Canalta Hotel Chain to build in Melfort

Press Release

Avatex Devcorp Inc

August 10, 2009

 

Re:       Hotel Chain to Build in Melfort

 

Avatex Devcorp Inc. has confirmed an agreement with a hotel chain to develop a new 78 room hotel, with an indoor water slide. The hotel is the second major project to be announced at Melfort StoneGate, the 30 acre retail development now underway on Highway 6 in Melfort.

 

Canalta Hotels, an Alberta based hotel operator, will build the hotel on 3 acres of land to be purchased from Avatex at the north end of the Melfort StoneGate project. Construction is expected to start early spring of 2010. Grading and servicing of the site is now underway, and will be complete by the end of August.Canalta operates 26 hotels in Alberta and Saskatchewan, primarily under the Ramada, Super 8, and Best Western signs. The company has a number of additional hotels under development..

 

Canadian Tire, the major retail anchor for the project, is expected to start construction within the next few days. Permits have been issued by the City of Melfort, and Canadian Tire recently awarded a construction contract following review of tenders. The Canadian Tire store is expected to open in February, 2010.

 

Upgrades on Highway 6 in front of the project are now under construction, and will be cost shared between the City and the Province. The existing 2 lane roadway will be widened to 4 lanes, and traffic lights will be installed at the entrances to the shopping center.

 

The project name, “Melfort StoneGate” will be reflected in the architectural and landscape design for the project.  John Burton, President of Avatex says “We will be using stone cladding as a design element on the buildings, and the project will feature stone entrance signs, or “gates” at the highway entrances. The landscape design for the project will utilize areas of stone ground cover, and feature boulders to create visual interest. 

 

Avatex worked with the City staff on new landscaping provisions in the land use bylaw, with the objective of establishing a new standard of landscaping for commercial projects in Melfort. “We want to create an attractive people place at StoneGate, and we believe good landscaping can help us achieve the results we want”.

 

Mr. Burton indicates that long term plans for the retail project will include a large grocery store, additional retail stores, free standing restaurants, and one or more banks. The project will total approximately 250,000 sq.ft. of building space when fully developed over the next 5 to 7 years.

 

Melfort Mayor Kevin Phillips stated "I am very pleased to see Melfort StoneGate taking shape. This development will secure Melfort's future as the hub of the Northeast. Mr. Burton's vision of StoneGate will enhance the retail and service sector of our City for today's residents and for future generations."
 

Avatex Devcorp Inc. based in Edmonton, Alberta, has been involved in the development of a number of shopping center projects similar to StoneGate in Alberta, as well as in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.