WATCH: Cheap land is hard to come by, but the Alberta village of Delia has lots for sale for just $10. The community, two hours northeast of Calgary, has a population of just 186 and they’re looking for a way to keep the community alive. Reid Fiest has the story.
Dennis Thordarson and his wife moved to Delia, Alberta from Saskatchewan seven years ago, to be closer to their grandchildren.
What they found in the tiny village of 186 people was more than they expected.
“It’s got a strong core of people, like volunteers, getting things done,” Thordason told Global News. “You can see how clean, neat and tidy the village is and people are willing to work at it.”
But the number of people living here, about two hours northeast of Calgary, has been declining, putting a strain on the community’s municipal budget.
To entice people to move here, the village slashed the price of seven fully-serviced lots, valued at $10,000 each, to just $10 a piece.
Dawn Bancroft, the mayor of Delia, said they had sat on the market for eight years with few to no offers.
“Over the weekend, we probably had over 1,200 plus phone calls, texts, emails from people interested in buying the lots,” she said. “They’re all gone now. It didn’t take very long.”
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However, there’s a catch: the purchasers of the $10 lots must build on them within one year or they’ll lose a $990 deposit.
John Cameron and his wife moved to the community last year, when they purchased the Saddle Sore Saloon and Hotel.
Business has been decent, but Cameron said some new neighbours would be good for his bar and hotel and the community.
The village may develop another 20 lots within the next year, but officials haven’t decided on a price.
It’s not the first time bargain land deals have been offered in the West, but it may be one way communities of this size can survive.
“You drive around the Prairies and see so many places with a plaque that says this Village was once here,” said Thordarson. WWe don’t want to be a plaque on the side of the road, so let’s find some people.”
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