Mill Island moves into second phase of development

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Although delayed by a month, Mill Island Development is now ready to move ahead to the next phase of the multi-million dollar project.

The grand opening for the high-end retail and condo complex was slated originally for the end of summer, early fall, but project co-coordinator Cathy Cox says they will need a few more months to get everything up and running.

She says the delay was caused by complications designing an appropriate heating system for such a large structure. However, “the final construction phase is now on.”

The massive roof reconstruction is complete and new water mains, pipes and windows have been installed. One small section of the original building will be torn down for safety reasons and rebuilt using the original brick. The yard is being leveled in preparation for paving.

“The building is starting to look less ramshackle, it's showing its potential,” Cox said. “Once the esthetics are dealt with it’ll be just what we dreamed of.”

And she says there has been no difficulty selling the enterprise. “People who have vision come in and can recognize what this will be. They understand market and real estate trends and know Mill Island will be a high profit investment,” she said.

Wealth of architectural detail

Inside the former mill all 75,000 square feet has been gutted, leaving behind a wealth of architectural detail that Cox says they want to maintain as much as possible. “It’s wonderful to see it taking shape. We're ready now to begin working on the interior layout and design.”

On the upper levels, Cox confirms purchase agreements have been made for six of the 15 available condos and they have partnered with Argyle Fine Arts in Halifax to create the second floor art gallery.

The main level will house restaurants, a pub called the “Green Man” and various shops as well as an open organic market. Cox says they've had no trouble finding vendors.

In fact, just the opposite; they've had to turn some businesses away. “We've had a lot of interest, but at the same time we only want those that will fit the mode we’re trying to promote here,” she said.

She did reveal a few of the merchants ready to hang their sign, including an Aveda Salon, Jade Skin Care, and a gourmet pizzeria, Tomaso's . The Swiss Chocoliatier that was one of the first shops to lease space is still on board, but Just us Coffee is no longer in the works.

There will also be a book shop, but Cox wasn’t prepared to reveal the name just yet. However, she did say it will be the sister store to a successful business in Halifax.

Something different to offer

As for the open-plan market, there are still some spaces available and Cox says they’re committed to selling local produce as much as possible. The plan is to provide kiosks for local businesses to sell their wares, but Cox said nothing has been finalized. “They all have something different to offer and it’s just a matter of amalgamating them together in such a large space.”

Cox said they’re still looking for restaurant ideas and there are still some spaces to be filled. “I field calls all the time and we're close to filling all the spaces for lease.”

Now that the project is almost complete, Cox said everyone involved is excited to see the end result. “This is going to be wonderful for everyone in Windsor. It has been a great ride.”