By Brent Bosker

Holy Family site filled with empty promises

Jul 25, 2011 | 6:28 AM

The latest development in the Holy Family Hospital property is murkier than the slough water that now sits on the site.

A proposal by an Alberta health firm to convert the site into a seniors care complex was nothing more than empty promise, according to the Edmonton contractor that got stuck with all the bills.

“Everything they told us was inaccurate,” said Andrea Montgomery-Di Marco, DMI Services co-owner, in a written statement.

The property was sold by the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region to Heritage Health Care Inc. of Edmonton in 2004.

The intent was to convert the building into an assisted seniors’ care home, but when it became uneconomical, the developer decided to tear it down and start fresh, which is when DMI Services got involved.

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“DMI Services was under contract with the owner … to remove the asbestos and hazardous materials from the hospital and to thereafter demolish the building. We completed that work in 2008, but were never paid, so we filed a builders’ lien to protect our investment,” Montgomery-Di Marco said.

We were owed about $850,000 when you include hauling and disposal fees, she said.

DMI Services took control of the property after a tax lien was filed by the City of Prince Albert in 2009 against the developer for non-payment of taxes.

“We paid the outstanding taxes in exchange for the transfer of title,” Montgomery-Di Marco said.

This is confirmed in a land titles registry search conducted in March 2010, which listed DMI Service Ltd as the registered owners.

Throughout the process, DMI was repeatedly promised that the development would begin any day and that once the property was built, payment would be forthcoming, she said.

“(They) continued to confirm that finances were being arranged, contractors were being lined up, and the property development would be beginning ‘any moment.’”

The final straw for DMI was when the city advised them in January that that no development applications or permits had ever been filed by the developer.

At that point we decided to axe the project and move on, Montgomery-Di Marco said.

To learn that no financing was in place, and the developer had no ability to develop these lands was “devastating,” she said.

DMI ended up incurring more costs by paying for security, fencing and site maintenance.

Numerous attempts to reach the developer for comment were unsuccessful.

Holy Family property to turn over new leaf 

DMI Services attempted to sell the property to reclaim part of their investment, but after zero interest they decided to donate the land to a non-profit corporation for the development of low-income housing.

“In light of the number of years and expense that were wasted in waiting for a development that was never going to happen, Vince and I are both very relieved and pleased that this situation has been transformed into such a positive end,” Montgomery-Di Marco said,

“Our loss will be an enormous gain for hopefully many people. We wish the housing developers every success in their development,” she said.

A spokesperson for the All Nations River of Life said the proposed housing development was still in the planning stages and did not wish to comment any further at this time.

Residents somewhat pleased

Residents along 15th Street West say the property has become an eye sore for the neighborhood.

The common complaints are about the weeds and the crater sized hole which has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The chain link fencing isn’t nice to look at either, said Adrian Glasgow who’s been living across the street for seven years.

“Anything that happens is better than nothing,” said Glasgow, who would also like to see a little mix of commercial.

Victoria Slonski, an area resident for 17 years said, it’s been frustrating waiting for something to happen.

She was glad to hear some news about the property, but said she had concerns about what a low income housing development would look like.

bbosker@panow.com