13°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Silos on rail siding upset River Heights residents
Eight silos have been erected between the tracks of the BNSF Railway rail line close to Mathers Avenue and Lindsay Street In River Heights. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Eight massive red silos erected last week have residents of a quiet River Heights neighbourhood fuming this week.
Property owners were given no notice the metal structures were going up on a rail siding on Lindsay Street near Mathers Avenue.
They worry the silos were built to contain toxic chemicals. With no labels on the structures, it’s impossible to tell.
Some say they bought bungalows on the street because they like the green space there and now the view is ruined.
"My husband is concerned about the resale value of the house," Lindsay Street resident Jenna Jones said Monday.
"I would have thought there’d be a construction notice," her husband Colin Jones added. "Don’t we need permits to do stuff? I don’t know if the law applies to them."
The rail line is owned by BNSF Railway. The Fort Worth, Texas rail company is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and is one of the biggest freight rail networks in North America.
Rail spokeswoman Amy McBeth wrote in an email Monday the structures were erected in the middle of the rail yard by a shipper leasing property from BNSF Railway.
"Across our rail network, we lease property to customers who manage their facilities and operations. As part of those agreements, the customer secures any needed local requirements," McBeth wrote.
She identified the Winnipeg leaseholders as Fort Distributors. Company executives did not return calls Monday.
The city councillor for River Heights said he spent the day raising the alarm at city hall in defense of residents’ concerns.
In Canada, railways are a federal jurisdiction and rail corridors are located on Crown land, giving Ottawa the final say on goods and services related to rail transportation. A Transport Canada spokesman is expected to comment this week on the issue.
Regardless of federal jurisdiction, River Heights Coun. John Orlikow believes the rail company should have approached the City of Winnipeg before dropping the silos in place without warning.
"The city has no say about land use? I don’t think so," Orlikow said.
By mid-afternoon, three city departments — land use, planning and legal — were looking into the issue, the councillor said.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 11 articles for today)
Another big protest as Brazilians lament high cost of living, lack of good public services
6:13 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- Teen on train tracks from York Landing
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- California 'Night Stalker' serial killer Richard Ramirez dies at 53
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Filipino singer Charice comes out as lesbian; Catholic official says she's in identity crisis
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Craig Ferguson adds second show
- McMunn & Yates absorbs five McDiarmid locations
- Teens can join Let It Out Summer Rock Camp
- Daycare-subsidy rules bad for business
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Scientists meet to discuss weird British weather, say soggy summers likely for a few years
- New Flyer awarded Atlanta bus contract
- Suspect arrested after North End sex assault
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Rogers and MTS announce new network sharing agreement
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.