HALIFAX – A community group that won a grant to open a grocery store in Halifax’s North End has not been able to secure a location yet, and they’re running out of time.
Last winter, Aviva Insurance awarded the Community Carrot group $115,000 to establish a store in the Gottingen Street area of Halifax. But the group has been unable to lock up a deal on a location yet, even though they had hoped to have the store in operation by the beginning of summer.
Members of “Community Carrot” were ecstatic last January when they were named winners of Aviva’s grant to open a grocery store in what is known as a “food desert”.
The Gottingen Street area hasn’t had a grocery store since Sobeys left more than 25 years ago. Community Carrot has negotiated with 10 landlords, but it’s been a challenge.
The project needs to be completed by the end of the year under the terms with Aviva.
Get breaking National news
“We’re hot on the track right now of two different properties and two different opportunities,” said Gwen McCauley, the project manager.
“So we’re very hopeful that by mid-September we’ll be able to announce where we’re going to land.”
McCauley said part of the problem securing a location is the high cost of renting space in the area.
“There’s no doubt that the shipbuilding contract has impacted the local community, so rents are starting to move upward.”
“In general, rents have gone up a little bit across the market,” said Greg Taylor, managing director of Colliers International, a real estate management company. He said financial startup is tough for an organization.
“Probably Gottingen Street and the North End have experienced some increases, not just do to the shipbuilding, but operating costs and taxes are constantly increasing as well.”
Community Carrot has been looking for a minimum space of 2,500 sq. ft. Taylor said costs run about $30 per sq. ft. in the area, translating into $75,000 for rent annually.
The group had hoped to open its grocery store by June. McCauley said the delay has been frustrating.
“Waiting is extremely difficult and it’s not just the people in the area. Our board of directors feels that frustration incredibly,” she said. “We’ve been in contact with the folks at Aviva. They’re feeling the frustration.”
McCauley said Community Carrot has everything in place to open a store once a location is found.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.