Rendering of Wellings of Red Deer. (Nautical Lands Group)

By Alessia Proietti

May: Wellings of Red Deer construction

Community for 55+ adults coming soon to Red Deer and Stettler

Mar 21, 2022 | 11:18 AM

A couple reads near a wall of books as two friends are competing over a friendly game of billiards. One man cooks some Alberta steaks on the outdoor barbeque, preparing for tonight’s hockey game get together. Would you believe that this is a description of a seniors home?

Actually, it’s a community for individuals above the age of 55, retired and working. The Wellings properties, owned by Nautical Lands Group, focus on Carefreedom Living® where home maintenance is meant to be exchanged with more time to do personal recreational activities for active seniors. And it’s coming to Red Deer and Stettler very soon.

“We’re just trying to work with the City of Red Deer to offer a service and offer a community based type of development that allows people 55 and over to have options to come in and live a retired life based on activity and interaction and a healthy active lifestyle,” said Adam Knight, Project Manager for the Nautical Lands Group.

Shovels in the ground for the seven-acre Wellings of Red Deer project are expected by the end of May, taking roughly two years to complete, according to Knight. The $17-million project consists of 77 one and two bedroom villas in 15 town-home bungalows, rented on a monthly lease.

The key feature for the Wellings properties is their “clubhouse” designed for tenants to congregate and interact in a fun setting. For Red Deer’s 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, this includes a full kitchen with appliances, outdoor barbeque and patio, big screen TV, billiards, shuffleboard, pickleball court, fitness classes, and a space open for family gatherings, events, and meetings. Multiple activities are also offered like open mic nights, guest speakers, and game nights.

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“Red Deer is consistently growing. It’s right in the center of Alberta and it just had a good location when it came to the actual development itself,” said Knight.

Developing in Red Deer’s Timberlands neighborhood (431 Timberlands Drive) on the east side, John Sennema, Manager of Land & Economic Development for the City, believes it is the ideal spot for the community.

“It is one of a number of developments that are going forward in and around that particular area,” said Sennema. “It is just going to add more vibrancy and vitality to the overall Timberlands community.”

Being a baby-boomer himself, he describes the “demographic and psychographic evolution” of aging and life after retirement leading to a demand for this housing option.

“Folks are retiring earlier, they’re very active, they have hungry brains, they want to be active, they want to be in nature, they want to play pickleball, they want to hang out with their friends, they want that kind of community,” he said.

While Wellings does not offer health care, Sennema points out that the particular Timberlands location is close to doctors, dentists, banks, grocery stores, and other amenities. Knight also stated that rooms in the building will be dedicated for tenants who wish to have appointments with their personal doctors on site.

For the Wellings of Stettler, Knight confirmed the project is in the design phase, expected to begin construction later this summer with a two year timeline. As the land is larger (7201 48 Ave.) than the one chosen for Red Deer, the $25 million project will be completed in three phases with 154 one and two bedroom villas alongside an 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse.

Their clubhouse will also include billiards, a full kitchen and outdoor barbeque and patio, fitness classes and shuffleboard, among other activities.

Leann Graham, Director of Planning & Development for the Town of Stettler, expressed her excitement for the project as she says there is a high demand for seniors communities in the community.

“We did a housing assessment in 2019 that identified a shortage of seniors housing in our community,” she said.

In the “Stettler Housing Assessment” shared in January 2020, senior households increased by 41.4 per cent form 2006 – 2016 and were expected to grow for another two decades. The need for affordable senior housing options was also determined after discussions with the community, the report states.

While rental prices for the Wellings developments will be determined closer to completion date, Knight says the projects are both on schedule.

“The end goal is to give everybody a long and active lifestyle. I think the old concept of once you retire you’re not active and not interactive… our thought is, yes you can retire and have fun and enjoy life just as much as you were 20 years old,” said Knight.

Nautical Lands Groups has specialized in retirement communities for over 30 years, mainly in Ontario. Recently tapping into the western Canadian market, they have started developing in Alberta, with current properties in Calgary, Lloydminster, and Brooks.