Ground broke on a new commericial development on South Boundary Rd. A Dental Clinic for Dr. Matt Gibb will be one of the first buildings built (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Digging the demand: Southlands Common aims to address growing need for more professional office space

Nov 26, 2021 | 5:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- As the shovels hit the ground, it is a new opportunity for dentist, Dr. Matt Gibb.

Construction is beginning on a new location for his practice at Southland Commons, a new development consisting of four commercial buildings on South Boundary road.

“Currently I practice with my partner downtown, and we have just outgrown our space. We needed a new space and we were looking for something that was going to serve our patients well,” Dr. Gibb said.

For six years Dr. Gibb and his realtor Bernie Leahy, searched the city. But finding a clinic with enough room to serve his growing patient load was hard to find.

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“I’m looking for a place where I can be for the rest of my years as a dentist,” he said.

“There were some very specific things that I wanted and I couldn’t find the right location, the right type of building, and these are big projects that cost lots of money,” he said.

Dave Reinheller is the developer behind Southlands common. Roughly 18 months ago, despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, he decided to go ahead on the development noting a huge demand for professional and medical clinic space, especially in locations that are close to residences and shopping.

“You got to keep pushing ahead. You can’t sit on the sidelines,” Reinheller said.

At this time last year building permits were at a five-year low. But now the city says they have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Mayor Linnsie Clark said seeing the city reemerge from last year’s slump is exciting.

“It is possible that people are seeing opportunity in Medicine Hat right now, and we want to make sure that we keep promoting Medicine Hat and that we are a good place to start a business,” she said.

But for contractors, building a large commercial development still comes with its challenges with price increases and supply chain issues rampant.

Guy Bellis is the operations manager for Midwest Construction and design. He said companies like his have been busy thanks to low-interest rates and government stimulus projects. But things like steel, electrical cable, and sewer pipe remain hard to get on time and on budget.

“It’s been tough in terms of scheduling, also looking at cost increases that are coming over almost on a daily basis. Now with the flooding out in B.C. that is going to create more challenges in terms of the supply chain is concerned,” he said.

In order to navigate the ongoing supply chain issues, that means more scheduling ahead of time, and securing the best price. All to ensure those walls go up, and those dreams, like Dr.Gibb’s become a reality.