A pair of dilapidated houses have disappeared from Red Deer’s downtown landscape, although what will replace them is uncertain.
Workers with Bettenson’s Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd. demolished the houses at 4615 48th Ave. on Tuesday. The buildings were owned by Padua Developments Inc. of Edmonton.
Patrick Pierce is a partner in Padua Developments, and operates the PerioPartners dental clinic at 4619 48th Ave. — just south of the now-vacant lot. He said the intent is to redevelop the property, although specific plans have yet to be made.
“We’re planning some sort of commercial development there, probably professional offices.”
There’s a possibility the new building might also replace the PerioPartners clinic, or it might simply be built to suit the needs of tenants, he said.
Pierce, who is an Edmonton periodontist, also operates a PerioPartners clinic in that city. He opened a satellite office in Red Deer in 1998.
Padua Developments bought the residential lot about two years ago, said Pierce. It renovated and attempted to rent out one of the houses, but couldn’t find suitable tenants.
“I didn’t want squatters to move in,” said Pierce of the decision to demolish the houses now.
“And they were in such bad shape.”