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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news from local resources including media, press releases
and personal knowledge
January 2009 Part
1
Jan. 15, 2009
Construction on Sylvan Lake RCMP Building to Start in Spring
Assuming architectural plans for the new RCMP building in Sylvan Lake
are approved by the RCMP in Regina by the end of January, construction
could start by early April and be completed 16 months later. Town
council passed two bylaws on Monday to facilitate the project, including
borrowing funds and rezoning the Beacon Hill site from urban to public
facility land. Plans for the 1,274-square-metre, 2-storey, $7.5 million
building include an exercise room, a large meeting room and lockers on
the top floor, with offices and prisoner cells on the main floor.
Currently, Sylvan Lake RCMP have 25 officers and support staff.
International Clothing Retailer Coming to City
International clothing retailer, H&M, is preparing to open a 14,000 sq.
ft. store in the Bower Place Shopping Centre this spring. Its size make
it close to an anchor store in the mall. The Swedish-based chain carries
clothing for women, men, teens and children as well as cosmetics, shoes
and other accessories. The company has 1,600 stores in 33 countries,
including 43 in Canada, two of which are in Edmonton and one in Calgary.
The store will be in part of the area previously occupied by the
Convergys call centre which closed last June. Other anchor stores in the
mall include The Bay, Zellers, Sears, ToysRUs and Shoppers DrugMart.
Gull Lake Community Hall Being Planned
The newly formed Westlake Community Society is planning and fundraising
to build a new community centre serving the northwest shores of Gull
Lake on an 11-acre municipal reserve site owned by Ponoka County. The
new Westlake Estates subdivision next to Parkland Beach is home to
around 700 summer and permanent residents.
Jan. 14, 2009
Golden Circle Renovation Project Almost Complete
The $3 million major renovation project at the Golden Circle seniors
centre near the downtown Red Deer museum and recreation centre is
nearing completion with some staff moving back in next week and
completely operational by February 1. The temporary location for staff
has been at the Red Deer Curling Club building for the past several
months. The renovations include a new entrance and lift, a circular
drive-through, upgrades to washrooms, lighting and acoustics and
basement remodelling. The centre has over 900 members and serves 250
people a week.
Historic Markerville Story Being Republished
Originally published as a series of articles called 'The Markerville
Story', long out of print, the book is being republished by the Central
Alberta Historical Society as 'Settlement Tales of West Central Alberta:
The Markerville Story'. Carl Morkeberg, manager of the Markerville
Creamery in the late 1960s, wrote the articles, the first of which
appeared in the Innisfail Province in October 1967. His 131 articles
expanded to include the histories of other communities in the area
including Spruce View, Dickson and Caroline and the series was compiled
and published in 1980. Born in Markerville in July 1903, Morkeberg was a
Dane in the largely Icelandic community. He died in 1981. His father
started Markerville's first creamery in 1899, now a museum restored to
its 1932 appearance.
Jan. 13, 2009
City Centre Parkade Construction to Start This Summer
Red Deer city council yesterday approved the borrowing of $18.5 million
towards a $21.3 million project to build a 3-storey parkade above the
downtown transit terminal. The project will be tendered this spring and
construction is expected to start this summer. Parkade foundations were
build at the time the terminal was constructed in 2002. The new
420-stall parkade will take a year to build.
City Council Approves $150 Million of Borrowing
Red Deer city council has approved the borrowing of up to $150 million
for several infrastructure projects including $87 million for water
treatment upgrades, $34.2 million for wastewater treatment plant
improvements, $6 million for recreation and parks projects, $3.9 million
towards replacing or relining wastewater mains and $18.5 million for the
downtown parkade.
Former Sylvan Lake Hotel Site Ordered Cleaned Up
Sylvan Lake town council has given the developers of a stalled project
at the town's most prominent corner to June 30 to dig out the
partially-built underground parkade, provided other conditions are met.
Otherwise the town will proceed on its own to fill in the eyesore and
use the site as a temporary park. One of the conditions is that the
fence around the project be replaced with a more attractive and
permanent one by Feb. 15. The site was once the location of a historic
hotel. It was torn down in 2002 to make way for a 7-storey conference
centre and hotel that stalled in 2003. In 2005, the town approved a
revised plan for a 9-storey building with ground-floor commercial space
and 94 condominium suites. The development permit for the last project
expired last June.
Intermunicipal Annexation Compensation Approved
A compensation agreement between the city of Red Deer and Red Deer
County has been approved by both municipalities as part of an
Intermunicipal Development plan for the future annexation of 7,485 acres
west and north of the current city boundaries. The total amount is $2.4
million which would be paid by the city to the county in installments
between 2010 and 2014 to compensate for lost tax revenue and
infrastructure assets.
Jan. 10, 2009
New City Housing Starts Lowest in 5 Years
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that housing starts in Red
Deer dropped by 63% in 2008 compared to the previous year. The 572
projects started during the year consisted of 367 single-detached homes
and 205 units in multi-family buildings. In 2007, Red Deer recorded
1,558 housing starts of which 974 were single detached and 584
multi-family units. Although 2007 was a record year for residential
construction in the city, the 2008 figures are also lower than for the
previous five years. In 2006, the city had 1,429 housing starts; 2005
had 1,270 starts; 2004 had 1,343 starts; 2003 had 1,124 starts; and 2002
had 1,485 starts. During 2008 in other communities in Central Alberta,
Sylvan Lake had 107 single-family and 216 multi-family starts; Lacombe
had 77 single-family and 49 multi-family starts; Mountain View County
had 117 single-family starts; Clearwater County had 85 single-family
starts; Red Deer County had 76 single-family and 4 multi-family starts;
and Lacombe County had 52 single-family starts.
Jan. 9, 2009
Optimism for City Housing Sales in 2009
In spite of a less than stellar final quarter of 2008, the past
president of the Central Alberta Realtor Association expects an
improvement in mid-2009. During the last three months of the year, 171
single-detached homes sold in Red Deer, compared to 400 in the previous
quarter and 243 during the same period in 2007. Brisk sales activity in
the city earlier in the year helped push the 12-month total to 1,312,
second only to the record 1,399 sales during 2007. The median price for
the final quarter was $310,000, compared to $324,000 during the previous
quarter and average for the year and $319,000 during the same period in
2007. The median price for 2007 was $330,000. A further decline in
average price is expected in the first quarter of 2009 and then rebound
mid-year. It is anticipated that 4,700 residential properties in the
region will be sold through the Multiple Listing Service in 2009,
including 2,000 in Red Deer, compared to 4,646 sales in Central Alberta
and 1,950 in Red Deer during 2008.
Regional Homes Generally Maintained Value in 2008
Although the median home price in some Central Alberta communities
declined in 2008, there were other communities where the median home
price increased. According to figures released by the Central Alberta
Realtor Association, In Blackfalds, the median price of single-detached
homes sold was $324,000 in 2008 compared to $296,000 in 2007. In
Lacombe, the median price increased from $303,000 in 2007 to $314,000 in
2008. In Ponoka, the median price increased from $237,000 last year to
$245,000 this year. The median price in Sylvan Lake increased slightly
to $349,000 from $345,000. Prices remained fairly constant in Rocky
Mountain House at $291,000 while the median price in 2008 for homes in
Red Deer at $324,000, Innisfail at $270,000 and Stettler at $210,000
declined from the previous year.
Lacombe County Gives First Reading to RV Resort Plan
A proposed 423-unit recreational vehicle resort in the summer village of
Sunbreaker Cove close to Sylvan Lake has been given first reading by
Lacombe County. Developer Skyy Country has proposed building a boat
launch and road upgrades to improve access to the area and a storm water
runoff system that would keep a proposed golf course green in order to
address some of the concerns expressed by local residents. A public
water park larger than Discovery Park in Red Deer is also planned. A
public hearing will be held in March.
Jan. 8, 2009
Two Thirds of New Subdivision to be Green Space
A proposed new subdivision called Garden Heights, on the escarpment
along 67 Street east of the McKenzie Trails recreation area portion of
Waskasoo Park, will preserve most of the green space, trees, ravine and
wildlife corridor. The area structure plan covers 162 acres of which 110
acres will be remain as open space. Garden Heights is expected to have
460 units, including 174 single-family houses, townhouses, duplexes and
an apartment complex. Several new trails will ring the development and a
parking lot for about a dozen vehicles will be built for trail users.
The city owns 126 acres, Melcor Developments 30 acres, of which 16 acres
will be developed, and private landowners who hold 6 acres. The
subdivision will take from three to five years to develop starting in
2010.
Rocky Mountain House Tax Increase 4.9%
Homeowners in the town of Rocky Mountain House will face an average 4.9%
property tax increase this year. Town council approved a $13.3 million
operating budget and $14.7 million capital budget. Major projects
include $7.5 million for water treatment plant upgrades.
City Seeking Public Art for Building Projects
The City of Red Deer is asking artists to submit proposals for art works
to add interest to four public building projects. The pieces will be for
the downtown RCMP building currently under construction, the nearly
completed 67th Street RCMP/Emergency Services building, the expanding
Golden Circle seniors centre and the Emergency Services station in
Johnstone Park.
Jan. 7, 2009
Aviation Museum Step Closer to Reality
Red Deer County council has given first reading to a bylaw to allow for
the lease of up to 10 acres of municipal reserve land in the hamlet of
Springbrook for a future aviation museum. The proposed Harvard
Historical Aviation Centre is planned to preserve the heritage and
memorabilia of the former Penhold military base next to the Red Deer
Regional Airport. Although the museum will focus on the NATO training
years when the Harvard trainer was the primary aircraft used for
training, the society has acquired a 1941 Airspeed Oxford twin engine
plane used at Penhold during the days of the British Commonwealth Air
Training Plan. It is estimated that the building will be between 15,000
to 18,000 sq. ft. and be open by the fall of 2010.
Construction Associations Optimistic About 2009
Officials from both the Red Deer Construction Association and the
Central Alberta branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association have
expressed optimism for construction activity in 2009 in the Red Deer
area. There is an expectation that building permits in the city will
increase in part due to improved selection of residential lots,
anticipated commercial building activity, availability of serviced
industrial land and the continuation of multi-year projects.
Capri Hotel and Convention Centre Sale Finalized
The sale of the Capri Hotel and Convention Centre finalized last week
with Temple Real Estate Investment Trust for $40 million. The hotel now
falls under the management of Atlific Hotels and partner agency Starwood
Hotels and Resorts which operates the Sheraton and Westin hotel chains.
The hotel will undergo $8 million in renovations over the next eight
months including the lobby and 218 guest room makeovers one floor at a
time. An unspecified name change will include the word Sheraton. The
Pasutto family had owned and operated the hotel since 1964. Most of the
300 employees will remain and the two adjoining bars will continue.
Jan. 6, 2009
Tourist Visitor Centre Sets Record
The Tourism Red Deer Visitor Information Centre located along Highway 2
reports a record number of tourists stopped by in 2008. There were
74,637 visitors tallied last year, topping the previous record of 73,027
set in 2006. In 2007, 68,714 visitors passed through. About 74% of
visitors were from within the province as high gasoline prices kept
Albertans closer to home than usual, although in the previous year, 80%
of visitors were from within the province. Half of the international
travellers were from the U.S. The record number reflects the record
attendance at Westerner Days 5-day fair in 2008 and the huge success of
the city's mid-summer CentreFest street performers festival.
River Watershed User Group Applauds New Land-Use Region
The Red Deer River Municipal Users Group is pleased that the province
listened when it changed its Draft Land-Use Framework to include a
seventh region in the province, the Red Deer Region, in its final report
released in December. The group had been pushing the province for years
for the Red Deer River watershed to be considered separate from the
South Saskatchewan River basin. The province created the framework to
better manage public and private lands and natural resources, including
water, during recent times that have seen rapid population and economic
growth. The plan strives to create a balance among economic, social and
environmental interests. The other six regions include the Lower Peace,
Upper Peace, Lower Athabasca, Upper Athabasca, North Saskatchewan and
South Saskatchewan, all named for the major river watersheds. Since the
Red Deer River flows into the South Saskatchewan, the river watershed
had previously been included in the South Saskatchewan river basin
region. Most of Central Alberta, including the counties of Red Deer,
Lacombe, Ponoka, Mountain View, Stettler, Kneehill, Starland, Paintearth
and Special Areas to the east, are part of the new provincial region
although some portions of the region are in the Battle River sub-basin
that flows into the North Saskatchewan River including portions of
Ponoka, Lacombe and Stettler Counties. Clearwater County is in the North
Saskatchewan river basin region.
Sylvan Lake Gets Vehicle Dealership
Sylvan Truck Ranch has opened in Sylvan Lake as a used vehicle
dealership that carries late-model light trucks, cars and SUVs. The town
has been the largest community in Central Alberta without some form of
vehicle dealer, partly due to its proximity to Red Deer. The new
premises consists of a 3,700 sq. ft. building with a showroom sitting on
1.2 acres of land along Highway 20 north of Highway 11A.
Jan. 3, 2009
Value of City Permits in 2008 Normalizes
After a couple of years of record-breaking construction in Red Deer
reflecting a major growth spurt, the value of permits in 2008 were back
to levels experienced prior to 2006. The cumulative value of building
permits issued during the past year stood at $258.4 million, a 39%
reduction from the previous record year in 2007 which stood at $421
million. However, it was still the third highest value in Red Deer's
history. 2007 was a unique year in that three major multi-million dollar
projects got underway including the massive relocation of the civic
yards, the expansion of Red Deer College and the start of a 12-storey
downtown office building. In 2006, permits totalled $282.2 million while
in 2005, the permit value was $254.1 million. In 2004, the permit value
was $141.1 million. The number of permits in 2008 was down from the
previous year from 3,068 to 2,008. The residential category took the
greatest hit in value with $99.2 million in 2008 compared to $189.7
million the previous year. The industrial category took the greatest
percentage drop at $14.2 million compared to $103.6 million in 2007.
Public projects increased in 2008 with 2 major projects, the $40 million
Michener Hill Medican project and the $23 million RCMP building. The
final month of the year did see an increase over the same month in 2007
at $8.5 million compared to $6.5 million in December of the previous
year.
Jan. 2, 2009
Province to Co-ordinate Ambulance Service
Red Deer Emergency Services will not be dispatching its own ambulances
by April although the city will continue to operate them as part of the
city's existing integrated fire and medic service. The province has
announced plans to set up its own emergency medical service
communications centres in regional areas around the province. The move
is expected to streamline the current 30 regional EMS centres by
reducing the number of centres to 9.
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