Mixed reaction to proposed Wade Road project



Truro and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tim Tucker hopes the idea of a new shopping/office centre on Wade Road will become reality. Tucker said new development will keep people shopping locally, including in the downtown. Monique Chiasson - Truro Daily News

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tim Tucker hopes the idea of a new shopping/office centre on Wade Road will become reality. Tucker said new development will keep people shopping locally, including in the downtown. Monique...

Published on September 13, 2011
Published on September 13, 2011
Monique Chiasson  RSS Feed

Chamber says development is good news, but others disagree

Topics :
Truro and District Chamber of Commerce , Truro Daily News , Seashell Design , TRURO , Wade Road , Moncton

TRURO - The possibility of a new shopping and office centre in Truro is receiving mixed reaction among the public and business community.

Tim Tucker, executive director of the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce, believes a three-storey development across from Kent Building Supplies on Wade Road is good news for the area.

"Any project like this is good. It creates local jobs, consumers have more choices and more people will stay here to shop," Tucker told the Truro Daily News of the "miniature" Dartmouth Crossing project that's being discussed by the town and county.

"There may be a few people who see it as competition but if we can draw more people in from the highway that's good."

Inglis Jewellers manager Will Dunn agrees.

"Anything new to the area is a bonus. It means more shoppers and more people to the area ... Truro is definitely not moving backwards," said Dunn.

The owner of another downtown business, Shelley Austin of Seashell Design, said the potential of the Wade Road development is not good news.

"I don't like it. The big stores buy big volumes and sell for low prices and it could potentially put other stores out of business," said Austin, adding Truro has "a vibrant downtown and independent stores."

Austin does, however, see a benefit to the miniature Dartmouth Crossing potentially coming to town.

"A lot of people go to Dartmouth Crossing now so it may keep them here."

Consumers were also voicing mixed emotions.

Truro's Bethany Devouge thinks the idea is a good one.

"There's not a lot in Truro and I have to go to the city," Devouge said, adding she also shops in Moncton and Maine.

Paul Clark, also of Truro, believes a new venture would create hardship for current businesses.

"I think it would be competition, mostly in the downtown. Some stores are hardly open now," Clark said.

mchiasson@trurodaily.com

 

Comments

  • Username
    alanna
    - September 20, 2011 at 08:24:33

    this is amazing news !!!!! just the job oppurtunitys excite me !! and new stores ? thats great ! would love to see a garage , american eagle or aero postale . so i wont have to wait for a halifax trip just for decent clothes . maybe truro will be worth staying in now :)

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Kris
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:35:31

    Would love to see more shopping in Truro!! I always drive to Dartmouth for any type of shopping and to have more local choices would be amazing!! Margolians is way to expensive and hard to find things and get around in. You can't even bring in a stroller. There is nothing else downtown really except some stores seniors shop in!! Bring it on!!! Lets make the hub more modern!!!

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Tyler
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:35:09

    Please do this truro. New hospital, New civic centre, new cougar dome athletic facility, the potentially new marionette theatre, the ever growing marigold centre (which if at all possible should probably expand) and now a shopping centre. Please do it. I'm a young university student studying outside of the country. I've never entertained the idea to come back to Truro. The civic centre and hospital were the only plusses. All of the recent news since I've started studying have been doing a fantastic job at trying to get me to come back.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    jamie
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:33:25

    I am from truro and i moved to dartmouth 4 years ago and currently work in dartmouth crossing in one of those ( big box stores ) . Im one of many people from truro that work in dartmouth crossing because truro has nothing . So yes that would be a benefit to truro to have larger volume stores. Margolians have had the same 20 percent off sale since i went to truro junior high in 1992. Time to drop prices or please go out of business ,. its one of the last down town eye sores anyway . If you want people to stop going to dartmouth / halifax to shop . Time to bring business to truro...........

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Ray Kinsella
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:33:05

    If you built it they will come. (or stay). It is time!!. Truro is a fantastic place. It's downtown reminds me of Freeport Maine. Why can't we do that here. Just think. People traveling to Truro to stay and shop. It could be a destination instead of a drive by. The hotels could be full, the restaurants, hopping. Time to think outside "the Box" stores. Outlets is the answer. Heck we could even get Stanfield's involved. Imagine part of that fantastic old Mill redone as a shopping area. How cool would that be. Maybe a restaurant or 2 in the Stanfield's Mill along/over the river. Walkways, little outlet shops all the way between Standfield's and the down town. Perfect. If you build it, they will come!!!

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Richard and Esther Provencher
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:32:39

    I agree with Karen's comments. Rents are far too expensive for a little town like Truro. Some say it's because of the Halifax folks coming here and they think rents were low. Well they are climbing pretty high now. $1015. on the average for new two bedroom apartments is atrocious. Edmonton has many apartments cheaper than that. My grandson payed $600 per month for a beautiful one bedroom in downtown Edmonton recently and his apartment was larger than my two bedroom. Unfortunately when people are stuck for living somewhere they are forced to take a very large chunk out of their CPP-OAS monthly income.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Toby
    - September 15, 2011 at 08:31:29

    Look around you people at other towns..they ARE growing. For instance New Glasgow!!! Oh my.....business are going right past our hometown & we have to travel to New Glasgow or Halifax to shop. We need to grow as a town..we are falling behind here. If you want people to shop here, bring the businesses to Truro, Keep us shopping in our own hometown & spend money here !!!!

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    WANT TO SHOP IN TRURO
    - September 14, 2011 at 14:32:41

    Why not? What is it going to hurt bringing some more shopping to Truro. If it is indeed going to be a Dartmouth Crossing type shopping experience, not all of those stores are the big box stores. There are lots of stores in Dartmouth Crossing that are owned independently. There will be always be your chain stores. It's just a fact of life and it will continue to be difficult for the "little guy". It has been for years. Everyone thought Walmart would wipe out everybody but there are still lots of great stores open and doing well. A few extra stores in Truro is not going to be the demise of every single specialty shop. As far as Margolians goes, yes it is a good store but Margolians needs to do 2 things in order to get me to shop there. 1. Better customer service. Everytime I have gone in there nobody has ever come and asked me if I needed any help. I basically have to flag them down like I'm bringing in a 747. Unacceptable 2. Yes they have had the same 15-30% sale for the past 4 years, but there prices are still way to expensive. No wonder people shop at Walmart, Zellers, Joe Fresh etc. Just my opinion. So, what I am trying to get at is bring on the stores. Truro needs it and I think the majority of the people want it. With the price of fuel going up and up and up, it would be a great way for people to save money and to shop in Truro. We are the "Hub of Nova Scotia". Let's build on that!!

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Jay
    - September 14, 2011 at 14:11:10

    The only thing that concerns me is the stores that would open with this development. Truro is not even close to being big enough to have any decent stores open. People will continue to shop in Halifax for the big name stores. I can see Future Shop and Boston Pizza coming to Truro soon though, and this may be the perfect area for those stores. And of course Mic Mac Mall has more than the Truro Mall, Truro is almost 40 times smaller than Halifax. How can we possibly expect to have the same stores? Halifax is very far ahead of any other place in Atlantic Canada for shopping, and our only hope here is that we get the stores that we should have had years ago (BP, FS). I suspect that we will see a Boston Pizza and Future Shop open in Truro soon, but as for the rest of the 24 stores in this development, I am going to be realistic and not expect too much. But who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Jason
    - September 14, 2011 at 14:10:43

    I think it's a great idea. Truro needs more options. I do however think that biggest drawback will be the locals of Truro are so resistant to change, that once it's built I give it 5 years max before you start to see these stores close do to lack of sales. Hopefully it's done right. *Karen - 800$ for a double bedroom unit is a fare price anywhere in the world... and I'm assuming it comes with heat and hot water as well.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    PJ
    - September 14, 2011 at 10:42:21

    The additional shopping options are wonderful. The big problem is the location. The idea of putting the new Civic Centre in front of the hospital was truly inane. Imaging getting to the hospital as a big event lets out. Now to add a major shopping area at that same intersection will compound the problem and cause major traffic gridlock for all. Unless another entry/egress arrangement is found, welcome to big city traffic blockage. One of the few access roads into downtown will be clogged with autos. Good idea, poor location selection.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    krista
    - September 14, 2011 at 09:54:44

    It is about time that some decent shopping comes to Truro and the surrounding area. All you have to do is go anywhere else and you can see what Truro is missing..Bridgewater has a 'no frills', New Glasgow has a future shop...New Minas has way better shopping than here! As for the comments that downtown will suffer..I don't think so. Those that shop there now will continue to do so. Those type of stores cater to a specific type of customer (nothing wrong with that) who don't typically shop at other big box stores. Who knows? If Truro becomes a shopping mecca again, it may help the downtown some. Bring on mor stores!!!

    Submit a Comment

    • Username
      pictou county resident
      - September 14, 2011 at 10:43:11

      Actually you do have decent shopping in Truro.... Margolians Department Store is one of the last remaining independent department stores of this sort left in Canada. And it's a true gem. My family tries to buy all their clothes there and avoid the temptation of the big box outlets in Dartmouth Crossing, or in North Conway or Kittery or Freeport down in the states. Keep the dollars local.

  • Username
    BJ
    - September 14, 2011 at 08:33:33

    It is about time that someone has thought about this type of shopping. Truro and surrounding area needs to come with the times, sorry Truro it is time to wake up, you are losing out, living in South Colchester I have been shopping in Halifax,Dartmouth areas for years. Truro's prices are higher than in HRM and New Glasgow. When you talk hardware stores they have cut back on in stock items, so you have to order item 2 - 6 weeks order time. These types of stores have alot of items in stock in HRM and New Glasgow. Wake up and take the opportunity to grow...

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    chief wiggam
    - September 14, 2011 at 08:33:19

    terrible news for down town.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Darrin
    - September 14, 2011 at 08:33:12

    The Downtown has next to nothing to offer the average shopper. And as far as the, "We have it all at the Truro Mall" pitch - please!! Really??! If you consider a food court that has the same appeal as the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park then absolutely, you have it all. I jest. Good lord, one only has to take a stroll through the Mic Mac Mall and you can see everything Truro is lacking in choices. That is precisely why people choose to shop there and not here. I've grown very tired of these people who are so resistant to change and scramble for the kill switch before a new idea even hits the table! It's time to shout these people down folks. To pass on the opportunity to bring more employment to the locals plus a big draw for out of town shoppers would be totally asinine! Truro has a tonne of potential and its about time we tapped in to it. I say bring it on!!

    Submit a Comment

    • Username
      Karen
      - September 14, 2011 at 09:52:51

      I 150% agree with you Darrin and BJ.Truro has nothing,all it is ,is a huge senior citizen hole with huge prices.Everything is so much higher here in Truro including apartment rents .I honestly have no idea how they even are able to rent apartments here the rent is so outrageously highAll the half decent apartments are over the 800.00 a month category and its not fair.I as a single working mother raising a teenager all alone finds it so hard. We need more jobs out there.So it is wonderful news that Truro is hoping to expand the retail market.I was also told that there would be a Boston Pizza moving in to Truro within the next couple of years so that would be an ideal spot for them to come to what with the new hospital and civic centre opening soon.Bring it on Truro,bring it on and I hope that anyone reading this who owns apartment buildings considers what I have said.

Submit a Comment

Submit a Comment

This form is NOT used for emailing the article to a friend. Please use the "Send to a friend" link at the top of the page for that purpose.

Truro Daily News is not responsible for posted comments. Please be polite and confine your comments to the subject of the posted story. If you have an account, please sign on to it..

(we keep all emails private)
Agreement

We ask that users remain courteous. You may not post insulting, discriminatory or inappropriate content, which may be removed at our discretion. We are not responsible for user content and opinions. Use of this site as well as content submission & ownership are governed by our Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.

Member organizations should be non-profit in nature, and promote legal activities. Any organization found promoting illegal activities or commercial products or services will be deleted from the site.

I agree with these conditions.

Advertising

More

Ad Finder
And you can also view our great discount COUPONS here
SmartEdition logo smart
loading...

Click here to read the latest issue!
loading...

Advertising