Sponsored: Nelson’s Newest Business Complex Changing the Shape of Railtown District
In a market where commercial real estate availability is at historic lows, the former Nelson Cannabis Collective building at 45 Government Road, originally marketed as one of Canada’s first craft cannabis production, processing and retail facilities, has formally rebranded itself as Gerrard Station, set to become the first-Class A, mixed-use commercial for-lease building in Nelson to be built in over a generation.
Fair Realty’s Tristan Chart is the exclusive leasing agent for the new 35,200 square foot development in Railtown, which kicked off its leasing campaign in mid-February of this year, and is marketing to a broad array of professional office, retail and light industrial users.
“Gerrard Station builds on Railtown’s continued evolution as a natural extension of Baker Street with a vision to becoming a dynamic, mixed-use centre for commerce, recreation and residential living,” says Chart. “It’s an ideal destination for any business pursuing an elite work environment to attract talent and secure long-term space for the future.”
The new building will feature on-site parking, 12-foot-high ceilings, a commercial freight elevator, electric vehicle and bike charging stations, common outdoor amenity areas and plans for a rooftop patio. Designed by Cover Architecture, the building offers highly-efficient floor plates averaging 8,800 square feet with limited columns and abundant natural light throughout.
There are no fixed unit sizes, so prospective tenants have the opportunity to custom-tailor their suite size, layout, and location based on their specific preferences and needs. Wrap-around windows provide unobstructed lake and mountain views in almost every direction.
Opportunities for tenant signage with exposure along Government Road are also available. The building supports active transportation forms like walking and biking, and the design encourages outside engagement with the space. It is also just a five-minute walk from the amenities on Baker Street and the tranquility of Cottonwood Falls Park.
Construction on the building is expected to be completed by late-summer 2022, with flexible tenant occupancy commencement up to two to three years thereafter.
“We’re very pleased with the response thus far, notwithstanding we are only a few weeks into our marketing process,” says Chart.
“We’re seeing interest from a wide range of office users for the above-grade space: professional services, tech, e-commerce, public institutions, and the like. The ground floor retail also offers an exceptional branding opportunity, so we’ve seen strong interest in that space from local and national retailers.”
Gerrard Station is being developed by generational local business people and Vancouver-based professional builders tied to the Kootenay region. Two of those locally engrained partners are Mitchell Scott, owner/publisher of Kootenay Mountain Culture and 4th generation Nelson-ite, and Phil Pinfold, owner/operator of Retallack Lodge.
“We wanted to take a crack at developing something for Nelson that would benefit the community. The inspiration has been to drive the community dollar and community economy and to create employment,” explains Pinfold.
“It features airtight concrete construction and is hyper-efficient for heating, cooling, and air ventilation, a key priority for many tenants in the post-pandemic era,” continues Scott.
“Gerrard Station is a wellness-centred work environment.”
With a vested interest in making the project a community success and an eye on Nelson’s bright future, this building may be one of many for this partnership.
The development represents a significant data point within the growth experienced by Nelson in recent years. Last year, the City of Nelson issued a record 231 building permits. Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census also indicated a significant population increase, with 534 new residents since 2016, or over 100 people per year.
“I see a great opportunity here for businesses to strategically position themselves within the greater growth story of Nelson. The same supply-constraint dynamics we see in the residential market are evident in the market for commercial space, and we expect that to continue, making it ever-more critical to secure high-quality space that distinguishes your business, and suits its operational needs for the long term,” says Chart.
Click the link to the listing and for more information contact Tristan Chart directly.
Tristan Chart, CFA
Commercial Real Estate Transaction Advisory
Fair Realty
647 518 6324
The building supports active transportation forms like walking and biking, and the design encourages outside engagement with the space. It is also just a five-minute walk from the amenities on Baker Street and the tranquility of Cottonwood Falls Park.
The new building will feature on-site parking, 12-foot-high ceilings, a commercial freight elevator, electric vehicle and bike charging stations, common outdoor amenity areas and plans for a rooftop patio.
