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Hat will weather
economic storm: Crush
Amanda Stephenson businesses and specialized, locally-owned is opportunity on
astephenson@medicinehatnews.com entrepreneurs will be able to capitalize on the that front for local

people who are being drawn to the city by manufac turers
Keith Crush
A year ago, it seemed there was nothing
some of the new, larger retail outlets. like Moduline.
City of Medicine Hat
Business Development Officer
but sunny skies ahead in terms of Medicine “We’re the biggest centre between Calgary and For those looking
Hat’s economic outlook. Noone could have Regina, and I think we’ll continue to play a to buy a home,
predicted the global credit crisis and the significant role in serving a regional and large there is plenty of choice out there and excellent
resulting world-wide recession, the effects of territory area,” he says. mortgage rates. And those who don’t want to
which are already being felt in Medicine Hat.
When it comes to housing, Crush says 2008
buy a new home may be willing to renovate
But Keith Crush, the City of Medicine did see a slight decline in the number of
their existing one — prodded along by the
Hat’s business development officer, sees the building permits issued. But while the housing
home renovation tax incentives announced in
situation in “glass half full” terms. And while industry may have changed from what it was,
the 2009 federal budget.
he acknowledges we may be in for some the news is not all negative. Crush says there is plenty to be hopeful about,
stormy times, he is certain the community will
“One of the things I think Medicine Hat has
and he encourages Medicine Hat residents to
weather them.
going for it is it (housing prices) hasn’t risen
do their part by supporting local businesses
“It’s going to be a challenging year, from a at the trajectory — and therefore hasn’t fallen
and professionals.
community perspective,” Crush says. He at the trajectory — that we’ve seen in larger “I think as in the past, the community will
adds the last time Medicine Hat faced such centres like Edmonton or Calgary,” he says. continue to move through this,” he says. “In
medicine hat...
uncertainty was immediately following 9/11,
Modular home production has seen a
spite of the challenging economic times,
when no-one knew what the economic fallout
slowdown, but Crush says reference to
we need to take a step back and reflect on
of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. would
affordable housing in both the federal budget
where we are and how fortunate we are as a
be. However, he says in that case, Medicine
and provincial throne speech may mean there
community.”
Hat was affected far less severely than other
communities, which bodes well for this latest
economic challenge.
No sign of downturn in
“Our community, for whatever reason, seems
to have a certain amount of resiliency — both
commercial development
on an economic and personal level,” Crush
says.
Ken Gousseau
Medicine Hat News
However, Crush says he doesn’t want to

downplay the impact that is already being
There isn’t much on the books in terms of new commercial and industrial land developments
felt in certain sectors. The energy industry is
in 2009, but building activity has been steady in Box Springs Business Park.
facing one of the toughest years it has faced in “In 2008, we did see a noticeable slowdown in the number of lot sales,” says Robin Levesque,
a long time.
the City of Medicine Hat’s land and properties manager.
“Our best chances of improvement on that
“As far as projections (in 2009), it’s always the crystal ball thing – is there going to be the
front really depend on commodity prices,”
same level of activity? Higher or lower? Only the market will tell.”
Crush says. “I really empathize with oil and The City is, however, looking at putting a two-acre neighbourhood commercial zone into
service companies trying to decide what to
the Southlands subdivision in the city’s south end.
do, whether they sit tight or try to rearrange Levesque says it is difficult to gauge how land prices have been holding up, amid the global
things . . . I really hope they can ride it out.” economic slowdown, as there has been very little commercial and industrial land sold for
development in Medicine Hat in recent months.
The struggling American auto industry has
also had a ripple effect on Medicine Hat, as
There is still no word on what will become of the old Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart buildings
witnessed by the recent layoffs at the local
in the city, Levesque says.
Goodyear plant. But Crush says the Medicine Interest in Box Springs Business Park, which includes 250 acres of commercial land and
Hat area has a well-diversified economy, which
950 acres of industrial land, has not waned whatsoever, according John Hashem, a partner
is part of the reason it fares better than other
in the venture.
communities in tough economic times. “Interest is good. We’ve got quite a few sales right now and several buildings under
construction,” Hashem says.
From a strong agricultural sector to
discussions around alternative energy sources
“We haven’t seen any sign of an economic slowdown . . . Everything seems to be moving
such as wind to a burgeoning research and
along at the same speed it was.”
technology industry, Crush says there are lots This spring, construction will begin on hotels and restaurants in the business park, and
of exciting things happening in Medicine Hat.
several retail developments are also currently underway.
The city has a rapidly expanding retail sector,
According to the Box Springs website, in the first phase, a total of nine lots spanning roughly
which enables it to serve as a hub for a wide 62 acres – including the 20 acres set aside for the proposed event centre – have been sold.
area. Crush says he hopes more downtown
Five additional lots covering 30 acres have been conditionally sold in the first phase of the
business park.
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