Quotes to convert retail space in the bottom floor of the Pelissier St. parking garage into more parking could lead to more debate.
Councillor Chris Holt says the first quotes aren't going to sit well with residents, coming in 75% higher than expected.
The lowest bid is more than $800,000, and holt says it's just too much.
"At $888,000 that's $23,000 a space, does that give you the necessary return on your investment? That's something we need to take a look at, " says Holt.
The ward 4 councillor says he's shocked.
"We had assumed the $507,000 that was allocated to the conversion was a hard number, we had assumed that was based upon contractor knowledge," Holt says. "It's clear that, with the lowest price being 75% more than than that, it wasn't."
Windsor Pride and Youssef Hair Salon went through a long and costly search to find a new home.
If the plan doesn't go through, Holt expects the former tenants to be upset.
"Yeah, I think there's going to be a bit of a backlash, and rightfully so. We evicted two long term tenants that had been paying religiously every single month, so yeah," he says. "I don't think there's any way that we can move forward without the issue coming back to council."
Holt says council needs to take a look at the cost involved before more opportunities to rent the space are lost.
"We'd turned down other offers to lease the space, remember the gym that wanted to come in there and take all the available space and has since found another space downtown. So clearly there is a desire to rent that space." he says.
Holt told AM800 News it's public knowledge that he'd rather see retail space on the bottom floor of the garage, but with the cost coming in that high, council has no choice but to reevaluate it's decision.