I have written many times that the final and full responsibility for critical failures of a condominium are the sole responsibility of the developer. End of story.
So I found it surprizing refreshing that Kevyn Frederick, developer for the failed Leduc, Alberta, condominium development Bellavera Green, has stated:
As CEO of Bellavera Green, I take full and utter responsibility. I felt that to speak to anything involving anybody else’s responsibility would be to minimize the impact that I’ve caused upon the people of Bellavera Green. So I had no other choice but to do the right thing and speak to only my failures.
The failure of the Bellavera Green has most likely forced significant and likely in some cases complete, fiscal ruin for the 150 people forced out of the development. That doesn’t include unpaid bills to subcontractors and other stakeholders.
People are still going to be madly angry at Mr. Frederick – and rightfully so. There is significant pain and hardship now, and lasting well into the future, from such an absolute failure of the development.
But there is an upside.
A developer that takes no responsibility acts as a roadblock to an investigation. We’ve seen bad developers destroy documents, launch counter suits, attack people’s reputations and lives, in all – do everything in their power to cloud the issue and slow down an investigative review. All at the cost of hurting even more innocent people.
Having accepted responsibility (which I am still stunned, and think is an amazing step forward), it may open up Mr. Frederick to cooperate with an investigation.
Specifically, with the developer on side, an investigation can get a direct understanding on how the “development dream” changed into a “development disaster.” A personal reconstruction makes it significantly easier for an investigation to isolate key failures or holes in current legislation and best practices that could be rectified.
With Mr. Frederick, given his willingness (the acceptance of guilt is a positive sign), we may have a very unique opportunity to improve the process of condominium development and protect future buyers a little better.
For I’m sure – and as he has indicated under questioning – he and his company are broke. So if there is no fiscal compensation, some time and assistance would be a start. Call it a form of truth and reconciliation.
