Development is continuing in the east end of town with several new commercial buildings starting to take shape.
Construction has started on a Boston Pizza, with the foundation for the building appearing just north of McDonald's along Highway 28.
Joining the new restaurant will be another 7-11 convenience store and gas bar, which will be located at the south east end of the development on the south side of Secondary Highway 659.
These buildings are part of the new multi-million dollar Eastgate development project that the Town of Bonnyville has been working on for the past few years.
The 246.2-acre triangular-shaped planning area is enclosed on the northwest side by Highway 28, on the east by Range Road 454 and on the south side by 50th Avenue/Secondary Highway 659.
The Town recently had meetings with the developers of the project and one of the items on the agenda was looking at the possibility of constructing a road network within the large parcel of land to connect the development in the south with the new buildings in the north.
“We have been in some discussions with the developer at looking at making that (road) the next phase of the subdivision,” said Town CAO Mark Power. “There is one road we have just awarded a tender on, so people would be able to get in and out of that subdivision once that (north to south) linking road is done.”
One of the snags that the town is running into in regards to development is due to the state of the provincial economy, with developers hesitant to invest at the moment.
“I won't say land developers have stopped, but they are on pause,” said Power. “You are looking at huge, huge dollar investments and their just isn't much of a market right now.”
While there isn't much new going on in terms of development, the local project has been moving forward with work slowly coming along on the already approved projects.
Two 55-unit apartment complexes, to be owned and operated by Northern Properties, are almost built. An 85-room Comfort Inn and Suites was recently finished and has since opened its doors, and an 87-room Microtel Inn and Suites is almost ready to be opened to the public.
“I am pretty happy that the progress is always moving forward,” said Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewksi. “It is a little slower, but given the economic times it is no wonder. I am still very pleased.”
The McDonald's, located just north of Tim Hortons off of Highway 28, also recently opened in Dec. of 2014 as one of the first new commercial buildings at Eastgate.
As for the other possible projects coming to Eastgate, town officials are tight-lipped, and not yet ready to give any information away.
“The ones that you see physically on site are the ones we know about,” said Power.
While big name box stores such as Canadian Tire, Walmart and many different grocery stores have been thrown around, there is no truth to their possible entrance into Bonnyville.
“I hear the same rumours you do,” said Power. “All I can tell you is that it is true, they are rumours.”
In saying that, Town Council still has seen quite a bit of interest from commercial retailers in possibly joining others who have built on the development. Sobolewksi said there has “absolutely” been interest in Eastgate, but nothing that “he can reveal publicly,” as all conversations have happened in-camera.
“We are obviously still working with the developers to try and get more potential commercial retail units going,” said Power. “I think Bonnyville is an untapped commercial retail centre. I am a firm believer, if they build it, along with the stuff we have out there now, it will attract people.”
Sobolewski hinted that there might be some news around Eastgate coming soon, saying to keep an eye out for some announcements.
He, along with Power, also mentioned about how they were happy with how development has been proceeding all over town.
“Everybody knows the economy isn't the greatest right now, but it will turn around,” said Power.
The one spot of land in town that is still an unknown is the parcel of land across from Sobey's that sits on the corner of 50th Ave and 46th Street. The land, which once held a Bell store and the old Subway, was recently demolished.
The town received and approved a demolition permit for the land, but has yet to receive anything else regarding the area.
