Nautical Lands Group (NLG) kicked off phase 1 development of their Wellings of Lloydminster retirement living project on June 9. At the podium is Clayton Butt, NLG’s superintendent of operations in Alberta, who has built a lot of projects in the city over the years and will hire local for Wellings. Other speakers pictured are Natalie Tommy, vice president of marketing for NLG and Mayor Gerald Aalbers. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The construction of the new Wellings of Lloydminster retirement living community is underway with a commitment from developer Nautical Lands Group (NLG) to hire local.
NLG representatives and City of Lloydminster officials held a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the Parkview Estates site at 3211 72 Ave. to launch phase 1.
“Our goal is to hire local as much as possible, as long as we have enough labour to do,” said NLG’s vice-president of marketing, Natalie Tommy, with earth-moving equipment working in the background.
The initial plans call for the development of 66 one and two-bedroom villas within 13 one-storey bungalows and an 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with Nelson Homes playing a major role.
“We’re working with the Nautical group in regards to the supply of the framing materials for this project along with any other supporting materials that go along with it,” said Tim Rau.
He’s the multi-family and commercial sales project manager for Nelson Homes, who will work with the general contractor NGL Construction.
“It’s a very good opportunity and it’s been a great relationship between us and Nautical. We’ve been working with the group for quite a while and now that the groundbreaking is happening, it’s pretty exciting,” said Rau.
Tommy says NGL Construction will start pouring the foundation in the next month or two, with initial occupancy expected next spring.
Nelson Homes will begin to manufacture panelized walls along with pre-cut and pre-built roof trusses in the next couple of weeks.
“By saving on what we’re doing for labour in our manufacturing facility it saves on time, too, and saves the developer and the framers the amount of labour they need on-site,” explained Rau.
Clayton Butt, general superintendent of operations for NLG Construction in Alberta, says they will keep all contracts local.
“We’re hiring all trades local. We’ll be hiring local foremen supers and workers,” said Butt.
“It will have a very big economic impact. It’s good for the town.”
Butt has built a ton of projects in Lloydminster, including the strip mall at Hampton Square with KSB Construction along with Staples and a McDonald’s restaurant.
“It’s good to get some infrastructure back in the town and promote projects such as this and keep it local,” he said.
Wellings of Lloydminster is the largest NGL retirement project in Canada with a sod-turning held in Red Deer the previous day.
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers thanked Wellings for selecting Lloydminster for the project.
“Once complete, Wellings of Lloydminster villa and clubhouse will provide affordable housing for some of our community’s 7,000 residents ages 55 plus,” he said.
The long-term plan will see 432 units over a four to five-year timeframe.
Tommy says the 11-acre Lloydminster site is perfect for senior living.
“We love the fact it is located in a residential area that is up and coming,” she said, noting seniors like to be able to walk but don’t want the traffic around anymore.
The Wellings concept provides complete independence, with a month-to-month leasing model, in a maintenance-free community without health care.
“The majority of people don’t really need the health care provided, but what they could really use is socialization,” said Scott Broderick, NLG’s vice-president of sales and leasing.
He says the clubhouse is kind of the centre of the action at Wellings and will include a fitness centre, games room, community kitchen and outdoor gathering spaces.
“It opens up an option so people don’t wait too long to enjoy their retirement,” said Broderick.
He says they will nail down the final lease rate closer to occupancy, hoping to price units between $1,500-$2,200 a month.
“That’s affordable and we want to keep it affordable,” said Broderick.
Tommy notes they have already received several deposits from Lloydminster after launching their website.
“People are already interested in it,” she said.
