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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-03-03, Page 2424 Exeter Timw.Aiwcaes Wednesday, March 3, 1999 Business Ont. Development Corporation satisfied with Huron Park By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF . 1 ORONTO According to the people in charge of Huron Park, the park k s thriv- ing. Thirty years after the Centralia RCAF Station closed and the 767 -acre site was transformed into Huron Park by the Ontario Development Corporation (ODC), the park now holds, accord- ing to property manager Robert Matteo, 27 sub- stantial businesses and five smaller businesses. Matteo estimates close to 500 people are employed at Huron Park. With only five per cent vacancy in the park's commercial side and 2-3 per cent vacancy in the residential side, ODC director of operations Peter Spik said, "I'm delighted with tate park's performance." ODC' owns and man- ages the park on behalf of the province and leas- es the buildings out to businesses. Matteo said the park is doing well despite one clear disadvantage — location. Many businesses, Matteo-said, prefer to be close to the 401, where .they can save on truck- ing costs. And while Huron Park can offer businesses, according to Matteo, a "captive sup- ply of labour" and lower taxes than areas close to the 401, some major corporations can't be tempted to move to Huron Park. Still, because Huron Park was an air forces base, its large build- ings are beneficial to compa- nies like the Bluewater Recycling Association, Saf-T-Cab and PH Composites, all of which need large areas. And Matteo added some businesses are attracted to Huron Park because, although they prefer to be ;closer to the 401, London isn't that far. Matteo remarked the success of the park fluc- tuates with the highs and lows of the real estate markets. He said the park's peak in occu- pancy and success was when Centralia College was open. When the school closed in 1994 it hurt business and the park still hasn't fully recov- ered, according to Matteo. He said the most diffi- cult buildings to keep occupied are Bruce Hall (which is now vacant) and Huron and Middlesex Halls, which include classrooms and residences. In addition to industry at Huron Park, the ODC owns the park's houses, which used to be the homes of RCAF person - 'he houses, Jut 45 years ,id, are leased out to residents and maintained by the ODC. Matteo said the ODC is constant- , ly renovating the homes, adding new furnaces, roofs, walls and siding. There are over 300 houses in the park and Matteo described them as being in good shape. The airport at Huron Park is doing well, according to Matteo, with Crown Phoenix Aviation moving into Huron Park in February, 1998 and experiencing steady growth. Other core tenants in Huron Park are the Bluewater Recycling Association, Markel Training System, PH Composite and Exeter Machine Products (EMP). EMP, Matteo said, is an example of a company that was strug- gling a few years ago "I'm delighted with the park's performance." — PETER SP1K DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION • but has recovered. Matteo, who works out of Toronto, visits the park about twice a week and is responsible for budgets, lease agree- ments and dealing with complaints from resi- dents. He said his 10 years at the park have been challenging and inter- esting because he has had to deal with differ- ent types of companies and be creative with leases. And• while there is some vacancy in the park, Matteo said the • ODC typically doesn't advertise. Instead, most clients come to the park through referrals. Matteo credits the staff of 12 at the ODC in lluron Park who operate theapark daily, Spik has been director of operations for the ODC for two years, although he only recent- ly became involved with Huron Park. He said the ODC has gradually been winding down opera- tions since 1996 and has gone from a staff of 200 down to 20. He said the govern - Ment still hasn't decided what to do with its industrial parks :(the ODC also operates the Ottawa Life Science Technology Park) but Spik said for „ow it's business as usual for Fluron Park. See next week's T -A Cor more on Huron Park and its business- es Business Directory AUCTIONEER • • grAstidoir, FULLY LICENSED & SONDEM, CALL OR FAX (519) 666-0833 Pick up and sales of complete or partial estates. Specializing In Farm, Real Estate, and Genera Sales. Serving the community and area for over 40 years. REPAIRS • Huron Park now has a five per cent vacancy rate in its industrial sector. Property manager Robert Matteo said the park still hasn't fully recovered from the dos- ing of Centralia College in 1994. Chamber of Commerceelects directors at first meeting By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — It's official — Exeter now has a Chamber of Commerce. The Exeter and District Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting Feb. 23 at the Ranch House Inn and elected its directors. Elected as the Chamber's directors were: Hugh McMaster, F r a, n k Zawalsky, Bill Dinney, Karen, 13 r o w n , Richard Marier., Ellen Holland, Marianne Benson, Karin Zehetner, George Godbolt, Paul Ciufo, Tom Burke and Tony DeBoer. The directors will elect the Chamber's executive committee at a future meeting. , The Chamber's inau- gural meeting officially ended the duties of the steering committee, which was formed in October. Hugh McMaster, president of the steering committee, said the committee's work had "progressed very, very well," and said the Chamber's two main objectives over the next year will be to mar- ket the image of Exeter and to form an industrial committee to promote industry in the area. Chairman of the finance committee Bill Dinney said the Chamber now has 37 paid mem- bers, with 15 more say- ing they will join. He predicted the Chamber will have 100 members by the end of the year and said there should eventually be 200 members. Paul Ciufo, chairman of the member- ship commit- tee, called the Chamber "an incredible vehicle" for Exeter and area businesses to build a camaraderie. He said the Chamber will pro- mote businesses and help businesses better serve customers. "We have a lot to offer our members," Ciufo said, explaining that membership gives mem- bers a free profile on the town's web site, low merchant credit card rates and access to employee benefit pack- ages. Tourism chairman Richard Marier said the Chamber has asked the "We have a tot to offer our members" — PAUL CIUFO CHAIRMAN OF MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Rodeo Committee if it can be involved in the rodeo parade to make it "bigger and better". The Chamber is also interested in setting up a booth at the International Plowing Match to promote Exeter and the white squirrel. He also said a banner placed across Main Street will give business- es the chance to adver- tise. Exeter businessman Doug Ellison, who said he is not yet a Chamber member, challenged the Chamber's directors to distinguish themselves from the Exeter Business Association. He said many businesspeople in Exeter can't see the dif- ference between the EBA and the Chamber and therefore are hesitant to pay for a Chamber mem- bership. McMaster explained to Ellison that the EBA is chiefly interested in the beautification of Exeter, while the Chamber has broader goals, including tourism, industry and the promotion of busi- ness. Ellison questioned the need for having an EBA and a Chamber and said both organizations will have to co-operate with each other or risk being in conflict. He added many people have the impression the Chamber was formed out of dissatisfaction with the EBA. The Chamber's directors disagreed. Director Karen Brown explained that being a member of the Chamber can do things for her business — such as the credit card discounts — that the EBA "can't. Ellison stressed the Chamber has to get town council's support and the BEST G.I.C. RATES 1st & 2nd Mortgage MONEY AVAILABLE at 6.5% interest or less Personal Loans Totally Unsecured if you qualify, monthly payments as pow as 527.68 $15,,000 000 581.25 UP TOpO,OM We specialize in t mortgages. ocal 1932 Syr. -5J0%* EBA's support. The Chamber's direc- tors explained they have met with the EBA and feel there is no conflict between the two. 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