The relocation of Woody’s RV World has created a prime development opportunity at its former location between Westerner Park and the Gaetz Avenue south entrance into the city.
Woody’s RV World moved into its new facility in Burnt Lake Industrial Park in March.
Darren Paylor, president of Woody’s RV World, said the company made the move after 32 years, and now 12 acres of prime real estate is available.
The Highway 2-Gaetz Avenue interchange was done very well and secures good exposure for businesses on 49th Avenue, Paylor said.
“It might be the most prime property in the city because there’s frontage to the QE2, then there’s frontage to 49th Avenue behind it to Westerner Park.
“The QE2 has the heaviest traffic in the province going by there every day, and different vehicles every day, too. It’s not the same people.”
The property is available for lease, redevelopment, sale, or for a joint venture in which Paylor’s company would be involved.
“I can say this: the sale would be our last choice. I highly doubt we will exit the property as owners. It’s more a question of how will we develop the property as owners.”
Related:
Red Deer building permit numbers are up but value is down
Building permits values rise in August
He said the area could better serve the needs of Westerner Park and the surrounding area. Currently, there is a mix of businesses in the area, and Paylor believes it will take three to five years to come up with a plan for the best use of the land.
“I just think there are some areas out there that have to move from what they were, to what they will become, ours being one of those sites.”
Paylor said there are a few prospects looking at the site as a development opportunity.
Moving Woody’s RV World, he added, has allowed all departments — detail and reconditioning, parts and service centres, and showroom — to be combined into one building instead of three.
“To serve our customers better, getting all our staff under one roof just makes things more seamless and easy for everybody, and it gave us the opportunity to make a state-of-the-art RV dealership,” Paylor said.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
