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Shovel in the dirt closer

New Juan de Fuca services building closer to reality
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Plans for the new Juan de Fuca Electoral Area services building.

Mike Hicks, regional director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, is pretty excited about the latest step in building a new services building for the electoral area.

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the Capital Regional District Board authorized a loan of up to $1.5 million to build the structure in the Sooke Industrial Park in Otter Point.

“The sole reason we are doing this is because our current rent is the same as our payments for this building,” said Hicks. “It will be paid for in 15-20 years. The good thing is we get a brand new energy-efficient building with lots of parking.”

The JdFEA is currently paying $117,000 in rent per year along with approximately $17,000 in hydro. The current building on West Coast Road has been sold and their lease expires on Dec. 31, 2013.

The building will be on three lots, amounting to three-quarters of an acre, on land adjacent to William Simmons Park.

The new 4,500 sq. foot office building will include an 80-seat meeting room, 10 offices, a lobby and kitchen.

“It’s a great meeting room for the people of Juan de Fuca and Otter Point to use,” said Hicks. “That’ll be exciting.”

Hicks said he is going to try his best to structure the building so local builders can be involved.

The next step, said Hicks, is to get an accepted offer (on the land) and financing, as well as rezoning the property and final designs.