Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Dignitaries, special guests and future condo owners gathered next to what’s left of the Gibbard Furniture factory Thursday to put shovels in the ground and signify the next phase of its rebirth.
Frigid temperatures and a top layer of snow prevented the shovels from getting very deep, but the symbolic point was made. Construction of the the Gibbard District condominiums, storefront and public piazza is now under way.
With a Doornekamp Construction excavator working away amid lightly falling snow in the background, guests in attendance of the ceremony were given a brief history on how the project came to be. Together with SilverCreek Communities, the residential development is expected to be completed by 2022. As a tribute to its past, the suites inside the condos have been named after Gibbard designs. A large part of the mill as well as the iconic smoke stack have also been incorporated into the project.
“The name is very special, given the nature and background of this property,” Bruce McPherson Jr. the third generation owner of Gibbard’s, said of the Gibbard District name. “To look at what’s coming next, it’s historical and it’s wonderful.”
The McPherson family first listed the factory for sale in June 2007 with the hopes it would be sold to another furniture company. When no offers materialized, they turned to the Doornekamps, who had experience in dealing with historical properties. Originally just looking for advice on how to preserve the building, a deal was eventually worked out where the local construction company would revive it into a major focal point of the downtown, complete with 143 residential units, restaurants and shops.
Shovels were dug into the ground to signify the next phase of the Gibbard District. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“I do remember Hank (Doornekamp, company owner) saying I hope it sells as a furniture factory, but if it doesn’t, I might, and he used the word might, be interested,” added McPherson Jr.
“There were a lot of hurdles to cross and a lot of loose ends with an old property like this,” noted McPherson Jr., adding that just earlier in the week they had to sort out a historic deed that listed the A.L Dafoe water treatment plant as being on the Gibbard property. “There was a time when the project didn’t look good. It was on hold for awhile and in a bit of jeopardy. Hank often referred to himself saying ‘I’m a stubborn Dutchman’. He persevered and with the outstanding support of town council and the community, here we are today.”
McPherson noted the contributions of past council, including former Greater Napanee mayor Gord Schermerhorn who was on hand for the ceremony, helped to make the project possible. Outgoing MP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington Mike Bossio, who was also in attendance, was commended for his assistance as well.
“Today we as a group kick off an exciting project in our community,” said Greater Napanee mayor Marg Isbester. “A project that acknowledges a rich history of the Gibbard Factory that is embedded in our community. A project that has been spearheaded by a company and a family who have worked together to preserve, expand and improve upon the quality of life and options for living (in Napanee).”
Isbester was then given the responsibility of counting down while guests officially dug in to begin the next phase of the project.
The Dundas Street frontage of the Gibbard District would include the historic furniture showroom, retail spaces, an entrance to a public square, and view of the condominium towers.