Plans for a local food co-op on Booth Street have fallen through, lead development partners say.
“It’s not going to work out because the property is in quite a state of disrepair,” says Heather Hossie of Just Food in Ottawa, a non-profit group that had hoped to transform a former Loeb building into the new project.
In February, the board of the Somerset West Community Centre approved a plan to turn the building into a food co-op, but high renovation costs have now put the project on hold, says Hossie.
After touring the buildings in the spring, Hossie says her organization realized it could not finance the bill for fixing up the crumbling building. Right now she says she’s waiting for a business partner to come forward.
"We won't proceed without a business plan," she says.
Just Food now plans to raise additional money. But, until additional funds are found the project is on hold, says Hossie.
“Essentially we have applied for funds and we’re waiting for a response,” says Gene Williams of Somerset West Community Centre.
But any food co-op in the Dalhousie area will be in a different location.