SUMMERSIDE The Summerside Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) has acquired Dominion Square for an undisclosed price.
That news was confirmed recently by the SRDCs general manager, Arnold Croken.
I can confirm to you that SRDC has bought this building and were beginning to work on plans for the building.
There has been considerable speculation about the future of the building. And theres been a flurry of renovation activity the past couple of weeks.
Croken says he, too, has heard rumours and although he wouldnt comment on plans for the 90,000-sq.-ft. building, he threw cold water on a lot of what hes heard.
Theyre not true, he said.
Longtime Summerside resident and former councillor John Perry said there is definitely plenty of speculation about Dominion Squares future.
I heard there was an international call centre going in on the second floor and the third and fourth floors are being (converted) into apartments or condos.
However, Croken maintains the rumour is unfounded. He went on to say when there is something concrete to report, an announcement will be made.
There is nothing confirmed for this building yet, said Croken.
Were taking this on spec as an opportunity to develop the downtown core ... Were exploring for opportunities as we go along.
Croken said the renovations will take some time because of the buildings size and age.
Its like renovating any old building. There are all kinds of challenges that go with it.
The building houses five businesses: Pro Hardware, Money Concepts, Princeway Furniture & Appliance, the Tack Store and Petes Hearth and Cottage.
jbrown@journalpioneer.com
Speculation continues to mount over future of Dominion Square
- Published on April 13th, 2007
- Published on June 20th, 2010
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Jim Brown
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Comments
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- Anita
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:08:52
I have to agree with Brian, also if that building would of been in any other city, but summerside, it would of been condemmed years ago!
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- Brian
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:08:13
Bill -
Yes, I am that Brian, nice to know I have a fan ! We are all entitled to our own opinions, don't hate me, for them! I guess if I'm not on your side, my opinions are meaningless ! You'd still have us crossing the strait, in our ice boats, and driving a horse and buggy, if it was up to you, looks like you were born in the wrong century if you really are in your 30's as you say, then you sure do have a Old Soul ! I mean you are looking for what barn dances in the DS ?? No, I am not moving, I will stay here and fight to make this island a better place for all of us! I have no intention on packing up , and running out west, to become a Patch People , like the rest of these people who post on here everyday from Alberta, if they loved it here so much, they wouldn't of sold their soul for the big bucks of the oil patches! While I am here enjoying my nice summer island breezes, and beaches, you Patch People, won't even be able to get to a beach, by the time that your 65 and wanting to come back, cause they will be all fenced off by the tourist! Maybe they could just take wrecking bar to the DS , and then I will be able to find somewhere downtown, to park, when I go to the bank!
Charlene -
Yes, it is not far from a ghost town, Bill, just better hope that all the banks downtown, don't decide to move uptown, cause yes, then you will really be seeing a ghost town, since there is nothing left downtown but banks, so except for the bank, there is really no reason for anyone to go downtown, now a days!
Anon -
Another one from Alberta, who thinks she knows, everything, when's the last time you were here?? I don't see you, coming home, and investing all those big bucks you've been making back here on the island, and in the downtown core??? Since you seem to think you know every and you are so educated, and the rest of us all ignorant people, as you've said, why don't come back here and run for mayor of the town, and turn it into this Vibrant core, that you speak off ?? Let's see you, do it ! Are you just another Patch People ?
Doug -
Yes, that's what Summerside is, another small town in Canada!!
Down Town -
How long do you give it before we see the Waterfront Mall, as our next large abandon building?? Remember I said it here first!!
Now, is there anybody on this island with a opinion, or it is just people from away writing, here every day, telling us how to live on our own island??
To my fans, I will be continuing on now to the Seal hunt post, if you's all care to follow!! -
- Anon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:55
The heart of every city is the downtown core. Without a strong, vibrant downtown core, a city has nothing. That building was once the centre of Summerside, and with some renovations, it can once again shine. You cannot build new heritage buildings! If you look at cities with the most urban deterioration, they are the ones that neglected the downtown and developed out into the outskirts. One proven cure for urban deterioration is to revitalize the downtown.
I think that Summerside is taking the right steps to spruce up the town with the waterfront development and other projects. In the near future, the town will be attracting business and tourism.
Brian, do you mean humane society or are you making another reference? -
- Down
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:44
I agree that Heritage buildings should be saved and restored to show a communitys past, but how much tax payer dollars should be wasted on buying old buildings, restoring and TRYING to attract new business. Times change and uptown is now the busy area. Most business are not going to set up where there is little public activity and rarely any good parking. Look at the Waterfront mall, it was renovated inside a few years but without a big draw, it continues to lose occupants and its a nice building with lots of parking. Oh well, what can ya do, lets all go to the Dynasty Spa and relax...oh yeah, that flopped too...more then once.
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- Brian
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:40
Hope they didn't pay more ONE dollar for it, the place is unsitely, dangerous, eyesore, and should of just been torn down!
Make way for something new, just more wasted tax paying dollars!
Maybe summerside should of spent that money towards a much needed human society! -
- anon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:39
Us guys in Alberta have a good perspective on why the town needs to be revitalized! The town will never attract anyone or anything if it has no character. It's like Doug said, the town needs to be differentiated in order for people to chose it over any other generic town.
Look around at the healthiest towns and cities, and you will see that they save heritage buildings instead of building new buildings that can be built anywhere. Charlottetown's efforts to save it's character downtown is one reason why they are faring better than Summerside, Sidney, or Glace Bay.
Summerside has waterfront, heritage buildings, and big trees. It is a perfect opportunity to turn the town into a desirable location for investment. Perhaps if you came out to Alberta David, you would realize how valuable those things are instead of them for granted.
And for those of us living away and making these comments, we obviously love Summerside. We might even be able to come back if the town could use its advantages to draw more than call centres, thus giving us the opportunity to follow our career paths.
You will never learn to appreciate what you have until you don't have it any longer!!! -
- anita
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:38
HEY BILL WHAT YEAR IS IT AND WHAT YEAR ARE YOU IN ??????
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- gary
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:31
the building in question has its fait sealed to many years have gone by so many owners none have put any money into fixing it or updating it i do not think the city of s side will invest to much money into a building that will cost millions to update the city will call it progress when they tear it down i fear dominion square will only be a fond memory!!!
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- Brian
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:07:24
Censorship is a form of dictatorship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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- Doug
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:47
I was so disappointed to see the uptown development . Exiting from Route 2 onto Granville Street (I believe) and passing the Dairy Queen, McDonald's, Wendy's, Mall, Strip Mall, and ugly cinema, I felt I was driving into anysmalltown, Canada. It would be such a shame to lose Summerside's downtown core with its historical buildings, waterfront, and history of shipbuilding and foxing. A friend who visited Summerside a couple of years back said it seemed like the poor version of Charlottetown ... I used to pride myself so much of Summerside over Charlottetown... now I find it hard to defend anything about Summerside.
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- Bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:41
When I see the great old photos of Summerside in the early nineteen hundreds, when this was a thriving, vibrant community, the Dominion Square is often figured prominently. To me, the DS IS Summerside. I can't think of another building here that makes me think of home so surely. It is not a sad, old run-down eyesore, it is a stately symbol of our (former) spirit & our great past. I think anything that can be done to keep this building is worth it. Our uptown could be any crap town's uptown, but our downtown is OURS & the DS is it's most prominent character.
I fear its days are numbered now tho'. There is a growing bile in this town for anything old or of the past, an immature value for things new & sleek & decidedly NOT Summerside. The Albertan understands how special the DS is because he/she has experienced a township where no such dignified buildings stand. Where no such buildings stand, no such people live. Brian, if you are the same Brian I see plastering these Journal comments with your self-hatred . . . why don't you move? Not until this town looks like a fabricated fast-food restaurant haven will your type be happy. You want the appearance of success & community only, not the real deal. & the attitude you spew on these comments shows how empty & cheap your own values & concepts of community are.
I would give my left foot to attend a movie at the old Capitol Theatre again. Not ONCE have I had half the experience seeing a movie at the gaudy, fabricated overpriced monolith we have uptown, not ONCE.
Brian & his type are winning tho' because we have a mayor & a council who think just like he does.
Wanna know one reason the downtown core is failing? Because the handful of people who own the buildings & who have paid for them I don't know how many times over WILL NOT lower the rents for aspiring entrepeneurs. I think it is in their plan to let the downtown die so they can make more money in redevelopment.
Life is meaningless without family, friends, community, identity. The Dominion Square is part of my identity & sense of community, I think we should designate it a landmark & hold old-fashioned community dances & social events there.
God Bless the Dominion Square!! -
- Down
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:36
I agree with you for the business that needs to be brought here Anon and Summerside does have to get off of the call center jobs and tourism ideas, those are not what will really help the city prosper. But we are an island and Canada's smallest province, for many production companies it would not make sense to set up here as the island would not provide a big market and everything else would have to be trucked elsewhere. Yes some production business' have been sucessful here but only so many would last. Dont get me wrong tho, I hope that downtown Summerside will come back to life in its own unique way. Good to our leaders and politicains and who ever else on finding the right way to do it
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- Down
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:20
I agree with different things that different people have said. I will not be shocked to see downtown as a ghost town. Like Brian said, there really are only banks around DS. Anything else on that stretch of street people can find elsewhere with better parking and closer to other business' they require to go to. If a large production company was to be landed in the DS building, where would they park? there is limited parking behind and next to none on Water Street. Maybe a few more parking spaces downtown would help the few business' there as this day an age most people go for conveniance. And Summerside doesnt need anymore big condo ideas that most of the people cannot afford and who dont want to live on the top floor of some old building. You can buy a darn nice home with your very own yard for 1/2 the price or less that the Journal Pioneer building condos are going for. Same opinion for the Waterfront Mall condos ideas. Good Luck filling them if that even ever happens, which i dont expect to see.
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- Gman
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:17
Too many things are being attempted by too few who know too little....The Summerside Market which should have been a gem on the waterfront looks like some sort of junky flea market...Someone with some foresight and planning needs to be in on making some plans...
Unfortunately...most of those people have already left for better prospects...Take the ideas from what has worked elsewhere and put them into action...Freeport Maine is an excellent example of a quaint successful renovation. -
- Josh
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:08
That building is reconized nationally as a heritage building. Therefore it would be illegal to just Bulldoze and build something else. I also dont understand why people think that doing that would save money. It would be a heck of alot cheaper to renovate it then to replace it. Reason being you cant just go bulldoze it because its so old. Look at the way they torn down cahill stadium. That building would be simple to take down compared to the Holman Building and the price for the demolition and the lobby expanion was almost 2 million. If you are going to get ride of a building downtown get rid of one of those little houses beside it or something like that.
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- Crazy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:06:07
Bulldoze it and build a seal pelting facility.
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- Anon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:27
Bill, I'll tell you what I think the problem is. When I was growing up on the Island, I always wanted what everyobne else had and we didn't have. Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Taco Bell, 7-11, and all of the the big chains. After coming out here and having access to that stuff, I realize that it is a bunch of crap. I think that there are still people who think like that.
You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that people equate those things, and big new buildings with success. With an education and experience though, I have learned that it is quite the opposite. All of the money in the town goes to the far away owners of these businesses and the town becomes progressively poorer.
Down Town, I agree with you about the lack of amenities for production businesses. What I envision are research firms, schools/training centres, small corporate offices. I think that Summerside can attract these people for quality of life and good real estate prices. They are not bound by shipping restrictions, and a small local market. They can bring new people in town, and jobs.
Bill, don't let the ignorant people get you down, they cannot even make a valid point, or any point at all. -
- david
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:16
KNOCK that old building down cheaper to build anew one than fix that old run down building with the pigeons flying out of the top floor!! for you guys in alberta its easy to tell us what to do if you loved it so much pei you would have never left when was the last time you were here 1950s it sounds like
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- Susan
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:11
This building is a heritage building and every effort should be made to restore it to its former glory.
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- brian r
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:06
I would agree with you 100% bill. Dominion Square it a beautiful building with lots of charactor, and it would be a shame to see anything bad happen to it. Its too bad that some people in our community dont recognise the importance of historical properties such as this.
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- anon
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:04:44
Down Town from S'side, you make a great point about the Waterfront Mall. But trying to attract retailers will be a failure when there is not enough money in the town.
What Summerside needs to attract are businesses that produce instead of sell. That is the only way to bring in more money, because retail just takes money.
I know that Dynasty Spa was also a failure, but once again, that is the town stuck on the tourism idea. It needs to be a desirable place to live in order for a company to want to have it's employees living there. What S'side attracts now are call centres looking for cheap labour, not corporate offices.
Oregon is a great example of a state that has marketed itself to attract the right business by selling there quality of life and natural surroundings.
Down Town, your point is well demonstrated, and I think it shows that the target crowd and business S'side is (or atleast was) trying to attract needs to be changed. -
- Charlene
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:04:20
I agree with Susan, it is a heritage building. I remember when the down town was busy with people going shopping and meeting people on the street for a chat. The downtown was a great place now it looks like a ghost town. They restored the old Smallmans/Woolworth buildings why not this one. Summerside is a great city and should make sure the heritage buildings are restored. Living in Canmore I have seen more older buildings and homes torn down and it is really sad, all that history gone and something else put up becasue another persons wants to make the big bucks in real estate. If the building can be used for apartments, and other businesses then it should be.
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- Sside Res
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:04:03
Bill Blake you are right on. The others just don't get it and probably never will. And to Wheatley that made the comment about Freeport Maine. I think that is brilliant. I travel to Freeport and Kittery ME and North Conway, NH annually and I have always said Summerside could follow in the footsteps of these towns. Every one is beautifully landscaped, and is full of Character. The kind of character the DS building already has. There are many small streets in the area that could be turned into a cobble stone street. Throw some cafe's up where you can sit and have a coffee outdoors. I think the City has to try and bring shops that have quality items. And even though they are commercial some quality brand name outlet shops with good prices to anchor the smaller shops. The B rate stores that are scattered around the malls and city don't cut it. I don't shop in Summerside. I want to but I have to travel to Chtown or Moncton or like I said the states annually to find anything I like or that is in style in 2007. A lot of people I know do the same thing. So to council instead of forking out money to send yourselves across Canada to try and convince a Major Junior franchise or try and bring a softball tournament here, take a trip to the new england states and take some notes.
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- Right On Bill Blake
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:03:30
Billy o'l boy, you made some very valid points!! That's all I can say!
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- Bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:03:22
HEY ANITA, I THINK THE YEAR IS 2007 . . . I DIDN'T REALIZE COMMUNITY/CULTURE WAS AN OLD-FASHIONED VALUE. Maybe you can address the issues I brought up instead of bold lettered responses that don't actually say anything. What you probably can't comprehend is that a building like the Dominion Square is an asset to the aesthetic (beauty) quality of our town . . . what you may not also understand is that it is the kind of building that tourists want to see . . . not the same prefab steel structures that probably litter their own towns/cities. I'm in my early 30s, I'm not old & out of date. I know what is important in life, do you?
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- Sside Res
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:48
Another quick comment I want to make is regarding this water front mall condo development . That whole concept makes no sense at all. Who is going to live there? Its time the Summerside group that allows these things to happen stop looking at the dollars and think about what is good for the city. Remember the spa that was taken over by a new owner just within the last few years. Hows that going? How many times do we have to see a big media blitz about investor groups from other countries swooping in and saving the day and then when the dust settles nothing has happened. People have to realize the only reason these groups invest in our area is because the federal government has a plan in place where if foreigners invest money into canadian cities they automatically get a Canadian visa and the federal government actually pays them back a large percentage of what they invested. (read about it on the Canadian Government website) They end up happy because they get a highly coveted Canadian visa and get a large portion of their money back. They could care less how their investment does. So where were the investors from for the Spa? Oh yeah China. Where were the investors from for the waterfront mall condo? Oh yeah Ireland. .....
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- Bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:39
Brian sure does like his commas!
I didn't mean we should have barn dances at the Dominion Square, i meant it could be a great community building where such things as dances & social get-togethers could possibly be held . . . Summerside really needs to work on its community i think . . . there really is no place here to go & meet your neighbours & to get out of the house away from the TV & do something. Sside Res, you are so correct in your appraisal of Sside's potential & the situation with the condos & etc. What too many people here don't understand is that we are actually a pretty small town, we do not have the population for big condo projects or 11 story hotels. These projects are so unrealistic & insane you have to shake your head to understand why they'd even be considered here! We have something really special in terms of our historical downtown & community . . . it is far more special than grandiose, unrealistic construction projects. There is no vision in our town leaders. They are leading us down a dead end street. -
- Brian
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:30
WAY to go!
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- Bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:24
Brian: you've officially lost it!! :)
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- Doug
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:19
Summerside used to have an amazing downtown (even as late as the mid-90s). For whatever reason, the uptown area and its ugly urban sprawl took over... to the point that Summerside (= uptown) can no longer be differentiated from any other ugly small town in the rest of Canada. Don't make the mistake of getting rid of the Dominion Square building, the downtown heritage area can still be revitalized and give Summerside back what has made it unique and cool...
