Plans to develop land the old hospital sits on are slowly moving forward and residents are eager to see the results.
There is little doubt the five-acre property is a beautiful piece of land. The lush grass and trees help create an area that makes it ideal for future development.
The owners appear to be intent on putting that perception to good use.
The land was rezoned last year to accommodate a proposed adult condominium project that will see four phases, says Cory Hansen, owner of CDH Interactive Design.
He hosted an open house April 23 at the Seniors’ Drop-in Centre on behalf of owner, Erick Schmidt. This open house is a first step, says Hansen, in receiving feedback from the public on what they would like to see before construction begins.
There are four phases to the project:
• Phases 1 and 2 comprise two 32-unit adult condominiums on the west side of the property
• Phase 3 would be the construction of duplexes on the north side of the property
• Phase 4 deals with the existing hospital
Many attendees were curious about the last stage. Indeed, Hansen said the first question from most people was, “Are you going to tear down the old hospital?”
No decisions have been made on what to do with the old hospital yet, he explained, but planners are keeping their options open. Some ideas for the building could be to demolish it. Or, if there is enough demand it could be rehabilitated or repurposed for assisted living.
In either case, an inspection may be needed on the old hospital as there may be hazardous materials in the building that could cause health concerns with demolition or rehabilitation.
This all depends on the success of the proposed condominium project, added Hansen. He feels the first two phases will set the course for the second half of the project. “I think there’s a really strong demand in Ponoka for this type of development.”
Attendees were provided with a survey to see what they think an ideal four-story condominium will look like. Hansen says the questionnaire will help planners put together potential floor plans for bachelor suites, one bedroom and two bedroom condominiums.
“What we don’t want to do is something residents don’t want,” said Hansen.
A second open house will be organized with prices and floor plans for potential buyers on the first condominium unit. Hansen said they would like to have 40 per cent purchased before development begins and if all goes well, the foundation will be finished before winter.
One attendee wanted to know more about how the interior would look before making a decision.
“If you give me some more plans, I’ll have an opinion,” said Thelma, who declined to provide her last name.
“The inside is where I’m going to live,” she added.
Another attendee, who said he was a concerned citizen, feels a project like this would be a welcome addition to the Town of Ponoka. He recently sold his house to buy a condo in town but none were available and he said Legacy Place has a waiting list. He had to rent an apartment before something became available.
The questionnaire also showed some of the planned features and amenities of the proposal such as underground parking, cable TV and high-speed Internet and security access to the lobby.