The story below appears at the following address in the East Kootenay News On line Weekly, very interesting publication that is well worth checking out. e-know.ca
The Link to the story below is available at http://www.e-know.ca/news/investment-announcement-biggest-sparwoods-history/ Ian Cobb of /e-KNOW did a great job on this article.
Investment announcement biggest in Sparwood’s history
Posted: September 10, 2013
The District of Sparwood’s commercial tax base will soon be in line for the largest singular injection of growth in the town’s 47-year history.
A group of investors and dignitaries gathered at Sparwood’s Visitor Information Centre (VIC), before a freshly painted Titan Truck, at noon today (Sept. 10) to celebrate the announcement of $85 million in development investment and potential coming the town’s way.
“What a wonderful day for Sparwood,” District of Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko stated while welcoming about 60 special guests.
On hand for the announcement was Minister of Energy and Mines, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, who hailed the announcement as “the biggest thing that has happened here since the creation of the town. I think the size of the truck behind me is actually a pretty good metaphor for the size of the opportunity that has come along as a result of the work of the mayor and council and business community.”
The crux of what is going to occur in the development project, which will encompass the strip of land between the VIC and the junction of Highway 3/43, including aspects on the east side of the junction and across the highway in the old pit area.
Development participants include Schickedanz West, which is building an 82-room hotel at the junction, including a 3,500-4,500 square foot restaurant and lounge and they are in negotiations to bring in a fast food outlet. The project will also present retail and similar opportunities.
Teck has purchased eight acres that it intends to add to the potential of the project, while Joy Global is constructing an office and operations building on the south side of the highway, which will be accessed by an underpass. Additionally, BC Hydro is providing the district with a beautification grant to bury power lines in the area and Greenwood Mall ownership is spending about $500,000 in upgrades to the inside and outside of the mall – all part of Sparwood’s ongoing efforts to beautify the downtown area, Halko said, adding the plans are “another great step forward for our community. This will take us further in our journey to develop our community by adding more valuable assets that will create jobs, services and further economic opportunity.
“We have arrived at this point thanks to a huge amount of hard work from councilors, district staff and commercial partners.
“Our staff has worked tirelessly to accomplish this goal. Under the dynamic leadership of CAO (chief administrative officer) Terry Melcer, District of Sparwood have worked hard towards making today’s announcement possible,” Halko said, adding she thanks the investors on behalf of the community and council.
“Today’s announcement of a multi-faceted investment program is the largest and most significant business development initiative since our municipality was incorporated in 1966,” he said.
Noting that Highway 3 is the second busiest in B.C., Bennett said Sparwood will find more of that traffic stopping in town thanks to the proposed project, expected to take three to five years to complete.
“That represents a huge commercial opportunity for the small businesses here, and the big businesses and it also represents an opportunity for the community to grow their tax base and improve the already high standard of lifestyle and living that you have here.”
Kootenay-Columbia MP and former Sparwood Mayor David Wilks said the investment launch will help propel the town forward toward a bright future.
“It’s the old adage – if you build it they will come and that is what is going to happen here. We’re looking forward to a very bright future and I believe that if you look at what will happen in the next 10 or 15 years with Sparwood, you’ll find some amazing things are going to happen. I truly believe this is what the community was meant for and I think in the years to come you’ll find that it is a phenomenal place to live. It is a great day for Sparwood.”
Joy Global representative Steven Droste stated, “We are really excited to be a part of this community’s future. The future that we are investing in is better facilities for our employees, to enable us to provide better service to our customers and to really improve the mining industry in this particular area.”
Droste noted to the audience that Sparwood “is really quite influential” in the coal mining industry, explaining he’s met people around the world who have lived and worked in the town.
“There is always someone who has worked here and it had a real impact on their lives and career,” he said.
Schickedanze West representative Roland Kraemer said his company, which has extensive projects in Radium Hot Springs and Fernie, is proposing a “comprehensive development.”
Phase one will be the 82-room hotel will be “a branded hotel,” he said, adding they are not yet certain what brand it will be. When the hotel was first announced for that location, is what supposed to be a Best Western but that is now no longer the case.
The facility “will include all the modern amenities which you see in a modern hotel,” including meeting spaces.
“For Sparwood this will be a very modern business centre,” Kraimer said.
While negotiations are ongoing to lure a fast food chain, he pitched to those gathered an opportunity for businesspeople to consider taking on the restaurant/lounge feature.
“We welcome your great ideas. We’ve got a great opportunity for you right there,” he said.
Phase two of the development “is fairly conceptual at this time and it is based on enquiries we’ve had to date from various people. We see great opportunities for potentially a gas station/convenience store, another fast food, various retail activities on that site,” he said, noting that property is located on the east side of Highway 43 at the junction.
He explained the site visibility and large traffic volumes on the highway “makes it a great location for any type of investment, for retail or commercial activities. We look forward to great times in Sparwood.”
Teck’s Nic Milligan said the company, which owns five coal operations in the Elk Valley, is “very supportive of Sparwood’s efforts to enhance the community, to enhance its economic development and to enhance this beautiful gateway to the province of British Columbia.”
The property Teck has purchased is potentially for an office complex but no firm plans have yet been developed.
“But let me emphasize, we are so grateful for the relationship we have with Sparwood; our shared past and our shared future,” he said.
Some of the highway frontage property included in today’s announcement. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photos
16 comments:
This will not be the last time you hear this but look who Sparwood does business with and look who we do business with.
I believe that Schickedanz was the previous owner of our mall in Blairmore.
"Development participants include Schickedanz West, which is building an 82-room hotel ..."
Pardon my cynicism, anyone been to Sparwood lately and seen this hotel going up?
I don't see it in the last image labelled:
"Some of the highway frontage property included in today’s announcement."
The new paint job on the Titan is OK, but I think they should have done it in Barbie pink for a change.
Time will tell; they have been waiting on a "approved" Tim Hortons for two years now. I wouldn't get too excited.
just remember the Coal Discovery Museum and conference center that Sparwood was building on the other side of the highway from this new development. It's a cement slab.
This is very good news for our neighbors to the west.
Seems to be a little negativism here from the local Crowsnesters, or is it the mayor and his "gang that doesn't vote" placing these posts. A little envy, no?
They HAVE the coal industry there now, an advantage we don't have. The first phase of the project looks like a go. Good for them. I don't see any support from this end, too bad.
When its all over, Pincher Creek on the east and Sparwood Fernie on the west with a Highway 3 alignment here will make us a but blip on the road with a place to fill up the gas tam, with cheaper fuel. We screwed it all up along the way and there is no one to blame but "looking in the mirror".
Funny the articles that come up "pre" election, lol.
I don't see what Sparwood actually has to do with us, so no envy from me.....
They are BC, we are Alberta. I don't really consider them neighbors but there you go.
Time will tell, lots of stuff promised to them also, never came to fruitation.
Two things with this article neither of which I noticed.
There is no mention of an Economic Development Officer in addition it did not mention how much Sparwood had to pay Schickedanze to secure the franchise for a hotel?
Looking for answers if anybody can help.
Sparwood is our neighbour and it's good on them. I like when my neighbours are doing well.
Anon10;13, You show your stupitdity by your comment. Sparwood has a lot to do with us. They are propping up this dying community,, by being the biggest employer of people from the Pass. If it wasn't all the jobs that Pass people have in Sparwood mines, we would have gone under a long time ago. Thanks to our useless mayor and council, by your comment I have to think you voted for them.
Dean do you think the Mayor got time to annex Sparwood?
But.....still in BC. ho hum.
Real Investers, not like the fly by night people that this mayor who just hasn't got the brains to distinguish one from the other will not even bother to waste their time here in the Pass. They will drive through, see the empty stores including the almost empty Mall, dodge all the potholes,and see the weeeds everywhere. The Pass looks like the beginning of a ghost town. They won't be impressed by those unreadable banners with triangles on them, instead they will be saying amongst themseles, WHAT IDIOT SPENT MONEY ON THAT CRAP, they should have fixed the potholes and had some weed control. Their next thought would probably be, There is no industry here and not many people either to even support a decent industry,What kind of loosers do they have in charge here running this place? Keep driving we'e going to Sparwood. Thank God those overblown ugly entrance monuments to stupidity have not been put up, these investers probably would have split a gut laughing as they raced to go to greener pastures.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Our congratulations to our neighbour!
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