissky said she’s concerned the stagnant water could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes by spring.

She also worries, “It doesn’t feel safe to have a massive, water-filled hole sitting there,” adding that she wonders what would happen if the structure were to fail.

When asked if stagnant water at the site could lead to mosquito breeding, the City of Vancouver told Daily Hive Urbanized that it has found “no evidence of safety or environmental concerns affecting the local community.”

“I’m not an engineer, but it just doesn’t feel safe to have a massive, water-filled hole sitting there,” said Dissky.

“What happens if teenagers climb in, or if the structure fails?”

Others point to the broader pattern of amenities promised but never delivered.

McCormack recalled losing yoga classes and a farmers’ market after the pandemic, when a former community centre space was converted to restaurant seating.

“We have no amenities in this neighbourhood. They’ve only taken things away,” she said.

City of Vancouver and Wesgroup respond

In a statement to Daily Hive Urbanized, the City of Vancouver said it is “in regular communication” with Wesgroup and that qualified professionals are monitoring the site.

“At this time, we have found no evidence of safety or environmental concerns affecting the local community,” the City said.

It added that mosquito risks will be monitored, and Foreshore Park improvements are expected to finish in 2026.

Wesgroup confirmed it plans to drain the site and fill the excavation.

“The standing water will be drained, and the hole will be filled in while we work to bring forward a new plan for the site,” the company said.

The developer emphasized that while Ardea was cancelled, it remains “financially strong” and committed to River District, where it has already built more than 2,400 homes.

Still, for many residents, trust has eroded.

“I’d like them to just be honest. If it’s structural issues, say so. If they have a plan, share it,” said Dissky.

“Until then, it feels like we’re left in the dark with a giant lake in our backyard.”

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