Staff
Those interested in the new development on the west side of Rimbey had the opportunity to get a glimpse at what the interior of a new Best Western hotel currently under construction at the site will look like as well as a number of other proposed projects following an open house at the Community Centre on Saturday, April 18.
Hosted by SJC Development Ltd. in conjunction with Rimstone Ridge, the open house offered visitors a peek into everything from the patterns on chairs to samples of carpeting to wall-covering selections as well as plans for a four-acre commercial development, possible apartment buildings, town houses, condominiums and single-family homes.
“The intent of the open house is to provide information about the new project in the community and get feedback of options in the project development. We really want grassroots involvement in the project to meet the needs of the community,” said Administrator Cordell Cummings. “Many people are really excited about the Best Western hotel. There’s very little downside to having the biggest hotel chain in the world in this town.”
As for feedback from the public, Cummings said many who attended the open house were very enthusiastic to see the size of the development and what it all could entail upon completion.
“Regarding construction, we’ve talked to our direct neighbours if they have any complaints, and they’ve had none. Other than that, it’s just been tons of inquiries as to what else is going up in the development, and that’s one of the reasons we had the open house,” he said. “We have poster boards and a video slideshow of all the options we have with the land. There isn’t much written information such as specifications, measurements or dates. It’s really our ideas on paper, and we’re asking everybody: ‘What do you think?’ We’ll record valid thoughts and opinions to take into consideration.”
As for the construction schedule, Cummings said the recent weather has had an effect on the project, but it was only minor when compared to the amount of work they’ve already completed.
“We’re on target to open in late September 2009. We’ve actually had no shortage of labour, but I will say that we’re glad winter’s gone,” he said. “At this point, we have no timelines for our projects beyond the hotel. We are trying to establish what to develop next based on Rimbey’s needs. Some of the larger options we are looking to build include apartments, townhouses, condos, and a commercial centre, as well as single-family houses. We also have a green area that we would like to do something with.”
Despite the current economic crisis that has resulted in many large projects throughout being put on hold for the foreseeable future, Cummings said support from the community was the key to forging ahead and Rimbey is the ideal location for that.
“This is a really exciting time for Rimbey. While the rest of the market is slowing down and projects are being halted due to lack of financing, we’re still here and we’re still building. Not only are we still here, but other developments, aside from our own, are still happening here,” he said. “I think that speaks tremendously about the community. It’s times like these that businesses need to rely upon the community for support and that was always our goal. Not only do we rely on the community, but we also give back to the community through funding area events and charities. We really hope that what we build here in Rimbey is something the community can be proud of.”