Habitat for Humanity Chatham-Kent took the next step toward a new home for its ReStore this week.
Municipal council approved a zoning amendment for 55 Junction Ave., in Chatham’s Park Avenue East area, at a recent planning meeting.
ReStore director Mike Coyne said the store’s lease at 566 Riverview Dr. is set to expire, with no option to renew.
“We purchased a piece of property and we’re in the process of going through the process to build,” he said Wednesday.
The ReStore, which sells donated household items, appliances and building supplies to raise funds, has been at 566 Riverview since 2014.
Coyne said its too soon to predict when the new site will open, noting approvals and permits are still needed.
“Sometime next year, but it’s still pretty fluid at this point,” he said. “It’s a new area, so it’ll provide a lot of excitement as new things go there. It’s a chance for us to go somewhere new, fresh and clean. And everybody’s paying attention to it, everybody’s curious.”
In addition to the zoning amendment, a site plan control application will be needed.
The new site, currently vacant, is 0.8 hectares (nearly two acres) on the northeast corner of the Junction Avenue and Sass Road.
Exact size and other details of the new store are still to be determined, Coyne said.
While the community has supported the local ReStore over the years, he’s hoping to increase public awareness.
“A lot of people don’t know there’s a ReStore in Chatham, for whatever reason,” Coyne said. “But as a non-profit charity, we don’t put a lot of resources into marketing, simply because the vast majority of our money goes to build homes.”
For more about Habitat for Humanity Chatham-Ken and upcoming fundraisers, visit habitatchatham-kent.ca.