At least two local businesses are being negatively impacted by construction delays at a shopping plaza that have prevented them from fully opening their doors, or even opening them at all.
A city notice posted on the 10 Western Ave. plaza states the building is in contravention of the Building Code Act as a building permit was needed to continue construction by May 3.
Business owner YJ Hong-McParland signed a lease agreement in October 2021 with the property owner’s assurance construction would be completed on her unit and she would be able to operate her business by Jan. 1.
Hong-McParland, owner of YJDanceFit, was seeking a larger space to operate her business, which offers various fitness and dance classes, but she has not been able to run her business out of the space she leased.
“When I signed the contract, he said it will be done before Christmas, so you have enough time to set up your equipment, and good to start on Jan. 1,” Hong-McParland told OrilliaMatters. “After Christmas, I checked my unit. Still exactly what I saw (before) — nothing.”
She said some renovations took place in March, but the unit she rented is still not ready. She ultimately ended her lease and got her deposit back on April 29, nearly four months after she was told the unit would be ready. She currently has no space in which to run her business.
“Everybody is (slowly getting) back to their lives, exercising and doing … a routine,” she said. “I cannot do it. I cannot offer it and if people email me, message me, ‘When are you going to open your studio?’ I have no word. But it's not my fault. I just feel suppressed.”
She hopes to be able to open for business again this summer.
Tamara Ironside, owner of e-bike business Ironside E Motors, is able to run her business out of her unit, which is more business-ready than the space Hong-McParland had leased. However, she said her unit is fraught with issues that have prevented her from getting her business fully off the ground.
In a similar situation as Hong-McParland, Ironside was told her unit would be fully ready by Dec. 1, 2021.
“The HVAC system hasn’t been installed. The hot water hasn’t been installed. We’ve got the hot water tank, but they haven’t fixed that or replaced it,” Ironside said. “They haven’t finished doing any of the renovations and stuff that is supposed to have been done.”
“There’s no electrical on the outside, either, so we’re not allowed to put our board out there. A lot of people don’t know we’re here.”
Ironside said her business has been penalized by her insurance provider as the space is not up to code.
“When our insurance company comes in and does their walk around, and notices that the windows aren’t completed, the doors still are not safe, we still have no hot water or no heat, we get penalized,” she said. “We have to pay $55 for every time they come in here to do their inspection.”
She has little faith the construction on the building will be completed anytime soon.
“He told us in October, when we signed it, that it would be done for Dec. 1. Here it is in May and still nothing’s completed, and we keep getting the same excuses: ‘I’ll get there, I’ll get there,’” she said. “And every time you call them, it’s the same thing — you get a recording, or you can call the real estate agent.”
City officials said they are still awaiting a permit application from the property owner.
“When the building inspector visited the site, all units except one unit were in some state of renovation,” said chief building official Kelly Smith in a statement. “The type of renovation occurring required a building permit. Construction work has ceased and we are awaiting a permit application. Once a permit is issued, inspections will need to be completed and the work passed before tenants can move in.”
The realtor and property owner of 10 Western Ave. declined to comment for this story.
