Corsa Cycles co-owner Sandra Brull spent two years searching for the ideal spot to move her business.
Suitable commercial real estate in downtown Squamish was limited, but she bought a corner building and the adjacent lot on Cleveland Avenue. In January, Corsa Cycles moved from the original store near Nesters Market to the second, larger location.
“It wasn’t easy finding a new spot. It had to be a very good location, one that wasn’t at the end of town,” said Brull. “I looked at other lots, but I knew in my heart that this spot was perfect for Corsa.”
Location is often the most important consideration when searching for real estate, said District of Squamish Councillor Susan Chapelle, who initially ran for council because of the difficulty she had finding a spot here for her wellness clinic.
Part of her work as councillor is advocating for flexible rezoning to help attract new businesses to Squamish.
After moving Squamish Integrated Health a handful of times, she needed a bigger location to grow. The clinic specializes in massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic care and naturopathic medicine.
ZONING IS ‘PROHIBITIVE’
“It’s very hard to find a commercial space that’s large enough. This hasn’t changed in 16 years,” said Chapelle, who is a registered massage therapist. “It’s not impossible to find space for professional services, but it is quite difficult because the zoning is prohibitive. It’s very frustrating.”
Chapelle employs around 25 health-care practitioners and would like to grow her business, but she can’t find a larger spot that’s zoned for her use.
She said smaller businesses might have more luck finding a location in Squamish.
The Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) website, www.downtownsquamish.com, has links to commercial real estate for sale. Currently, about four dozen locations are for sale, including buildings for sale and established businesses for sale on leased property.
To increase the variety of real estate inventory, the District of Squamish is trying to attract new commercial and mixed-use developments to the community, particularly in the downtown core and industrial park. Investment incentives, which apply to new and renovated space, include property tax exemptions for the initial years.
To qualify, commercial projects must have a minimum building permit of $500,000. Incentives include a five-year property tax exemption on the assessed value of the improvements made.
FRESH LOOKS DOWNTOWN
The DSBIA has also been sprucing up the downtown with its Look Fresh Façade Improvement Program that provides 50 per cent of project costs to a maximum of a $1,000 grant. The grant money, totalling $10,000, was donated by producers of The Returned, a supernatural drama TV series filmed in Squamish.
Before reopening, Brull took part in the façade improvement program by updating the outside of Corsa Cycles with a new sign and a fresh coat of paint.
After searching for two years, Brull said she is lucky to find a good spot for her business.
“With some elbow grease, we cleaned the store up, and I want to put up a piece of artwork outside,” she said. “I’m really excited to be part of the growth of downtown, and I’m watching it being beautified even further.”
