Moving forward again ... finally...

With hopes of hosting some family in our place over Christmas, we started pushing for progress back in August. We're down to the short strokes - likely NOT having a fully finished front unit finished in the next 2 weeks but seeing the finish line perhaps in January. This is a full year later than what I would have guessed last summer. Completely stripping an 83 year old building is more expensive and trying than I would ever imagined. It is also one of the most satisfying and rewarding things I have done.

So... here goes just a few teaser pictures. I've also done a few updates to the related Minestead page at http://www.minestead.com/. Yup, that is a shameless plug to get some traffic to the website. Seriously though, if you know people who will be visiting Crowsnest Pass and you want them to come away with the best impression - I think Minestead will be a great option (once it is finished of course...).

The first picture is just a close up of the reclaimed wood that surrounds the window we added beside the kitchen area.

The next picture shows a new couch we brought down this trip. We spent a moment sipping cappuccinos in that couch and really, for the first time, getting a real idea of what this wacky dream is turning into.

I think this couch photo is kind of symbolic. We have spent so much time dealing with so much crap relating to construction or just dealing with problems. The couch is the first time we're starting to actually imagine using and enjoying the space - and hopefully being able to provide a vacation rental space that will leave our guests with an experience they won't forget.

This last picture gives an idea of where so much of our money and time has gone over the last year.

Later this week we should have an electrician in to hook up a bunch of lights and fan. No word on when we'll see a plumber to install our new water tank and all the kitchen/bathroom fixtures.

I hope next time I'm posting on here you'll get to see a new kitchen and bathroom... which will mean we're basically completed in the front.

Hope you like...

Lovin' old commercial buildings

There is something about old-west mining era commercial buildings. There is a generous serving of these buildings across the Western portions of the US and Canada. Unfortunately, many of the areas with these buildings have dying communities where the younger citizens head towards the big cities for education and jobs.

This is my place in Bellevue, Alberta. I bought this in 2006 - basically with no idea of what to do with it but I couldn't stand to see it unappreciated and deteriorating (and the area is basically beautiful and inspiring.)

The original portion of the building was constructed in 1927 by an Italian stone mason with the last name Brazoni. This is one of a couple masonry/brick constructed buildings in Bellevue - the owner had seen much of the town burnt to the ground twice in the previous 25 years.

Since buying the building Andrea (my much better half) and I have started to try to breath some life into the exterior of the building. A frustration I still deal with daily is that the building, if placed in any trendy shopping district would be appreciated, dressed up and making us money. Unfortunately, Bellevue's old downtown is moving toward being a ghost-town. If I had millions of dollars I would buy all the buildings, restore them to their former glory and I'm sure could make financial sense of it all because the town could be such a great tourist trap (while hopefully passing along an appreciation for the history and beauty of so many of these types of towns).

So this is what the building looks like now. The building is my big red & tan bank account - as in, that is where I put my money. Still no "grand plan" but like my business, I can't help but feel like anytime you do something based on passion the money will follow eventually. I'm definitely not working on this place to sell it - much more imagining the place being restored inside and out and hopefully inspiring the surrounding building owners to do the same. At the moment, plans have us converting the space into 4 residential suites with a small commercial space (maybe a gallery/studio) in the front. What time, economic recession, money, trades-workers and dreams will allow is the big unknown.