A good story has many chapters, but nothing is as satisfying as the big reveal.
A tale many years in the making took its most telegraphed twist yesterday in Belleville with the announcement by Mayor Neil Ellis of a full overview of the timeline for a new COSTCO on Bell Blvd.
This has been SEVERAL years in the making, with some people still probably not fully believing it due to the number of previous stories including some which emerged pre-COVID.
While anything can happen in the business, commercial, real estate and even municipal government world, let me tell you openly that this was THE moment.
It looks different for all projects, especially in Belleville.
For the Library, it was the motions at City Council which included the removal of the parking garage addition.
For the Police Station it was the full site plan and layout and putting OPP costing proposals to rest (barely).
For the casino, even a previous groundbreaking on the other side of the road wasn’t enough. The new Fire Station One was also planned for further to the north by the industrial park, until plans changed.
In all cases, there was a moment when you KNEW it was finally on track at the right place at the right time.
For COSTCO, that’s now. Today. Job numbers and full economic impact will take time to reveal, but the only question left is what do you take on your hot dog?
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
