BOWDEN - The homes are tiny, but the debate about them during the latest town council meeting was long — more than 20 minutes.
During their Dec. 10 meeting, councillors offered a variety of ideas on how many lots could be created on the site. There was even a suggestion that the developers buy the old Lions Hall and adjoining property to expand the project further.
In the end, council passed a motion supporting the project in general, indicating they're willing to work with the developers, Lucas and Lindsay Brann, to make it happen.
Council also confirmed it will allow the project to have access off the alley, which may be turned into a road instead.
The Branns want to develop the homes on a tract of land just west of the Bowden Hotel. They met with council Nov. 26 to outline the idea.
The energy-efficient homes would range from 384 square feet to about 500 square feet, including one-bedroom loft units and two-bedroom models.
The goal is to price them starting from under $100,000 so young people and those making minimum wage as well as retirees could afford them.
Initially, the Branns had been looking at developing 14 homes on the site. However, during the Dec. 10 meeting, councillors were told Lucas had re-crunched the numbers and decided that 14 is too many to make the project viable, so they're now looking at developing seven homes.
That new configuration would have the added advantage of allowing homeowners to build garages on those lots.
The plan is also to provide access via the alley, thereby solving the concerns about vehicles along Highway 2A.
"I'm totally in favour of this. I mean, in my mind, we have to do this. We've got to do this," Coun. Wayne Milaney said during the Dec. 10 discussion.
He then drew out a sketch of the project and adjoining area — including the alley as well as the old Lions Hall and adjoining property — on the town's whiteboard.
"It's our alley, we own it. So why don't we turn this into a street," he asked.
He went a step further, suggesting the Branns could buy the old Lions Hall and adjoining land, thereby having room to expand the development in the future.
"The other thing I'm thinking is that's (the Lions Hall) got to get sold. I don't know; I'm not going to speak for the Lions, but they want to get it off their plate," Milaney said, adding, "there's a whole lot of land there and that might become a whole new subdivision.
"You know, when you think about downtown, the world is changing -- in North America. It's been like that in Europe forever. Downtown is residential.
"Like it's not uncommon anywhere now in the world. You have your house here and have a little neighbourhood pub here so people can walk home. That's what it's all about. We could do that on main street," he added.
"It's been too long since we've had a housing start in Bowden. We have to make this work. I don't know what it's going to take, but I'd lay down on the Queen's highway right in the middle of rush hour traffic to make this work. We've got to find a way.
"Nobody would miss me, so let's do it," Milaney said, sparking laughter.
"If this works, why don't we do a hundred," he asked. "This is just so exciting."
From there, councillors began throwing out ideas of how many homes could be built on the site, ranging from seven to 14.
In the end, Mayor Robb Stuart said, it's up to the developers to determine how many homes they want to build on the site. Council's job, he said, is simply to indicate whether or not they support the project.
"I don't care if he wants to put 45 homes down there. That's his game plan," Stuart said. "We will work with him. But what he wants to spend his money on is entirely up to him."
Stuart said Red Deer County planners may advise the town not to turn the alley into a street, but that's up to them.
Stuart also added a warning about that idea though.
"If things go sideways and we don't follow their recommendation, then we're liable. But..."
"We're only liable to ourselves," Milaney said.
"Well, legally, you never know, right," Stuart replied.
