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Rendering of the Red Deer Dream Centre
Another Step Closer

Development permit approved for revised Red Deer Dream Centre

Jul 16, 2020 | 2:51 PM

Another step has been taken towards establishing a drug and alcohol treatment facility in downtown Red Deer.

On Thursday, a revised development permit was approved by the City’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) to allow for construction to begin on the Red Deer Dream Centre – a facility to be located in the former home of the Lotus nightclub at 4614 50 Avenue.

Original plans for a third floor to be added to the existing two-storey structure have now been scrapped with Dream Centre co-chair Wes Giesbrecht noting the change was needed due to circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re excited, we think this is a big move forward,” says Giesbrecht, who explains that the revision was made in order to be fiscally responsible.

“Through this whole COVID crisis, going back to the table we found that if we maximize every square inch of space in that building, we’re able to accommodate the structure, the program, and the number of beds we were asking for,” he explains. “We could do that all on the two floors without adding that third level. All that does is it drops our budget by over a million dollars and expedites our time that we could open, start to finish within six to eight months.”

Other building changes anticipated include a contrasting horizontal band between the main floor and second floor, a colour change in the building’s siding, and the addition of eight gooseneck lights. A rooftop patio previously approved for the third floor will no longer be needed.

Inside the building, City officials note a planned capacity reduction for the facility’s place of assembly space from 600 people to 200. Other planned uses at the facility include a sleeping area, commercial kitchen, recreational space, offices, and a meeting space.

MPC Chair Mayor Tara Veer expressed concern regarding plans to still include 48 treatment beds within a smaller facility than previously approved. She proposed reducing that number to 40 beds, which the commission approved.

Giesbrecht says the reduction in beds is not a concern at this time.

“We didn’t anticipate to actually be up and running to that 48 bed capacity for at least 18 to 24 months,” says Giesbrecht. “We’re doing a soft start. Once we’re open, we’ll start with four to six, maybe eight, and just slowly increase as our weeks go on.”

MPC’s approval of the revised development permit did not receive unanimous support however. Members Kevin Jackman and Lawrence Lee voted against the recommendation for approval, with Lee feeling 16 beds was a better number to approve considering coronavirus concerns.

“Stacking three people in a room based on current COVID is not a good idea,” said Lee. “We’re dealing with a situation where increased density in a room is against current Alberta Health Standards.”

Lee also expressed concerns around planning perspectives in the downtown, sensing major changes in recent months.

“We now have less of the planned uses of office space and retail in our downtown,” says Lee. “There’s a significant decrease in those land uses, where we haven’t seen any decrease in this type of land use.”

Before renovation work can begin on the Red Deer Dream Centre, Giesbrecht says capital funding of $1.25 million will be needed.

“The reality is, we have to raise money now,” says Giesbrecht. “We’re going to be looking for 18 hundred freedom funders. Eighteen hundred freedom funders at $40 a month, that’s a dollar per bed, per month.

“We’re not going to say no to big donors, but we want this to be a community thing, and in order for it to be a community thing, we’re asking for 1,800 people that want to step up and say yeah, put me down.”

Once capital funds have been raised Giesbrecht says an annual operating budget of between $850,000 and $900,000 will be needed.

“We’ve had some support already spoken for but we’re not at 10 per cent yet,” says Giesbrecht.

Once operational, he anticipates the Red Deer Dream Centre to be part of the solution to addressing challenges in the downtown core.

“It’s a part-solution; it’s not the complete solution. We want to help. We’ve got to help.”