By Elizabeth Bowie
A handful of new high-tech companies are choosing to set up shop in Centretown instead of Kanata, since being downtown is more attractive and convenient for younger employees.
Coast Software is one of those companies. The new business opened on Gloucester Street with 25 employees in late October.
Jacqueline Geoffrey, director of marketing and communications, says the company was drawn to the area because of its energy and many resources, such as couriers, print shops and post offices all within walking distance.
“If you walk out the front door here and go up the street, there are a lot of people, little boutiques and restaurants,” she says.
“You don’t get any of that in Kanata. There, you go out and get in your car to go somewhere.”
Coast creates software that tests the performance of Web sites by scanning for broken links and reporting them so the site can be can fixed and operate at maximum capacity.
Geoffrey says the accessibility of the Centretown location has proven to be an advantage when hiring new staff.
“It’s an edge for us when trying to hire people. To be able to offer prospective employees to be downtown is unusual,” she says.
Ross Laver, director of online community development for e-smith, inc., agrees.
E-smith, which creates software that provides simple network servers for small businesses, has occupied office space on Metcalfe Street since April 2000.
Laver says it was a lifestyle decision to locate e-smith in Centretown. He says many of their employees are young and single so they prefer to live and work downtown.
“There is just more to do here,” says Laver.
Both companies say they didn’t intentionally choose Centretown over the Byward Market, which is also attracting young high-tech companies, but that it was simply easier to find office space in Centretown.Gerry LePage, executive director of the Bank Street Business Improvement Area, says the Byward Market has no room for growth and companies now seeking office space are turning to Centretown.
“The fact is we just simply have more space available,” he says. “Centretown is the last frontier in a sense.”
Somerset Ward city councillor Elisabeth Arnold says municipal initiatives, such as the Downtown Revitalization Action Plan, are encouraging companies to settle in Centretown.
Under the plan, any new building in Centretown, commercial or residential, is exempted by the city from all building fees.
“It makes it much less costly for companies to build,” says Arnold.
Arnold says the plan has been successful in drawing companies to the area. “It’s doing what we wanted it to do, which is give that added incentive,” she says.
LePage says he expects to see more high-tech companies moving to the area in the future.
“This is all part of the evolution of Centretown, and now Centretown is being built out,” he says.