The potential of downtown Windsor is being touted with the opening of a new real estate office in the city core.
Realty ONE Group Iconic officially opened Thursday in The Hive building at 513 Pelissier St.
The building, owned by BK Cornerstone, also has 24 rental units above the main floor commercial space.
Brent Klundert, Vice President of BK Cornerstone and part owner of Realty One Group, says they think the downtown has a lot to offer.
"We still have a long way to go but with our current project, this one operating actually out of downtown Windsor, with the next one we have on Wyandotte, that's the next anchor that's going to be bigger and better," he says. "We really want to push the envelope in investing here downtown, because at the end of the day we really believe in this city."
Klundert says they are in the process of developing a project in the area of Wyandotte Street and Pelissier with up to 100 rental units, and an additional project with 300 units at an unspecified location in the core.
The Hive building at 513 Pelissier St. in downtown Windsor. (Photo: Rusty Thomson)
Chris MacLeod, broker owner of Realty One and chair of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association, says it was a bit of a 'leap of faith' in investing downtown years ago.
"In order to be impactful in our community, I think you need to be selective in where you invest your business dollars," he says. "The belief that we can make a difference and we can, through that investment make a difference in our community, really drove us to push forward downtown."
MacLeod says the feeling of safety and security downtown is still a concern for some residents.
"Having this office downtown I think is a vote for downtown. It's to say 'it's ok to invest in downtown, let's get in and come on and join us,'" he says.
The real estate agency already has 20 agents signed up with plans to bring in as many as 70 in the downtown location.
The Hive building, the former Don Cherry's bar and restaurant, was the first to receive a Community Improvement Plan grant from the city which helped spur a $12-million investment into the building by its owners.