The first phase of Sierras Michener Hill celebrated its official opening with 46 out of the 52 condominium units occupied on Wednesday.
Residents started moving into the private condo project for owners 40 and older on July 18.
Built by Medican, it’s part of a three-phase project that will be joined by an enclosed walkway to Extendicare Michener Hill, a publicly-funded, privately-operated long-term care facility.
“We have about seven or eight owners who’s husband or wife is next door in Extendicare.
Rather than having to drive up and visit them from their house, they can walk there,” said Bill Cooper, Medican vice-president of sales and marketing, at a special luncheon for the new condo owners on Wednesday.
The cost of condos range from about $200,000 to $400,000. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit costs about $300,000 with monthly condo fees of about $380 (that includes all utilities except telephone and cable).
Owners have heated underground parking and amenities like a wood-working shop, exercise room, car-wash bay, games room, hot tub and sauna.
Sierras did not receive any government funding and will operate with a condominium board.
Seniors and Community Supports Minister Mary Anne Jablonski said one in 10 Albertans are seniors and the province needs to increasingly diversify housing options as that population grows.
“We need a good mix of public and private accommodations and projects such as Sierras Michener Hill will continue to be essential in the future,” said Jablonski, the MLA for Red Deer North.
“This housing is part of a vision we had about six years ago for Red Deer — community of care — allowing seniors to be together as much as possible when one of the partners needs continuing care.”
Work on the 40-unit second phase is underway, with the foundation complete.
Seventeen units have been presold. Phase three will have 56 units.
Viggo Nielsen, president of Central Alberta Council on Aging, said seniors who move into Sierras shouldn’t expect preferential treatment at Extendicare, also built by Medican, if the time comes that they need long-term care.
“They have to go through the same channels as if they live anywhere else,” Nielsen said.
Medican completed Extendicare and was working on Sierras when it filed for protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act in May 2010.
Local construction stalled until last fall, when a $42-million financing deal with T&E Ventures for the Michener Hill project was approved.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com