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Food Innovation Centre in Chilliwack shuts down One year and $400,000 later, plug pulled on start up company Robert Freeman The Progress
The Food Innovation Centre in Chilliwack, which opened just a year ago with federal and provincial funding, is shutting down at the end of this week. The four staff at the centre received notice that their jobs end Friday, and FICBC CEO Mike Leslie said his job will continue — on a part-time basis — only until the end of March. “It’s unfortunate, trying to get a startup (company) going in less than a year, and then having its funding cut,” he said. Leslie said the centre serves “a broad range” of food-related clients, from individual farmers who need help getting their produce to market to larger companies dealing with regulatory issues. The centre currently has 130 clients, and Leslie said his part-time job will include finishing up those contracts. On Wednesday, the B.C. Agriculture Ministry announced a $262,500 grant for the centre, but Leslie said that is old money and does nothing to help the current situation. “There must be an election coming,” he said. “They’re reporting things that are a year old.” B.C. Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said he was not aware of the grant announcement. Continued: FOOD/ p6
The City of Chilliwack has announced its intention to expropriate the Irwin Block at the corner of Young and Yale if a sales agreement with property owner Xing Chen cannot be reached. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
City moves to expropriate the Irwin Block Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
City of Chilliwack is moving ahead with land assembly in the downtown after issuing a notice of intent to expropriate property at 9282 Young Road. The building known as the Irwin Block is at Five Corners, in a block of land flagged for “revitalization and redevelopment” under the Chilliwack Downtown Plan. The expropriation is seen as a catalyst to eventually assembling all the properties bounded by Young Road, Yale Road, Nowell Street and Princess Avenue. The lot consolidation is all part of a long-term approach to fixing what ails the downtown core, according to Mayor Sharon Gaetz.
“This is an important step forward in assembling the land required to create an attractive development opportunity in our downtown.” The aim is to create a massive single property measuring 1.5 hectares that will appeal to future investors. The concept features commercial and mixed residential uses in three mid-rise buildings surrounding an urban park. The city already owns 10 lots in this block and wants to acquire the majority of the remaining properties over time. “The estimate of six to seven years for this process is what they’re tossing around,” said Gaetz. “But we want to stand the dominoes up so we’re ready.” The Irwin Block’s history goes
back more than 100 years. Built by Burrowes Alex Irwin , it originally housed the B.A. Irwin General Merchant store, a real estate office, and a dental office. Subsequently, the building has also housed C.H. Cowen Drug Company, the B.C. Katalla Oil Company and Hipwell Drugs.
There were plans six years ago to renovate the building and convert it into a retail and residential development. But it has sat vacant ever since. The property was up for sale in the past year with a sign that said it would be the future site of condo development. The registered owner of the property is Xing Chen, who does not live in Chilliwack. “This is a ‘notice of intent’ to expropriate, so there is still some time to reach a sale agreement without expropriation,” said the mayor. Chilliwack officials are ready to pay “fair market value” for the property and have been in contact with the owner. Continued: IRWIN/ p4
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