The demolition of Bragg Creek’s oldest restaurant, the Barbecue Steak Pit, is anticipated to take place sometime later this season.
The Rocky View Foundation, which provides affordable seniors’ housing in the County, announced two weeks ago that it would move forward with the demolition of the restaurant that was “damaged beyond repair” in the 2013 flood.
“We have had overwhelming support from the community,” said Carol Borschneck, chief administrative officer for the foundation.
“We are excited to fulfill our mandate to provide seniors’ housing and allow aging-in-place in Rocky View County. Creeker Dick Koetsier donated this property to our foundation for the sole purpose of providing seniors’ housing.”
Borschneck said the foundation is hoping for grant dollars to cover up to 50 per cent of the capital costs to build the facility – 10 affordable and 10 market housing options for seniors.
The total project is estimated at $4 million to build, funded through grants and fundraising.
Long-time Creeker resident Bob Everett – also a neighbour to the former restaurant – has spent the last year trying to do his part to save the pit but will now redirect his efforts to support the future rebuild of the restaurant on another site.
The former Div. 1 county councillor, said the foundation had been totally unreceptive to his requests for confirmation that the building was not worth salvaging.
Everett, who had proposed turning the space into an art/music recording studio, is disappointed that the non-profit would not seek options to preserve the building but said that he “supports the mandate to build affordable seniors housing in Bragg Creek.”
Dick Koetsier, donated 2.1 acres of land to the foundation after learning that his costly post-flood renovation efforts of the Steak Pit would not pan out. He took possession of the property one day before the June 20, 2013, flood.
He confirmed that he is awaiting flood mitigation solutions in Bragg Creek before he will look to rebuild the iconic restaurant that fed Creekers and tourists alike since 1961.
Also on that land, valued at $1 million, were three chalets that were recently demolished.
Koetsier commended Everett for his “passion for history and the community” and said he is pleased to see the foundation moving forward with providing a solution for Creekers to age-in-place.
“Seniors deserve to retire in dignity and remain in their community and I am delighted to see this move forward,” said Banff-Cochrane NDP MLA Cam Westhead, giving a nod to Koetsier’s “generous” land donation.
