Drove by Kemptville Colonnade... Site seems cleared of vegetation, signage frame is up, no buildings yet though... and apparently there's been a delay for the development.
Walmart construction delayed
May 14, 2009
BY JOE MORIN
"The decision has nothing to with our regard for your community." Residents of North Grenville will have to wait at least another three years before they can enjoy a Walmart store in Kemptville.
Walmart has given 2012 as the likely year that construction will start at their Colonnade site along County Road 43.
“I am disappointed obviously that we will have to wait,” said North Grenville Mayor, Bill Gooch. The mayor said that despite the delay, Colonnade Development has a plan B in the works. The news that Walmart has decided to push back their timetable came through discussions between Walmart and Gooch.
The mayor had told members of the North Grenville Chamber of Commerce that he intended to talk to Walmart about their plans.
The North Grenville community had been asking themselves the same question for some time. When was Walmart going to arrive in Kemptville and when would the construction of their store start?
The answer to the mayor’s query came last week in the form of a letter from Walmart.
The letter from Ken Farrell, VP of Store Development for Walmart, to Mayor Gooch stated: “First and foremost we share your belief that the residents of Kemptville are keenly awaiting a new, local Walmart store. Further, your letter provides a detailed explanation of Kemptville’s strengths and market growth. I assure you that we are well aware of these facts and they played a pivotal role in our initial decision to invest in your community.” The letter from Walmart went on to tell the mayor that Walmart would never have invested in the Kemptville site if they had not been and continued to be serious about building a store there. “As part of our investment, we completed a substantial purchase of land less than a year ago. Despite our current project delay, we continue to own this land and have no intention to sell the property.”
The letter explained that the delay was the result of “a broader internal consideration of which of our available formats fits best in various markets nationwide. The decision has nothing to with our regard for your community.”
joe.morin@metroland.com
No Walmart for Kemptville this year
Posted May 7, 2009
BY ASHLEY KULP
http://www.emckemptville.ca/20090507...ille+this+year
EMC News - North Grenville may be down after learning last week that Walmart will not begin construction in Kemptville this year, but according to mayor Bill Gooch, the municipality is certainly not out.
Gooch broke the disappointing news to guests gathered at the May 2 North Grenville Chamber of Commerce 'Salute to Excellence' awards gala at the W.B. George Centre. He first received the news through an email with Colonnade Development's vice-president Cal Kirkpatrick on April 29. Kirkpatrick first brought the idea for the retail plaza along County Road 43 to council five years ago, which was unanimously supported. Walmart is to be the heart of the development with other big box stores such as Staples, making up the rest of the project. The retail giant was expected to begin construction sometime this summer, but now that's not likely.
"The long and short of it is there is no commitment on a construction start date for Walmart. I would categorize us being in the same place we were a month ago," Kilpatrick stated in his email to Gooch, citing the lower performing stores as one of the reasons. "The Kemptville project is the most 'construction ready' of any site Walmart has but the economic situation and poor performance of some smaller market stores elsewhere in Ontario is giving them general 'business heartburn.'"
The problem is, the development of the other stores within the shopping centre all hinged on the start date of Walmart. Gooch noted during the awards gala that Colonnade will now have to offer the other stores incentives to persuade them to start earlier.
"I need to challenge ourselves and the other tenant commitments we have to see why we can't at least start a project oriented along 43 - that means juggling the tenants around, but I really do want to see if somebody will start without Walmart, even if it means a smaller overall project for now," Kilpatrick explained in the email.
While this was information that Gooch didn't want to hear, in an effort to work with Walmart and make his views on the project known, he composed an email to both Walmart Canada CEO David Cheesewright and its planning manager Chris Dodds, on April 30.
"This is devastating news to our immediate and surrounding community," Gooch stated. "Nothing has been anticipated more by our residents than the arrival of Walmart and the other retail outlets your presence will bring to this growing community."
He explained the growth of the community with such housing projects as Oxford Village, which will bring 390 affordable homes including a professional daycare, the ongoing work at eQuinelle (480 homes) on County Road 44 and the development of its golf course, as well as the Forest Creek subdivision, expected to add 62 homes to North Grenville. Neighbouring municipalities are also experiencing growth, which Gooch said could be attractive to Walmart.
Another area North Grenville is prioritizing is economic development. "We are in the process at county council (United Counties of Leeds and Grenville) of doing an RFP (request for proposals) for a consultant to develop a plan to create an economic development corridor along 416 between the Ottawa boundary and Prescott at the St. Lawrence River," Gooch stated in his email to the Walmart executives. "Our plan which I might add is supported by both levels of senior government is to attract green technology development along the corridor. We have developed a marketing strategy and a professional team that will begin proactively promoting the corridor and Kemptville early in the fall, we are going to aggressively attract small industrial and business development to the immediate north and south of Colonnade's site."
With construction having recently begun on the $25 million redevelopment of Kemptville District Hospital as well, Gooch implored the Walmart executives to reconsider their decision and invited them to visit the municipality for a tour or even offered to go to them.
"I understand and appreciate that these are tough economic times but I ask that you consider the demonstrated leap of faith our community has in Walmart and Colonnade whereby our water/sewer expansion project at a cost of almost $3 million is almost completed," he commented. "...I would like to invite you to Kemptville, see our community, experience the excitement of our growth. An afternoon with us would give you cause to reevaluate your priorities. Should you not be able to visit us, I would be more than pleased to come to Toronto with the appropriate staff members and the developer to have a discussion and better understanding of your concerns."
While as of press time Gooch hadn't received a response from Walmart, he does have the support of Leeds and Grenville MPP Bob Runciman, who noted he would help in any way he could to organize a meeting with the executives. And he noted he refused to dwell on the news. "So where does this leave me, as mayor? Disappointed - yes, optimistic that we may be able to influence Walmart's decision - yes. However, we have so much going for us it is essential that we do not allow setbacks to impact our future," he told the crowd at the Chamber awards evening, citing the excellent schools, soon to be revamped hospital, 416 economic development corridor and housing developments as positive aspects of the community.
"...We are lucky that we don't have one industry based economy," he said, remarking on the stability of North Grenville's employment. "Our major employer continues to be the federal government in Ottawa, providing jobs and income to a large number of our residents. We just need to have services here so that here is where they spend their money."
"We have a construction ready economic development zone and the extension of our water/sewer services to the east quadrant has provided a vehicle for developers to now actively and cooperatively market their properties. Our economic development committee has a strategy and vision to do just that," Gooch continued adding that there is constant interest in the community by developers, and strong partnerships and cooperation with landowners and county partners.
In order to move forward through the economic difficulties, he said the municipality needs to be more proactive in enticing developers and planning.
"When will it be over? I don't know, but I do think the world will come out of it stronger laying a better financial planning foundation as we emerge. The world has learned a lesson. We're not going to do the same things we have in the past 50 years," Gooch stated. "In North Grenville, we can help support our business community by buying locally. Negotiation is possible in our business community, prices can be matched - just ask...We have a plan B and a positive community. We will succeed."
After Monday evening's Committee of the Whole council meeting, other council members reflected on the news. "It's a disappointment," commented councillor Tim Sutton. "Lots of residents were looking forward to Walmart coming this year, I get asked about it all the time...that being said, there are lots of fantastic retailers in the community who are very capable of serving the community. They have extended hours and product lines."
"...They still own the property and we'll be in their plans at some point in time, but obviously not right now," he added. "We have a strong downtown and we need to make sure we have the best downtown, keep traffic up and the engine rolling."
Councillor Barb Tobin said it's important for Kilpatrick to know that council is still behind the Colonnade project and all members need to be on the same page. "He (Kilpatrick) has to feel he has a line on the community and that the mayor or whoever is speaking on behalf of the municipality, has the ear of council," she remarked. "He needs to know what we all think and he can't feel some of us are naysayers, that would put them (Walmart) off. We need to show a positive front."
Prev
?
Linear Mode
