News of the Red Deer Region - September 1 to 14, 2007

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NEWS of the Red Deer Region - September 1-14, 2007

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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
September 2007 Part 1

September 14, 2007
Millennium Centre Expansion Could Start Soon
The new owner of the Millennium Centre in downtown Red Deer has renewed a development permit to add two storeys to the five-storey, 102,650 sq. ft. building. Artis Real Estate Development Trust has indicated that the current space is fully leased and some existing tenants need more space. Construction could start before the end of the year and be ready for occupancy by late summer of 2008.
United Way Increases Goal by 11%
The United Way of Central Alberta has set a target of $1.87 million, up 11% from the $1.62 million raised last year. The money raised, mostly through employee run campaigns, will be distributed to at least 37 nonprofit community agencies that assist thousands of Central Albertans.

September 13, 2007
Record Real Estate Sales in August
More listings and lower prices contributed to a record 571 real estate sales through MLS in August according to the Red Deer and District Real Estate Board Co-op. Of those, 491 were residential properties --200 in Red Deer and 291 outside the city. In July, 180 homes were sold in the city and 267 outside the city. In August 2006, 178 homes were sold in the city and 278 outside the city. During the first eight months of this year, 1,716 homes were sold in Red Deer compared to 1,365 last year and 2,238 homes were sold outside the city compared to 2,328 last year. There has been a significant increase in the number of homes on the market this year over last. Median selling price of a single family home in Red Deer was $329,000 in August compared to $334,500 in July and $283,500 in August 2006. Outside the city, the median price for a single family home in August was $286,000 similar to July and $228,500 in August 2006.

September 12, 2007
Canal System Proposed as Tourist Attraction
A Red Deer Chamber of Commerce tourism committee is proposing a concept of a series of canals in the Riverlands/Cronquist area on land to be vacated by the city civic yards. The city has a plan to turn the area along the Red Deer River into a cultural and entertainment hub with shops and housing. The proposal would have water pulled from the river, circulated through the canals, cleaned and released into the Waskasoo Creek which would return it back to the river. The committee envisions the development of restaurants, hotels and shops along the canals with water fountains, water falls, landscaping and walking paths highlighting the project. The world-class tourist attraction would have special boats in summer and skating in winter. Costs, funding and timelines have yet to be determined.
Jaydee Bixby Canadian Idol Runner-up
Seventeen-year-old Hunting Hills High School student Jaydee Bixby ended up in 2nd place in the Canadian Idol TV singing competition. Bixby's family moved from Drumheller to Red Deer last November. The top three finalists will tour Canada with concerts scheduled for Red Deer in December.
Province Provides Affordable Housing Grants
The Alberta government has awarded $2.4 million to Red Deer groups for affordable housing projects. A development to build nine townhouses in Convent Park was given $1.3 million and the Red Deer Housing Authority was given $1.1 million for rent supplements that it can administer to low income city families over the next three years.
City Housing Starts Slowing Down
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that there were 80 housing starts in Red Deer in August down from 122 in July, 141 in June and 108 in August of 2006. Several reasons have been expressed by builders including a shortage of available residential land and an increase in the inventory of homes on the market. Year to date, housing starts are 18% ahead of the same period in 2006 with 1,075 starts this year compared to 909 last year. Of those, 756 were single family and 319 multi-family this year compared to 654 single family and 255 multi-family last year.

September 11, 2007
Seniors Condo Complex Finally Approved
The 148-unit assisted living seniors condominium complex proposed by Medican for Michener Hill Village has finally been granted approval by the Red Deer municipal planning commission with some conditions. The $30-40 million complex will be connected with the previously approved $55-75 million continuing care facility that will be built and managed by Extendicare. Earlier proposals had been denied due to concerns of local residents. A third phase would consist of 40 townhouses. Michener Hill Village is being developed on 16.6 acres of land that the David Thompson Health Region obtained from the province.
Riverside Meadows Condo Project Proceeds
Demolition of the former Harpers Metals building and site cleanup is underway in preparation for the construction of a 450-suite upper end condominium development in north Red Deer's Riverside Meadows. The eight-storey building will be built in phases beginning in the spring on the 4.5 acre site.

September 10, 2007
Roundabout Intersection Planned for Sylvan Lake
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation plans to turn the four way stop at the intersection of Highway 11A and Highway 20 into one of the first rural roundabouts in the province. A roundabout is similar to a traffic circle except that sightlines are better and the circle has one lane instead of two. The $3.5 million project is expected to start construction in the spring of 2008 and be completed by fall.

September 8, 2007
Water Line East of Stettler Approved
A $40 million water line from Stettler to Consort has been approved for funding by the provincial government. The water will come from the Red Deer River south of Highway 11 near Highway 21. The area to be supplied by the line has experienced depleted water and in some case poor quality. The improved regional water line should also attract economic growth. Upgrading the water treatment plant at Stettler and a new reservoir are also part of the project which is the first of four possible phases. Construction is expected to take a year.
Proposed New Structure Plan Could Increase Glennifer Lake Development
Red Deer County is proposing a revised Glennifer Lake Reservoir Shorelands Area Structure Plan that could allow more recreational development and walking trails around the lake. Glennifer Lake was created in 1983 as a reservoir for Dickson Dam, 25 km west of Innisfail. An erosion study was recently done to see where development could go around the lake. The plan will go to county council in the near future and must get approval of the provincial government.

September 7, 2007
Highways Stall City Status for Lacombe
The town of Lacombe, with a population of 11,562, has been eligible for city status for some time but is waiting for an agreement with the province on the upgrading of two primary highways running through the town. Highway 12 runs east and west and Highway 2A runs north and south meeting at an intersection that is confusing and somewhat dangerous close to the busy Canadian Pacific rail line. The town wants the province to upgrade the intersection to a standard that the town would be able to take over the repair and maintenance before becoming a city when the responsibility shifts.

September 5, 2007
Jaydee in Canadian Idol Final
Jaydee Bixby, 17, formerly of Drumheller and currently a student of Hunting Hills High School in Red Deer, is now in the final for Canadian Idol with Brian Melo, 25, of Hamilton, Ont. Carly Rae Jepsen, 21, of Mission B.C. was eliminated from the final on Tuesday.
August City Building Permits Reach $46 Million
Three multi-million dollar projects contributed to Red Deer's August building permit total of $46 million. A $15.4 million permit for an Inglewood seniors complex boosted the residential permits to $25.7 million for the month compared to $20.4 million last year. A $6.4 million permit for upgrading of the city's waste water treatment plant boosted the industrial permits to $8.1 million compared to $1.8 million last year. A $6.2 million permit for restoration of the fire-damaged Michener Centre Administration Centre for the David Thompson Health Region was the main project in public building permits for the month. Commercial construction was down from $6.9 million last year to $5.2 million this year.
Future Events Planned at Airport
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority is looking at hosting an Air Fair next year that could include a midway, trade fair, open houses and static air-related displays. In July 2009, the airport is hosting an American Yankee Association annual fly-in that is expected to draw more than 100 planes and 200 people.

September 4, 2007
Orchestra Outgrowing Current Facility
The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra is outgrowing the Red Deer College Performing Arts Centre with consistent sell-outs of its main concert series. The arts centre seats about 560 people. The orchestra believes that Red Deer is ready to support a concert hall. In the meantime, it may consider using the Memorial Centre, which has about 200 more seats, for its main concert series and continue to use the college theatre for its smaller concerts. No decision has been made to make the move.

September 1, 2007
Springbrook Plan Highlights Aviation Heritage
Several visions emerged from a series of workshops held among residents and stakeholders in designing a future Springbrook of 5,000 people. One of the focal points of the plan is the Harvard Historical Aviation Centre, currently being planned by a volunteer group of aviation history enthusiasts from the area, that will showcase the history of the former military base. The Harvard trainer plane recently mounted at the airport could be the first of several mounted through the community creating a historical walking tour. A new town centre could be created as part of a revitalized Harvard Park business and residential park. Tournament-sized sports fields and new recreation facilities could become a major draw for sports events. The plan also includes two more access roads, a prominently-located community centre, an industrial park and a right-of-way for possible future commuter rail. An idea for an intermodal terminal at the airport that could include high speed rail was also discussed.
No Conflict in Two Planned Biofuel Plants
An official at one of two biofuel plants being planned for Central Alberta says that rising demand for biofuels will sustain both operations. Alberta Ethanol and Biodiesel, in partnership with Dominion Energy, is planning a $400 million plant north of Innisfail that would produce 379 million litres of fuel-grade ethanol from wheat and 379 million litres of canola-based biodiesel annually. Greenlab Energy is planning a $190 million plant in Stettler that would produce biodiesel, but no ethanol, and animal feed pellets from about 27 million bushels of canola annually. It would also include a biofuel research facility. A third grain processing facility, Permolex in Red Deer, is already producing ethanol.

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