Creative Redevelopment Planned for Former Canadian Tire Property
Kanas Corporation, a company known for innovative solutions and a triple bottom line approach, has purchased the building and land at 1100 Victoria Avenue North.
“This fits very well within our housing strategy and will be a huge benefit to our overall economic development plan. We are very pleased to see this investment in Cranbrook,” says Mayor Lee Pratt. “The former Canadian Tire site has been given a new life. There are new jobs and new homes on the horizon because of this re-development.”
Kanas President Robert Sipka agrees, “We, too, are pleased with this investment. We are impressed with the opportunities to grow within the East Kootenay, and believe Cranbrook is a great place to begin that growth.”
Next steps for Kanas include:
- Adding a solar panel array to the existing building to reduce its future environmental footprint.
- Developing a master plan for the property, together with local and regional stakeholders.
- Applying to change the OCP and zoning of the property to allow for a mix of uses.
Initial use discussions include adding a residential building to the North. Environmentally- healthy, accessible housing is one of Kanas’ clear strengths. Housing purpose-built to meet the needs of Cranbrook’s diverse population is a clear need, as identified in the City’s recent Housing Needs Report.
The existing building, at 44,400 sq. feet, could be used as a storage, assembly, and logistics hub, given its proximity to Highway 3. Or it could house a craft brewery, commercial bakery, glass-blowing studio, or other creative workspaces. Kanas welcomes expressions of interest.