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The GUARDIAN
Jun 17, 2000
By Steve Sharratt
Town
approves building permit for million-dollar mall project
MONTAGUE — The land clearing is well underway and the
official building permit for APM's new million-dollar mall
development was approved here Tuesday night by town council.
The 40,000-square-foot retail development is being
constructed on a six-acre parcel that was formerly home to
the McGowan Motors' car dealership.
The application to proceed with the project — which includes
a residential component — earned majority approval with one
councillor objecting. "The application is for a retail mall
valued at $1.8 million and comes from APM on behalf of
Loblaws,'' said town development officer David Mabon.
"Another portion of the land in question will be subdivided
for senior housing.''
Brian Gillis, APM's vice-president of development, told
council the project is being built in what the company
considers the "heart of the town''. "We feel this investment
will be a success and Montague is a good place to grow and
prosper,'' he said. The meeting was advised the initial
development will be the construction phase followed by the
marketing of shop space. While some tenants are already
secured, others are still in the wings and council was told
the developer has been approached by another restaurant
interest as well.
The six-acre field is currently being cleared and leveled
and Gillis said the project should be up and running by late
August. The new development requires the town to extend the
water system since the mall will be served by a
fire-protection sprinkler system. The project has also
passed environmental guidelines. However, Councillor Paul
Sullivan, who objected to the permit approval, questioned
whether the town was breaking its own bylaws by allowing the
project to proceed. "I'm very much in favour of this
development,'' he said. "But my point about whether we are
following proper procedures is based on the liability
potential. I don't want to see it bungled.'' That remark
caused Mayor Pat McGowan to cut off further discussion and
prompted a council vote which approved the permit. |
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3 Lower Malpeque Road
Charlottetown, PEI
C1A 1R4
Tel: 902.569.8400
Fax: 902.569.1149
info@apmconstruction.com
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