After several months of non-stop beating the drum and paying the piper for a proposed Gibsons Public Market in the former yacht club in Lower Gibsons, Gerry Zipursky, one of four prime proponents of the proposal, is taking the project to the next level.
For the past seven months, Zipursky, his wife Nancy and Nick and Linda Sonntag have worked tirelessly to champion the market. They've invested both money in non-refundable deposits and thousands of hours meeting with more than 300 community business and residential owners on the Sunshine Coast. Now they are actively seeking at least another $250,000 to bring the project forward.
"We [the principals] don't have deep developer pockets. We believe in building community. It's all about community engagement," Zipursky said.
The market is a concept based loosely on the highly successful Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver. The idea is already gaining favour with a lot of heavy hitters in our community.
For starters, Brian Smith, executive director of Community Futures of the Sunshine Coast, and the entire board of directors of the organization are behind this project. On June 26 they will be deciding whether to buy into the property to make the dream a reality.
Right now the biggest holdbacks on the approval are parking, a detailed business plan and other sources of financial support.
Parking has always been a bone of contention in the area. To that end Zipursky and his partners have approached the Town of Gibsons to find alternative parking. Past attempts by other owners of the building to obtain parking from a neighbouring source have been unsuccessful.
On June 18 a Gibsons council resolution charging staff to "identify options to secure parking opportunities for the proposed Gibsons Public Market" will be on the regular council meeting agenda.
"Sadly, the former yacht club building has sat unused for several years. It once was a thriving hub of community activity. Gibsons town council fully supports the efforts of some local residents to revive the premises as the core of a year-round public market. To this end council has requested staff to examine and provide options to overcome the issue of parking so that it does not create a barrier to the redevelopment of this prime property," Gibsons Mayor Wayne Rowe told Coast Reporter in an email.
Smith is optimistic on the future of a public market in that spot. He sees the building as one that could bring commercial and social enterprise together.
"Community Futures is always interested in under-utilized assets in a community. The former yacht club is one. We can help to leverage the assets. Gerry and Nick have put their own skin in the project already," Smith said.
While there has been some modest investment by Community Futures so far, the support will ramp up if other community support is evident.
To that end meetings have been held between the organization and key employees at the Town of Gibsons. And while all the players in the market realize there is no taxpayer money to be had for the project (nor have they asked for any) the Town's support is helping add cachet to the project.
Now with the new addition to the Gibsons Harbour and several proposed developments in the area, both Smith and Zipursky see the market as a natural enhancement for Lower Gibsons.
An architectural drawing of the proposed market shows three floors available for rent. The latest group on the Coast, FUSE, is interested in renting the entire top floor. Zipursky sees a potential for retailers such as produce suppliers (the area has been without a grocery store for many years), fish and seafood - locally caught being the preference - plus cheese and other foodstuffs to occupy a fair bit of the building. Other enticing prospects include a wine bar and coffee shop or restaurant.
The space could also appeal to community groups for meetings as well as provide a venue for community celebrations. Educational presentation space focusing on West Coast natural resources including water and marine life are other ideas being floated.
The construction is estimated to cost about $2 million and Zipursky sees that as a boon to local contractors and trades people. He estimates about 15 vendor operations once the market is complete which could supply 30 or more part and full-time jobs.
For more information, check the website www.gibsonspublicmarket.com or call Zipursky at 604-886-6664.
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