Prudential Spencer Real Estate
3840 Gateway Blvd., Edmonton, Alberta
P: 780-923-3023
F: 1-888-921-0303
Search all MLS® Listings For Sale By Clicking Here
Fort Saskatchewan Home Report
July 23rd, 2010
Fort Saskatchewan To Host Musical Ride At Rotary River Valley Festival
The RCMP musical ride has not performed at Fort Saskatchewan since 2006. This year the prancing horses and red suited riders will show their moves at the Rotary River Valley Festival on August 22.
Most of the July appearances of the RCMP musical ride were cancelled due to the horses coming down with strangles, an equine infection. They have recovered and have been cleared to resume their tour. Fort Saskatchewan is the last appearance in Alberta, and then the group moves east. The show will also include sheep herding and police dog demonstrations with other performances still being confirmed.
The venue is the Rotary Amphitheatre, an open air, grassy venue that is more personal than indoor arenas and large grandstands. Seating is first come, first served on the grassy hillsides surrounding the show area. There will be 5000 tickets available at $10 each with the proceeds going to the Fort Saskatchewan Hospital Foundation and one of the Rotary’s other projects, supplying wheelchairs to patients in Belize.
Tickets for the RCMP musical ride are available at several outlets around town including Curves, the Visitor’s Information Office, Husky and Roland’s Jewellery to name a few. Tickets may also be purchased online through Ticketmaster.
Fort Saskatchewan Real Estate Report
June 10th, 2010
Wildfires Wreak Havoc in May
Wildfires dominated the month of May, with a batch of 22 forest fires occurring in only a few days. Forestry officials said that strong winds and warm weather dried conditions throughout the province which created environments suitable for fires.
On Thursday, May 14, 2010, Thorhild County had to declare a state of emergency after a brushfire, ignited by strong winds, blazed out of control and caused evacuations and evacuation alerts. Thorhild County is located north of Edmonton, and the fire began near Opal, southwest of the town of Thorhild.
On Wednesday, two properties were evacuated and by Thursday, all homes in Opal were on evacuation alert.
Resident Walter Barabash and his wife had only ten minutes to gather their belongings before they were ordered from their farm in Opal.
Aircraft tankers lay lines of fire retardant to protect properties and buildings. Emergency Operations Supervisor, Brett Demary, of Thorhild County, said the fires spread quickly because the high content of slough grass and spruce trees.
Wind caused fire sports near the Sturgeon County-Thorhild border, and Sturgeon County declared a full fire ban on Thursday, May 14. Acting Fire Chief Pat Mahoney said the ban would stay in place until the area sees a considerable amount of rain that will reduce the hazard.
Fort Saskatchewan Property Report
May 11th, 2010
Fort Saskatchewan MDP Plots Area’s Growth by 2030
According to the Capital Region Board on proposed growth for Fort Saskatchewan, the municipal development plan, or MDP, expects some neighbourhoods to become denser in population than Southfort and Westpark. The population is predicted to grow to 30,000 by 2030. The draft of the MDP, made public the week of May 3, is on its way to City Council for its first review the week of May 17. After a series of public hearings, it is anticipated that the plan will be adopted some time in July.
Serving as the major planning document for Saskatchewan, the MDP governs road networking, land use, water services and planning within the municipality. Its strategic plans are eventually implemented by way of structural planning as well as zoning requirements. The existing ten-year MDP was created in 2000. A new plan, this one extending into the next 20 years, has been under development since last year.
The draft of Fort Saskatchewan’s MDP must be submitted for approval by the Capital Region Board. Six areas have been labeled as “priority growth areas.” These include Spruce Grove, Leduc, Sherwood Park, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan and St. Albert.
Clayton Kittlitz, planning director of Fort Saskatchewan, said that one of the plan’s objectives is to concentrate population growth in the region’s central area. Consequently, the city is targeting growth expectations to a number of 25 to 30 dwellings per hectare.
Plans for Westpark and Southfort include a mix of duplexes, condominiums and single-family houses, and each plan incorporates roughly 22 units a hectare. With its single-family bungalows, Pineview sits some 14 to 15 units per hectare. The draft of the MDP encompasses a sustainability plan, which City Council adopted in December 2009.
James Klukas, a consultant with Urban Systems, said that although greater neighbourhood density is planned, the MDP includes a generous amount of commercial and professional real estate space so dwellers can shop and receive services closer to their homes.
Fort Saskatchewan Homes Report
April 14th, 2010
Villeneuve Airport May Soon Become St. Albert-Sturgeon Regional Airport
It’s all in the name. That is the thinking behind the recent proposal to change the name of Villeneuve Airport to the St. Albert-Sturgeon Regional Airport. Such a change, the council from St. Albert believes, would create a more high profile image than the current name shared with a village of 150 people that is located within Sturgeon County.
At least one council member thought it best to find out the history of the name and how the folks of the village of Villeneuve felt about the name change. Bill Holtby, city manager, said Sturgeon County, which oversees the village, will be consulted, rather than the village itself.
If Sturgeon County approves the name change, then the city council of St. Albert as well as the county will put in formal requests to the Edmonton Airport Authority for the name change. It is expected the cost for the change will be minimal, mostly in the form of new signage at the airport and on directional markers on local roads and highways. The increase in air traffic, both private and commercial, is expected to more than offset the cost of the change.
Fort Saskatchewan Real Estate Report
March 12th, 2010
Reverse mortgages might be a good idea, depending on your situation. What a reverse mortgage does is allow homeowners to borrow money against the equity of their home and not have to pay it back until the home is sold or is inherited after the owner passes away.
These types of loans are available to seniors aged 60 and older and allows the owners to borrow 10 to 40 percent of the debt free portion of their home’s value. The advantage is that you don’t have to start paying on a loan. The money also does not have to be included as taxable income and will have no effect on old age security or other government income benefits.
The disadvantage is that the interest rates tend to be higher than taking out a conventional loan or mortgage and if the loan is held too long the equity of the home can be severely drained, or eaten up entirely. There is also the cost of an appraisal, fees for closing costs and if you happen to move within three years of taking the loan, there are extra legal costs and repayment penalties. The best advice if you are thinking about getting this type of loan is to shop around and make sure you understand what you are getting into.
Canadian Home Income Plan, based in Vancouver has been offering reverse mortgages for almost two decades. Recently a company called Seniors Money Canada has started offering the program in all provinces except Quebec.
Fort Saskatchewan Homes Report
February 10th, 2010
Bobby Boogaloo is a music guru that has a penchant for writing songs and telling jokes that appeal to kids of all ages. He will make his first appearance on Family Day in Fort Saskatchewan. His given name is Bob Cook, and this Edmonton native is a true devotee to the performing arts. He has acted in local theatrical productions, taken the stage at comedic improve venues and has recorded several CD’s with his band.
In 2005, someone suggested he start performing for kids. His easy, laid back, audience inclusive style was soon being aimed at the younger set. His older fans just sort of went along for the ride, and as they say, the rest is history.
Audience participation is a given. Kids and adults are encouraged to sing along, dance, laugh, giggle and otherwise enjoy themselves. Though it can be tricky to appeal to all age groups at once, Bobby Boogaloo is a master. Even his name makes you want to giggle.
His performance at Fort Saskatchewan will feature numbers from his “Kid’s Have Character” CD and the soon to be released CD “Family Boogie Party.” His adult band will keep the music going while he, in true Bobby Boogaloo style, will entice kids onstage to wiggle and giggle and just have a merry old time. Don’t you just love it?
Fort Saskatchewan Property Report
Olympic Torch Relay Procession Through Fort Saskatchewan
In the middle of January, the Olympic Torch Relay will come through Fort Saskatchewan, causing brief highway closures to accommodate the procession. The scheduled route for the Olympic Torch Relay begins at the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 21. The procession will travel northeast toward 101st Street. The procession will turn left at 101st St. and head to Elementary School where students, parents and staff will be waiting for a brief reception.
After a short pause at the school, the procession will begin traveling down 101st St. to 99th Ave., where it will turn left at 95th St. The procession will make its way past the hospital, eventually returning to Highway 15.
The Olympic Torch Relay is planned to pass through Fort Saskatchewan around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The brief road closures were previously announced by event organizers when the plans were originally announced.
The committee who organized the even hopes that local school children and business people alike line the streets to create a "parade-like" atmosphere. The event is very special because the Winter Olympics taking place in Vancouver will be a rare event for Canada. The chances of many children seeing a similar event any time soon is unlikely, considering the Olympics are held only once each four years.
The city has also organized a family event the same evening at the Dow Centennial Centre to celebrate the torch’s procession through the city, beginning at 6 p.m.
Fort Saskatchewan Real Estate Report
Fort Saskatchewan is Healthy and Stable
Local realtors are stating that they see the housing market as balanced and stable. Manu believe that the recent correction in housing prices is natural and healthy for the market, and do not expect to see prices spike again like they did a few years back.
The prices are not as dismal as they were during 2008 for home sales and many more properties are available too. So there is more an equilibrium in the market. There is wide selection and buyers are knowledgeable and prudent. Many buyers are able to see a wide selection of properties before they make an offer, so the chances they find an excellent deal still exist. We say there will be no significant spike in prices because so many sellers and buyers believe that present prices are fairly valued, creating a vastly-supplied marketplace in terms of home inventory.
Many also mentions that they think average home prices are skewed because a few ultra-high priced homes were sold during the period, so it made it look like the prices were higher than the real prices of most homes. Most homes sold for approximately $382,000 and not $427,000.
Fort Saskatchewan Homes Report
New Project by Total, the French Oil Giant
The Energy Resources Conservation Board will begin to hold public hearings on the French oil giant, Total, and their prospective project near Fort Saskatchewan. The oil company wants to build a facility that is capable of producing 150,000 barrels of crude oil each day.
Even if approved by the ERCB in 2010, Total will not begin on the upgrader project until its 200,000 bpd Joslyn mine project is approved by the corporate headquarters in France. The mine project and the upgrader project are integrated into a larger plan. Total claims they are betting on the long-term future, and they see the upgraded facility and mine operating for thirty to forty years once it comes online.
Total says that the project is important because it is hard to know from where the added value of refining crude oil will come, so it is important to target the entire chain of supply so that there will be opportunities to take advantage of added value. The government has been promoting the long-term sustainability of the project in the wake of very little industrial activity in the region. The announcement of the public hearings for the project provides confidence for the region.
The only other ongoing project in the Heartland region is Shell’s Scotford upgrader expansion. NorthWest Upgrading, a private contractor, is ready to start working on the new project as soon it receives financing tied to a bitumen supply. The new construction will provides new jobs for the province.
Fort Saskatchewan Property Report
Library needs $2.9 million for expansion
The Fort Saskatchewan Public Library wants to expand by 9,0000 square feet, and for that it will need the city to borrow $2.9 million. The library board has suggested the money be borrowed and then repaid over a twenty-five year period. At today’s rate of lending, that would translate to a cost of about $200,000 annually.
The library currently operates within an 11,000 square foot facility. I am told that the expansion is needed to properly serve a growing population. A library board report insists that the current facility will not be able to adequately meet the needs of a population of 20,000 and that the expansion would ensure service to a population base as high as 35,000.
Ann Kublik, the library’s director, told council that a needs assessment survey that was completed by 400 residents during the summer of 2008 shows that the residents of Fort Saskatchewan want a higher level of service from their library.
I learned that in a meeting last month, the civic precinct advisory committee stated that an expansion or new library should be part of the proposed city hall project.
The library board wants council to set aside $450,000 for the expansion during the course of the next three years. The design and engineering of the expansion would cost about $225,000 out of that money, while the remainder could be used to begin paying off the loan.
The library project would be finished by 2013. It is clear to me that city council shall decide to accept or reject the library board proposal before approving the final draft of the city budget on December 8.
Fort Saskatchewan Real Estate Report
The Legacy Park Family Festival misses volunteers
The Legacy Park Family Festival may have to be canceled this year because volunteers are hard to find.
No new volunteers answered the city’s pleas for people to help coordinate the festival. While more people are looking for free and affordable events to attend, fewer events are being hosted due to a shortage of people to work the events. No one on the city council has any idea what can be done to attract volunteers to help the city host events.
The city council recently received a report stating that the Legacy Park Family Festival may have to be combined with another festival such as the Canada Day Festival or the Peoples of North Saskatchewan heritage festival because the city cannot find enough volunteers to help host the event.
The culture director for the city recently announced that the most recent festival was organized by only four volunteers. He mentioned that the volunteers had to rely on the city’s staff to help them coordinate details of the event. Not to mention, the city has recently hosted a number of festivals during the summer months. These festivals have tapped out the supply of volunteers for city events.
The city has received no reply from many community groups concerning a letter sent out in July asking for more volunteers. Leaders of the Legacy Park Family Festival have pleaded with the community for more volunteers, but nobody is interested in helping host the festival. The committee for the Canada Day festival has also run into staffing problems. The parade chair recently stepped down, and the committee is presently in search of a new parade chairman.
Not only are the local festivals having problems finding volunteer staff to work the events, many organizations have been unable to find volunteers in the recent months. A survey taken at a recent festival revealed that leadership volunteers have been hard to find during 2009.
Fort Saskatchewan Homes Report
Greenpeace Protests - RCMP Make Arrests
Concluding a recent ploy for attention by Greenpeace protestors, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested sixteen members of the environmentalist group. The protestors were demonstrating their opposition to environmental changes to the oil sands. The protest against Shell Oil Company’s Scofford upgrader located near Edmonton lasted one day. Nineteen veteran climbers invaded the Shell property through a fence and ascended three smokestacks and a crane, where they unfurled signs in opposition to the so-called climate crimes on the tar sands. A spokesperson for Shell stated that because the protest took place on the weekend it did not interrupt the construction process.
Greenpeace recently arrived at Suncor Energy’s oil sand operation by canoe and that company gave permission to demonstrate peacefully in order to avoid physical conflict. The protestors stalled the operation and in turn, criminal mischief charges resulted. In a related event, the Albian Sands mine operation run by Shell, was the focus of another Greenpeace protest. This time the protestors shackled their bodies to heavy equipment located at the site.
A spokesperson for Greenpeace stated they would continue to raise awareness regarding toxic industries and the environment until the conference of world leaders convenes in Copenhagen this December.
Fort Saskatchewan Property Report
2009 Farmer’s Market
It was the final day of a very productive summer for Fort Saskatchewan’s 2009 Farmer’s Market, with this year’s event extended to 12 weeks, up from last year’s 10 week season. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce, the market had 39 vendors participating all 12 weeks, a 30 per cent increase from 2008, according to Committee Chair Karen Miller.
Originating in the CN parking lot, this year’s market was extended along the brick walkway toward 99th Avenue to accommodate the additional vendors. The expanded arrangement ensured a plentiful assortment of fresh produce and food items.
The popularity of the Fort Saskatchewan market was evident as shoppers gathered each Thursday, waiting for the horn to signal opening time. Customers guaranteed brisk sales during the two hours of the market’s operation. Vendor Gary Woitas was appreciative of the Fort’s loyal patrons, who often stood in long lines to buy his popular kettle corn. Business was so good that Woitas is considering a larger kettle for next year.
Committee Chair Miller gave a special thanks to the hard-working volunteers for their many hours of service. Miller said the volunteer efforts, along with the vendors and customers, made this an exceptional year.
Fort Saskatchewan Real Estate Report
New Look for Two Schools
It’s out with the old and in with the new, at least almost. Over 250 Fort Saskatchewan Elementary school students returned to class on Monday to find the $24 million renovation of their school in full swing. A portion of the 55 year old building has been demolished and a rebuild in the works.
The goal is to build an entirely new addition for the Fort Elementary students and modernize the existing building for the Fort Saskatchewan Christian School. Right now students in the Christian School are attending class in portable buildings outside of the Alliance Church.
The work began over the summer and is expected to continue all school year long. School officials recognize that with construction so close to children that safety is a priority. They hope that students watching the construction will find an appreciation for the work that goes into creating a new school. Both the Fort Elementary and Fort Saskatchewan Christian School portions of the buildings are slated to open next school year.
Return To Our Homepage - Real Estate In Edmonton
