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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
December 2011 Part
1
Dec. 15, 2011
Olds Council Passes Budget; Taxes Up 3.4%
Olds town council has passed a $21 million operating budget and $4
million capital budget for 2012 that will result in an average 3.4%
increase in property taxes. The operating budget includes a 3.4%
increase in salaries and wages. The capital budget includes $1.2 million
for road, sidewalk and trail improvements and repairs, $1.5 million for
water and waste water infrastructure improvements and repairs, and $1.3
million on equipment and general infrastructure.
Dec. 14, 2011
Red Deer County Defines
Protected Natural
Areas
Staff and consultants at Red Deer County have identified 27 sites
considered to be of environmental significance due to natural features
essential to biodiversity, soil, water or natural processes. If adopted
by county council, the inventory of "natural capital" will be included
in the municipal development plan, currently under review, giving the
sites special protection. Conventional agriculture will be permitted and
the landowner will be considered the primary steward of the land. The
new boundaries for the protected sites are similar to the original
environmentally significant areas map drawn in 1990 but a number of
sites have been modified, added or eliminated from the original map.
Homelessness Projects Funding Determined
Red Deer city council has determined which projects will share in the
more than $1 million grant from the Federal Homelessness Partnership
Strategy program. The Red Deer Housing Team operated by the Central
Alberta Women's Outreach Society will receive $500,000. The Red Deer
Youth and Volunteer Centre will receive $110,000. The Red Deer and
District Community Foundation will receive just over $190,000. The Red
Deer Native Friendship Society will receive just over $281,000. Much of
the funding will go toward staffing for various programs to reduce the
number of homeless in the region.
Lacombe Council Passes Budget; Taxes Up
3%
The City of Lacombe council has adopted a $25.5 million operating budget
and a $25.9 million capital budget that will boost property taxes by an
average of 3%. Part of the tax increase will go toward a 2.5% wage
increase for the city's 95 full-time employees. Utility rates have been
increased by about 4.5%. Capital projects include $12.8 million in
Highway 2A improvements, a $2.5 million upgrade of the storm sewer
system, $1.1 million in vehicle and equipment replacement and various
road and recreational projects. About $18.5 million of the capital
budget is funded through provincial grants.
Shoppers Drug Mart to Open 3rd City Store
Red Deer city council has approved a development permit for an 18,500
sq. ft. Shoppers Drug Mart in Clearview Market Square at the southeast
corner of 30 Avenue and 67 Street on the east side of the city. The
pharmacy and general merchandise store is expected to open in the summer
of 2012. It is the third outlet in the city for the junior anchor. Once
built out, Clearview Market Square covers about 22 acres and will have
about 263,000 sq. ft. of leasable space. Four banks are already under
construction. Canadian Brew House and three commercial retail
buildings are also expected to be completed by summer. Loblaws has
indicated that it will build a large grocery store.
City Apartment Vacancy Rate Drops Sharply
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) reports that the apartment
vacancy rate in Red Deer has dropped to 3.2% in October from 7.5% a year
earlier and that it could result in higher rents. The vacancy rate for
two-bedroom units dropped to 3.9% from 9% in October 2010 and bachelor
suites dropped to 0.4% from 9.4%. One-bedroom apartments slipped to 2.5%
from 5.1% and units with three or more bedrooms slipped to 3.6% from
5.9%. The majority of the city's 4,500 rental apartments are one or two
bedroom. In migration and increased employment are considered factors in
the change. Rents so far have remained similar to last year at an
average of around $765.
Vacancy Rates Down in Lacombe, Up in
Sylvan
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that the average rental
apartment vacancy rate in Sylvan Lake has increased to 5% in October
from 0.9% a year earlier. The increase was attributed to people moving
from rental accommodation to home ownership in the town. In spite of the
increase, rental rates also increased to an average $800 from about $690
a year earlier. In Lacombe, the vacancy rate dropped to 5.7% from 11.6%
in October 2010. Average rental rates increased slightly to around $730.
Dec. 13, 2011
Sites Chosen for City
Skateboard, Spray
Parks
Red Deer city council has decided to locate the city's second skateboard
park at Glendale School in the north part of the city although some
councillors thought that the Dawe Centre, also in the north, would be a
better location. There are currently plans to build a community centre
with a youth focus at the Glendale site in 2014. Council also decided to
locate the city's first spray park at Rotary Recreation Park near the
recreation centre, museum and Golden Circle. Both facilities are
expected to be completed in 2013.
Busy Sylvan Lake Gravel Road to be
Upgraded
A 1.6 km east-west gravel road in Sylvan Lake will be upgraded to a
2-lane paved road in 2012 due to modifications made at Highway 11 and 50
St. that has shifted traffic to the road known as Memorial Trail.
Alberta Transportation has given the town $4.5 million for the upgrade
that links 50 St. with Highway 20. The road will eventually be expanded
to four lanes. Meanwhile the speed limit on the road has been reduced
from 80 km/h to 50 km/h.
Sylvan Lake Sets $27 Million Budget
Sylvan Lake town council has passed a 2012 operating and capital budget
of $26.9 million, about $540,000 over last year, resulting in an overall
tax increase of 3.5%. Residential property taxes will rise an average
2.7% while business taxes increase by 2.9%. The recreation levy will
increase by 25%. Capital projects will include design and location of a
new fire hall, improvements on the Lakeshore Drive cabin area and
parking, lighting and trail development in Centennial Park, design work
on the community complex, and modernization along 40th Street.
Hotel Marketing Fund Reaches $400,000
The Red Deer Destination Marketing Fund has accumulated around $400,000
towards marketing the hospitality industry since January 2011. About
half came from a 1% room tax from ten participating hotels in Red Deer
and Gasoline Alley representing half of all accommodations, or 1,208
rooms. The other half of the fund came from a Tourism Alberta
initiative.
Former Ponoka Treatment Plant
Repurposed
The 29-year-old former water treatment plant in Ponoka was recently
reopened as a 3,300 sq. ft. community centre in one of the town's
neighbourhoods. The plant was decommissioned when the town joined the
regional water system in 2006. Instead of demolishing the building, the
town decided to repurpose it as part of the green spaces plan.
Dec. 10, 2011
Improvements Made at Highway
Intersection
Alberta Transportation has made several improvements to the intersection
of Highways 11 and 20 immediately southeast of Sylvan Lake. Traffic
increased significantly when another intersection west along Highway 11
was changed to right-in, right-out only. Left turning signals and an
additional left-turning lane have been added for southbound traffic on
Highway 20 wanting to turn east onto Highway 11 toward Red Deer.
Dec. 9, 2011
Stettler Waste-to-Energy Project Aims for
2013
A first-of-its-kind waste-to-energy project proposed by Regina-based
Prairie BioGas Ltd. for the Stettler area, is being planned for a 2013
start-up. The pyrolysis technology uses heat in an oxygen-free
environment to convert municipal waste into products that can generate
electricity. The process produces syngas, oil, water and char, a
substance that can be used like coal. The plant will process between 15
and 20 tonnes per day of organic waste including food, newspaper,
cardboard, wood, plastic and rubber.
Red Deer Multi-Family Housing Starts Up
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) reports that there were 36
housing starts in November, up from 32 starts during the same month a
year ago. Multi-family starts accounted for the increase, rising from 6
to 21 units. Single family detached homes decreased from 26 to 15. Year
to date, total starts have fallen from 534 in 2010 to 515 this year.
City Approves Southeast Side Multi-Family
Project
Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved site development for
a 111-unit, $25 million residential project in the Vanier Woods
neighbourhood on the southeast part of the city. Two 4-storey buildings
will consist of 22 1-bedroom units and 77 2-bedroom units. The project
also includes 12 3-bedroom townhouse units. A previous 141-unit project
was approved in March 2008 but it never proceeded. Construction on the
townhouses is expected to start in the spring.
Lacombe Sisters Make History as
Rockettes
Three sisters from Lacombe -- Kristin, Lisa and Alison Jantzie -- have
made history as the first trio of sisters to perform in the 79 years of
the New York-based Rockettes dance troupe. They are part of the Radio
City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and participated in the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Dec. 8, 2011
Westerner Seeks
Additional Building Space
At the annual general meeting held recently, Westerner Park indicated
that there is an urgent need for 70,000 sq. ft. of additional trade and
exhibition space as well as 130,000 sq. ft. of conference space at the
site. The two projects would require about $75 million to complete.
Although part of the cost could be paid for out of revenues, support
from all levels of government would be necessary to proceed. At the
recent Agri-Trade farm show, every available space was used and there
were still 100 exhibitors on a waiting list. Meanwhile the Centrium
arena is currently being expanded by 1,000 seats. Gross revenues for
Westerner Park in 2011 is expected to be $6.4 million, of which $1.6
million came from the annual Westerner Days. A net profit of about
$260,000 is expected this year.
Riverside Complex
Expected to be Ready by March
The 3-building residential and commercial complex, called Elements at
Rivers Edge, on the north end of Red Deer's downtown is expected to be
ready for occupancy by March. Both interior and exterior infrastructure
is close to completion and some tenants are already doing preliminary
work on their space. A 5-storey building overlooking the river will have
the upper floors as residential condominiums, half of which have already
been sold. The lower floors will be for commercial use. The other two
2-storey buildings are also for commercial use with over two-thirds of
the space committed. Next year, a fourth 3-storey building will house a
restaurant.
Dec. 7, 2011
Real Estate Sales Up 25% Over Last Year
The Central Alberta Realtors Association reports that, during the first
11 months of 2011, there have been 1,477 home sales through MLS in Red
Deer and another 2,093 in the surrounding area representing an increase
of over 25% from the same period last year. In November, there were 126
homes sold in the city and 174 in the outlying area. Average sale price
last month in Red Deer was over $290,000 and almost $235,000 in the
region.
32 Street Crossing Strip Mall Completed
The new 32nd Street Crossing strip mall where the Red Deer County
administration centre was once located is finished construction with two
tenants already open -- the Breathing Room yoga studio and Cornerstone
Dental Group. Also committed are a convenience store, a pharmacy, an
8-doctor family medical clinic and a medical office. Only four small
bays remain available for lease.
Dec. 6, 2011
City Seeks Company to Repaint
Green Onion
The City of Red Deer is looking for a business that wants to repaint the
landmark 'green onion' water tower that oversees the downtown.
Officially known as the Hortonspheroid, the tower was named after the
company that built it in 1958-59 and was painted Niagara green because
that was the colour the company had on hand at the time. The spheroid
stores 2.27 million litres (500,000 gallons) of water and stands 40
metres tall.
Dec. 3, 2011
Year to Date City Building
Permits Best
in 3 Years
During the first 11 months of 2011, the City of Red Deer has issued over
$160 million in building permits, compared to less than $110 million
last year during the same time period and $134 million in 2009. In 2008
between January and November, the City issued over $250 million and the
year before, the City issued almost $415 million. During November of
this year, $13.6 million worth of work was approved (compared to $15.2
million in November 2010), consisting of $9.3 million in residential
(compared to $4.4 million during the same month last year), $2.7 million
in commercial (compared to $7.6 million), $1 million for industrial
(compared to $50,000) and $471,000 in public projects (compared to $3.1
million).
Dec. 2, 2011
Location Sought for
Heritage Destination Project
The
Forth Junction Heritage Society is currently exploring several possible
sites between 40 and 160 acres for a major transportation heritage park
to celebrate the evolution of trails, transit and the railway in Central
Alberta that will one day become a world-class destination for the Red
Deer area. At least five sites south of the city, three sites west
and two sites north will be looked at. Depending on the site chosen, the
park will include at least two heritage centres, a family theme park, a
working 1/8 scale replication of a historic Jubilee steam locomotive and
the replication of several historic railway stations of the region. It
could also include a heritage-entertainment-gathering centre and
observation tower restaurant that was originally proposed for downtown
Red Deer. The
society's short term objectives include the completion of a
management/feasibility study, the acquisition of building plans for the
stations and steam locomotive, the leasing of storage space for transit
and railway artifacts, the development of self-guided regional historic
tours, and the initiation of fundraising activities.
Three P3 Teams to Bid on New
Schools
Alberta Education has announced that three P3 (public private
partnership) teams have been invited to submit proposals for the
design, building and maintenance of 13 new schools in the province
including the four to be built in the Red Deer area. A 300-student
kindergarten to Grade 5 Catholic elementary school in Clearview Ridge in
the northeast part of the city, a 500-student pre-kindergarten to Grade
5 public elementary school in Timberlands also in the northeast part of
the city, a 250-student kindergarten to Grade 12 francophone school at
an undetermined site in Red Deer and a 500-student regional
junior/senior high school in Penhold are all expected to be completed in
2014. The public elementary school in Timberlands will include a public
library branch.
Lacombe Students Promote
Green School
Projects
A group of Lacombe Composite High School students have formed a club
called EcoVision to promote green ideas to the Wolf Creek School
Division. The club has already created a solar energy system for their
high school and is now promoting an environmentally-friendly and
energy-efficient community greenhouse to be built on the west side of
the school. The $80,000 project has already received $18,000 from
corporations operating in the area including BP, Dow and MEGlobal. The
greenhouse provides educational opportunities in a variety of student
programs. Produce grown in the facility will be used in the school
cafeteria as well as sold to the general public and donated to the food
bank. Soil will be replenished by compost generated from cafeteria waste
and heat will be generated by a solar collector.
CAEP Recognizes Regional Economic
Initiatives
Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) has announced the recipients
of the fourth annual achievement awards. Red Deer Regional Economic
Development (RDRED) received the Promotion Award for its development of
marketing materials under the Central Alberta: Access Prosperity banner.
The Town of Ponoka, Ponoka County, Ponoka Stampede & Exhibition
Association and Ponoka Agricultural Society collectively received the
Collaboration Award for their work on the Ponoka Ag Event Centre. A.C.
Dandy Electrical Products Ltd. of Wetaskiwin received the Innovation
Award for businesses. Formed in 1998, CAEP consists of 42 municipal and
First Nations band members and 14 associate members.
Manufacturer Moving From Edmonton to Ponoka
An Edmonton manufacturer of expanded polystyrene (eps) sheet goods used
for insulation and acrylic building stucco as well as eps blocks for
insulated wall systems is moving to Ponoka in the new year. EPS Molders
Inc. will move into an existing 30,000 sq. ft. building that will be
upgraded. A 15,000 sq. ft. addition is planned. Six to twelve semi loads
of product is expected to move per day and about 30 employees will be on
the payroll.
Dec. 1, 2011
Housing Construction Rebound Expected in
2012
Local builders are bracing for a significant increase in housing starts
in 2012 due to several factors. The supply of residential lots will
increase to between 600 and 800 with new serviced land in three
neighbourhoods on the east side and another on the north end of the
city, compared to only 47 available lots at the end of September. The
local economy is improving with 2,700 new jobs created between October
2010 and October 2011 bringing the unemployment rate from 8.8% to 4.9%.
A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) forecast last month predicted
340 new housing starts next year, a jump of 10%, but that is considered
conservative.
City Library to Partner with New School
The Red Deer Public Library has partnered with the City of Red Deer and
Red Deer Public Schools to create the library's third branch in a new
elementary school to be built in the Timberlands neighbourhood on the
east side of the city. Expected to be ready in three years, the new
library will be 400 square metres (4,300 sq. ft.). The main branch is
downtown and a second branch is located at the Dawe Centre on the north
side of the city.
Centre Eyed for Lacombe
Performing
Artists
The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation is collecting funds to
conduct a feasibility study to determine if Lacombe can build and
sustain its own theatre similar to the Red Deer College Arts Centre.
Although the Lacombe Memorial Centre is a good site for parties,
meetings and events, it is considered inadequate for live theatre.
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