A 75-year-old building in downtown Red Deer is getting a new lease on life.
The former Metropolitan department store, which is located at 4915 Gaetz Ave. and most recently housed the Loonie Lane store, is slated to be transformed into a mix of trendy living quarters and commercial space.
The site plan for the project was approved by Red Deer’s municipal planning commission on Wednesday.
The partners behind the project — Paul Harris and Terry Warke, who own Sunworks Home & Garden; and Patrick Malkin and Mahziar Peyrow, who operate One Eleven Grill — plan to develop six residential condominiums on the second floor.
These will range in size from studio apartments to two-bedroom units.
Occupants will have access to the roof, where there will be a wooden patio, hard-surface areas and flower pots.
The ground floor will be leased for commercial use.
“We had talked about possibly a restaurant, possibly a few other things,” said Malkin. “It could be up to three tenants if we want to go that way.”
As part of its approval, the commission waived a land use bylaw requirement for the building to have nine parking spaces. City administration pointed out that there was public transit and parking lots nearby, as well as grocery and other stores.
Jim Marke, a citizen representative on the commission, said the building would be suitable for students, retirees and others who don’t need a vehicle.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling noted that the design is consistent with the city’s Greater Downtown Action Plan, which favours denser residential development.
Coun. Cindy Jefferies said she likes to see people living on the second floor of downtown buildings, and is pleased to see alternate forms of housing that appeal to young professionals.
“I think this is a welcome development along Little Gaetz.”
Malkin anticipates that the condominiums in the building will appeal to single business people as well as students.
He expects the cost of the renovations to exceed $1 million, with construction likely to begin within 45 days and wrap up by early next year.
“We want to rework the exterior of the building and still keep it as a heritage building. Just clean it up a little bit and make it more user-friendly.”
Originally operating as Metropolitan department store, the 1938 building became a surplus store in the 1960s.
It was subsequently the site of North Star Sports, before becoming a dollar store.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com