Nearly eight years after the 2013 flood, the Town of High River is close to getting some land and homes back from the Alberta government.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says they've been talking with Edmonton about Wallaceville, Beachwood and some homes in the northwest part of the town for a while now.

"We've accepted their offer so what happens now is, it has to go through the Treasury Department to get their blessing on it," he says.

He says the homes, which sat empty since the flood, even though they weren't affected, will probably be sold in some way, while Wallaceville and Beachwood will remain as open spaces.

Snodgrass says the key is to get them back into private ownership.

Beachwood Estates has been empty for the last three years after the homes were sold off and moved out after the flood.

He says there aren't any definite plans for Wallaceville and Beachwood.

"They will be sold back to the Town for a dollar and we'll be responsible for those lands and we don't have any set plans for those areas but we know what we are definitely not going to do with those lands and that is develop them into anything extensive, they'll be left as nature lands and floodways," he says.

There's no timeline for the transfer of the properties.

 

Send us your news tips, story ideas and comments at news@highriveronline.com