A new commercial strip mall is about to begin construction in Niverville. The property at 41 Main Street, which is currently home to BSI Insurance, will be getting a major facelift as well as a significant expansion.
The 5,410-square-foot expansion will include two new commercial units, one of which will be 3,000 square feet and the other 2,410 square feet. The addition will feature a glass, limestone, and brick exterior. Construction is targeted to begin on November 15, with work starting on the new foundation. The construction will be overseen by a local company, Prairie Sky Properties.
The existing structure, with the BSI Insurance office, will be refinished to match, with updated siding and stonework. A brand-new sidewalk and parking lot will also be built.
In total, the strip mall will offer nearly 8,500 square feet of commercial space.
The laneway that currently exits onto Main Street to the east of BSI Insurance will need to be closed in the coming weeks to accommodate the new building. Utilities have also been relocated.
According to the developer, Ray Dowse, part of the long process of getting this building approved meant dealing with the foundation of a long-departed building to the east of 41 Main Street. Decades ago, that building was home to a coffee shop, and afterward it became Niverville’s youth drop-in centre before burning to the ground.
“After the fire, the foundation was never excavated,” says Dowse. “It was simply filled and left in the ground. As this new building will be built on piles, we needed to prep the site and remove the old foundation, which we completed one year ago.”
Dowse reports that a tenant has already claimed the new 3,000-square-foot space, and more details of that business will be available in the coming weeks. However, the centre unit is still available.
“There are no specific plans in place for that location at this time,” he says. “Being a new build, there is an element of customization that can be done to accommodate the specific or unique occupancy needs of a business looking to operate here.”
Overall, this project has been in the works for three years, including early dialogue, site planning, town approvals, architectural work, engineering reports, legal consultation, environmental studies, and nailing down financing.
“It takes a lot of time and patience,” says Dowse. “That said, all of the people we were able to work together with at all levels really helped get this project and agreement together—and we are all very excited to see this building plan come to fruition in 2021.”
BSI Insurance intends to continue occupying their current space for the foreseeable future.
“I’d like to congratulate Ray and his team for the amazing work they do to help with Niverville’s economic development,” says Ren DeMoissac, CEO of BSI Insurance. “Their work in turn helps us grow our business in the long run. We’re excited about the expansion of the BSI building, as it will create opportunity for businesses and services to find a new home and will naturally help boost foot traffic in our area. Businesses in Niverville have recently done a great job renovating their storefronts and I’m pleased to be part of Main Street’s beautification.”
DeMoissac adds that the BSI offices will also get an interior renovation over the course of the coming year.
“We anticipate having to reroute foot traffic during construction, as well as coming up with possible parking alternatives, but for the most part it will be business as usual,” DeMoissac says. “We hope everyone is staying safe during these times and want to remind everyone that we’re open to help you. Thank you all for the support over the years.”