Town seeking development of empty field

Town staff are hopeful that council's commitment to pay for roads and parking lots will result in something being built on the former high school sports field. The town has been working with the company Span West Ventures for nearly two years to secure the development.

One of the motions passed on Nov. 14 saw council approve $291,140 as part of the 2017 capital budget for that work, which would also include an extension of 51 Avenue north of Highway 27. The payment would not be made until construction has been completed to the town's satisfaction.

"With passing that budget item last night, it gives us flexibility to keep moving ahead with the developer and Chinook's Edge School Division to keep working on the land transaction," said chief operating officer Scott Chant.

Just what would be built on the almost-nine-acre property is still up in the air. However, Chant said apartments will likely be part of the project.

Other possibilities could be a hotel and some commercial space, "which would be excellent to support all of our businesses in there," said strategy and technology officer Larry Wright.

That kind of development would fit into the Uptowne Olds Area Redevelopment Plan, which covers an area from south of O.R. Hedges park all the way up to Shannon Drive. The field's land use is set to become Highway Commercial at the front, facing Highway 27, and Medium to High Density Residential at the back.

Currently, that land does not generate any property tax for the town. This development would change that.

"Anything's better than zero. It would just be very positive and those types of facilities generate so much in construction value, assessment, walkability and customer base," Wright said.

The funding source for the town's investment would be $140,000 from the 2017 MSI Grant and $151,140 from the Road and Other Infrastructure Reserve.