Gitga'at Development Corporations' Third Avenue project to be first to make use of new City of Prince Rupert Tax Incentive program

A whole new look is coming for the Gitga'at owned building
in the Six Hundred Block of Third Avenue West

The Gitga'at First Nation will be the first to take up the call of downtown redevelopment from the City of Prince Rupert, with the Gitga'at Development Corporation set to use the City's new tax incentive program, in addition to some recently announced provincial funding to renovate a downtown storefront on Third Avenue West.

The building located in the Six Hundred block of the downtown core, is set for some significant activity ahead, with the provincial funding to be directed to some work on the exterior of the building.

The announcement of $456,000 in funding for building energy efficiency an accessibility upgrades for the Prince Rupert structure was one of a string of funding announcements made the NDP Government last week.

“Gitga'at has long participated in the economic and social life of the region. Funding provided through CERIP allows us to address accessibility issues for members with mobility challenges, as well as supporting extensive exterior renovations, making us an early contributor to Redesign Rupert’s vision for a revitalized downtown.” -- Paul Paterson, Gitga'at Development Corporation.

Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain shared some of his excitement for the renovations through his Social media platform last week, observing that he and Chief Arnold Clifton have been working closely together over the last number of months for the benefit of both communities.

The Third Avenue West structure is to take on a new life as a Community gathering space for the Gitga'at, just one of a number of investments that the First Nation has made in the city in recent years, with plans for more development to come in the future.

City Council passed its Tax Incentive program in early January, it's a program which is designed to create a business climate for downtown property owners to invest in their holdings, with the city hoping to improve the visual image of the properties or expand on local housing stock as the city council looks to stream more residents back into the downtown area.

It's part of the City's work towards a redesign of the city's three destination areas of the downtown and CowBay.