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Economic tonic via Grandview

Group gets go ahead for Grandview Chateau development
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Project manager Elmer Verigin (L) and sales consultant Jim Laktin with area plan and location of Grandview Chateau.

Granting a development permit on August 15, Castlegar City Council set the stage for a multi-million dollar project to kick it's first phase into gear. Grandview Chateau is the first of three phases to take their place in a growing, multi-faceted development and represents an investment of about 13 million dollars.

"It's four storey, 53-unit apartment-style living for seniors," described Grandview Co-op sales consultant Jim Laktin on August 18. The area under development is part of an effort for and by the Kootenay Columbia Seniors Housing Cooperative on the southern edge of the City of Castlegar in Grandview Heights – across the highway and uphill from Blueberry Creek.

Also included in the development are areas devoted to single family homes (Grandview Heights) and a family-focused area called Calamida Estates. There are 60 acres to work with on the bench for which the area gets its name.

The view is good to the north, south and east and project manager Elmer Verigin says the daylight hours are unsurpassed in the local region."The sun comes up earlier and sets later than anywhere else around here," he said. "That's very important to seniors."

"It's going to be very nicely done,"interjected Laktin. "There are options of one bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom, two bathroom units. They'll be fully equipped, there'll be underground parking, geothermal heating, a big common area, kitchen-dining rooms, activity rooms, workshops... that sort of thing."

Word of City Council's go ahead by way of the development permit was positive news, not only for those considering the purchase of a unit, but for the numerous people who will be lined up for the construction. Laktin said the winning bidder in last year's tendering process from is Tri-City Contracting of Kamloops.

"They're actually quite a well-known contractor in the area," he added. "We built a very small seniors housing complex called Rosewood Manor in downtown Castlegar 25 years ago and they were the contractors who built it."

As many local tradespeople as possible will be employed for the job according to Laktin, good news for the local economy.Project Manager Elmer Verigin says the next step is a meeting of the co-op's 282 members on the 30th of August.

"That is to approve our financing proposal," he said. "We will then have the authority to proceed to the next steps that are necessary – completion of drawings, filing our disclosure statement and beginning our sales program."

Meeting a strong local demand is the co-op's goal with the Grandview Chateau, as Jim Laktin explained. "It'll be an aggressive marketing plan, primarily to the local seniors, local being the West Kootenays... Grand Forks... Creston... there's a lot of seniors here."

Verigin made another reference to the location, pointing out that as well as being in a bright area it's also only 15 minutes from the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, another prime consideration for seniors looking for a place to spend their golden years.One other thing he wanted to relate was the fact the Chateau units will be for sale, rather than for rent as is the case in other local residences.

"We've known about their plan for a number of years now," said Castlegar city councillor Kirk Duff. The council rep said on Aug. 21 he supports the idea, not only for the short term economic benefits from the construction phase, but for the people who will move in and enjoy the facility."I think it's a great idea," added Duff. "It's good for everyone."