In bid for business, Barrhaven BIA will market to sister communities

By Elizabeth Howell, Ottawa Business Journal Staff
Thu, Sep 24, 2009 9:00 AM EST

Retail outlets in Barrhaven are not generating as much business as they could given that most residents of the community commute in and out of the area every day for work, according to findings presented at a community BIA meeting Sept. 24.

As such, the Barrhaven BIA is focusing on bringing up the number of jobs in the region and marketing to nearby areas such as Manotick and Riverside South to bring in more business during the day.

The findings came from a CRG Consulting report that performed an updated commercial market analysis for the Barrhaven BIA in early 2009. This followed onto an initial report conducted in 2007, back when a light-rail line was supposed to markedly increase the population.

Current estimates said the area will add about 50,000 people between 2009 and 2019; population currently stands around 131,800.

The report also noted a 20,000-job shortfall for residents. City of Ottawa figures recommend an average of 1.3 jobs per household in every community, meaning Barrhaven should have around 26,000 jobs. Currently, the area has 6,900 jobs, mainly in retail.

However, the Barrhaven BIA said the situation will slightly improve with the arrival of the new RCMP headquarters at 3000 Merivale Road, on the eastern edge of nearby Longfields. Employees will receive a brochure advertising local services when they begin work in October.

Total market spending is estimated at $1.2 billion annually, and will nearly double to $2.2 billion by 2019, five years after a new bridge across the Rideau River at Strandherd Road is expected to be finished.

Commercial vacancy is at a "healthy" 5.4 per cent, with a need for more retail services in electronics stores, restaurants, apparel stores and department stores.

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