Town east of Edmonton getting its first apartment building in nearly 40 years
New buildings sprout up often in Edmonton, but in some smaller communities, it can be decades before big projects like apartment complexes appear.
That’s what is happening in a town about an hour’s drive east of Edmonton, with the community breaking ground on the first apartment building constructed there in nearly 40 years.
The town of Vegreville is known for the world’s largest Ukrainian Easter egg, and now it’s gearing up for the sprawling new build.
Town of Vegreville/Facebook
The Town said in a news release that the apartment complex will be built on a nearly 35,000-square-foot parcel of land located at 49th Avenue and 47A Street, which was purchased by the Town of Vegreville for $60,250.
The site will accommodate a four-storey, 43-unit building along with on-site parking that meets the requirements outlined in the Town’s Land Use Bylaw. The project represents an investment of more than $3.5 million in the community.
Town of Vegreville
The Town says, according to the Government of Alberta, Vegreville’s population has grown by nearly five per cent since 2022, increasing from 5,819 to 6,109 residents. Additionally, the Province’s 2024 Apartment Vacancy and Rental Cost Survey reports Vegreville’s apartment vacancy rate at just 0.6 per cent, compared to 4.3 per cent across rural Alberta — underscoring the need for new rental housing in the community.
“This apartment complex will help address Vegreville’s current housing demand and play a significant role in meeting the needs of our growing community,” said Tim MacPhee, mayor of Vegreville.
“We know there is already a shortage of purpose-built rental units in Vegreville, and one of the most common concerns we hear from industries looking to invest here is where their future employees will live. This project represents not only a major investment in our community but also a timely one, as the current housing shortage has been a barrier to sustaining and expanding our economic growth.”