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Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015
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Downturn hasn’t hurt home show BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF Home improvements appear to be economic-downturn-proof. Judging by interest shown in the Red Deer Home Show this weekend, many Central Albertans are intent on enhancing their living spaces, regardless. Thousands of people attended the three-day trade show that brought dozens of vendors and special guest speaker Damon Bennett, co-host of the TV show Holmes Inspection, to Westerner Park in Red Deer. Kevin Wilkie, past-president of the Red Deer Home Builders Association, believes television makeover shows and popular websites, including Pinterest and www.houzz.com are continuing to stir the home improvement craze — as are local show homes. “They’re giving people some cool and innovative ideas and getting them to think creatively,” he said. Among the consumer trends Wilkie has noticed is growing interest in energy efficiency, including solar heating. With technological improvements, he believes more people are now finding these options affordable. Also popular are special features that make a home unique, such as built-in custom shelving, wall panelling, or storage solutions, as well as various outdoor living and patio options. Despite a softer economy, Wilkie,
vice-president of sales for True-Line Homes, said housing starts remain “decent.” However, higher land prices have caused a jump in smaller lot sales and the construction of more modestly sized homes. Two-storey houses are now typically built with 1,800 to 1,400 square feet of living space, as opposed to the 3,000 square feet of a decade ago. Bungalows and bi-levels are more in the 1,300 to 1,800 square foot range. Smaller lots mean ranch-style homes aren’t built as spread out as in the past, with narrower designs gaining in popularity, said Lori Erickson, a member of the Red Deer Home Builders, who chaired the home show that ended on Sunday. Open-concept designs are preferred, and a wide range of options are available in everything from kitchens to flooring, lighting and window coverings. Erickson said, “It promotes more choices.” Krobutschek, operations manager of Central Alberta Flooring, expects to see a larger market for home renovations if the economy stalls. “People might say, ‘Instead of looking at a new house, let’s fix our house or develop the basement for more space . . . ’” Everything from patterned carpets to ceramic tiles that resemble woodgrain are available to helped complete a reno project. Krobutschek said the wood-grain tiles are particularly popular in kitchens or bathrooms — especially since in-floor heating can be installed to
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Andrea Musil, visiting from the Czech Republic, relaxes into a Panasonic massage chair at the Red Deer Home Show on Friday afternoon. make them warm for walking on. The choices are endless, he added, “it comes down to money.” Red Deer interior designer Sofie Blunek, of Sofie B. Design, said her company is in its fourth year of op-
eration and is continuing to grow. Most customers are approaching her with the desire to expand their kitchens and maximize space.
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Acquisition process begins for empty buildings WHETHER BUILDINGS WILL BE REPURPOSED OR DEMOLISHED STILL NOT KNOWN BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF
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Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Valley Park Manor in riverside Meadows in Red Deer is currently standing empty. specific projects for the sites. Red Deer Nursing Home is a 47,344-square-foot facility that sits on three acres of land. Valley Park Manor is a little over 32,280 square feet on four acres. In Red Deer, Alberta Social Housing Corp. owns several Kiwanis seniors housing buildings and two seniors lodges, adding up to 354 suites, and 13 affordable housing apartment or townhouse projects that include 270 suites. Brenda Corney, chairperson of the Red Deer Chapter of Friends of Medicare, said it’s ridiculous that those two buildings have been vacant for so long.
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“Every time I go past (Red Deer Nursing Home) it just eats at me, the fact that building is sitting there and we’ve got people out in the cold and the building is just abandoned. It’s been so depressing,” Corney said. In 2011, the Advocate reported that it cost $95,500 annually to maintain and secure Red Deer Nursing Home and $95,000 for Valley Park Manor. On Thursday, AHS said the average annual upkeep cost for each facility was reduced in April 2012 to about $25,000 each, and included daily visits by AHS staff and maintenance such as snow removal. Electrical consumption
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Canadian soldier killed in friendly-fire incident in Iraq A Canadian special forces soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a friendly-fire incident on Saturday Story on PAGE A6
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Two city nursing homes that have stood empty for nearly five years may soon escape limbo. A provincial crown corporation wants to acquire the lands where Red Deer Nursing Home and Valley Park Manor stand to create housing for seniors and/or low income residents. The aging facilities — Red Deer Nursing Home, located a few blocks north of Bower Place shopping centre, and Valley Park Manor in Riverside Meadows — have been empty since 2010, when residents were transferred to the new Michener Hill Extendicare. Trent Bancarz, spokesperson with Alberta Seniors, said Alberta Social Housing Corp. — which is under the authority of Alberta Seniors, and holds public housing assets and distributes funds to support housing programs — has started the process to acquire the lands. “We see the potential of them for seniors or affordable housing, which is certainly a need in Red Deer,” Bancarz said. “We just expressed our interest to Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health Services formally within the last week or so. So this is very early in the process and I don’t know when the transfer would take place.” He didn’t know if the buildings would be repurposed or demolished. The corporation has yet to develop
was reduced and water and gas to the sites were shut off. For safety purposes, exterior lighting and fire and security alarm systems are maintained. For years, seniors have been advocating that the two buildings be reopened to seniors waiting for continuing care beds, particularly long-term care. Corney said more long-term care is still needed. But the city also needs more social housing. “It will only improve things in Red Deer if we have more affordable housing for people,” Corney said. Senior Shirley Thomas said she would prefer the properties provide seniors housing or transition care for those who no longer require acute care but need some nursing care before they return home. “I think it should be kept for seniors,” said Thomas, who is also vicepresident of Central Alberta Council on Aging. Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer said the city has been very clear and consistent in meetings and letters to the province about developing more affordable housing and the opportunity to repurpose Red Deer Nursing Home and Valley Park Manor for public housing. She said the province has yet to formalize any positions to the city, but if Alberta Social Housing Corp. is looking to acquire the lands that would be very consistent with presentations the city has made to the province in the past.