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Rona pulls plug on Southpointe Junction development

A national home improvement store that was poised to rebuild in Red Deer has trashed those blueprints.

A national home improvement store that was poised to rebuild in Red Deer has trashed those blueprints.

Rona Inc. received municipal approval in May to develop a 44,000-square-foot store in Southpointe Junction, which is north of 19th Street and west of Taylor Drive. That would have been triple the size of Rona’s existing outlet at 2610 Gaetz Ave.

A Rona official said this week, however, that the project will not proceed. He suggested that further comment be obtained from the Quebec company’s head office, but the Advocate was unable to get any additional information. Brent MacKay, commercial manager with Southpointe Junction developer Qualico Developments West Ltd., confirmed on Thursday that the Rona deal has fallen through. He said Qualico is negotiating with another retailer for the site, with a 2012 construction start and early 2013 opening anticipated. MacKay added that there is good interest by retailers in Southpointe Junction, particular among those with a focus on fashion and food. The proposed Rona store was expected to cost $10 million to $12 million, including a 10,940-square-foot garden centre. Rona also owns Totem Building Supplies at 7730 Gaetz Ave.