Things are
Leslie Cochrane, owner of Loft 3 Design company downtown, has lived above her store since May 2012, and says she has not experienced any negative issues with living downtown.
great downtown
when you are I By CHARLES LEFEBVRE
t begins as a typical Tuesday morning. The alarm goes off, you wake up, shower, eat breakfast, exit your house, and you’re at work as quickly as you’ve left.
Sound a little like science-fiction? It isn’t. These business owners' homes are located above their businesses in downtown Medicine Hat.
Bruce and Jan Dynes have owned the Clay Trade and Framing and Art Centre on Second Street for almost 25 years. However, they have lived above their business for only the past 10 years, living on the southeast hill prior to settling downtown. Bruce, during an interview in January, says the decision to move from their larger house was based on a change in their family circumstances.
“We had a large two and half storey house with a big yard, and after our daughter moved away, it was just the two of us living in the house,” he said. “We always have planned to renovate the upstairs of the building, so we did. We moved in and we enjoyed it ever since.”
46 | 2013 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA
The Dynes’ living quarters are accessed by a door next to their business. After climbing up the narrow staircase, the main floor of their home awaits you. The colours and the artwork on the wall make the place feel like a home, and showcases the interests of its owners.
There are a few benefits to living downtown.
“I don’t have to drive to work, that’s probably the nicest part,” says Bruce. “We enjoy living downtown, there’s a lot of things happening. We are downtown people, we can just walk to the library, to the Esplanade, to the movie theatre across the street, there’s lots of restaurants and its very convenient.”
“It’s wonderful to be able to walk out your front door to do whatever shopping you want to,” said Jan. “We love the walks along the river with the dog.”
Moving through the house, one of the better kept secrets awaits. The home includes a back porch with a view of Riverside Veterans Memorial Park and the South Saskatchewan River.
“It’s really nice in the summer, we spend a lot of time there,” said Bruce.
Leslie Cochrane, owner of the recently opened Loft 3 Design Company, is the most recent business owner to move in above her business. Loft 3 sells contemporary furniture and decor, and also offers private consulting for interior design. Cochrane has previously lived in Dunmore and the Ross Glen neighbourhood of Medicine Hat, but has always been attracted to downtown.
“I’ve just always liked the downtown feeling in every city I’ve ever lived in,” she said in a January interview. “I like be able to walk places and just enjoy what downtown has to offer.”
Cochrane has been living downtown since May 2012, and began renovating the upstairs to live in. She described the changes being needed as mostly cosmetic, adding a fresh coat of paint and light fixtures.
“Eventually, I’d like to do a large renovation, move the kitchen and redo the entire bathroom, but that will come in time,” she said.
Like the Dynes, Cochrane loves the convenience of downtown.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116