The Residence Commons convenience store Abstentions will be closing for renovations in May 2013 and its future could be uncertain, according to Joel Tallerico, vice-president (administration) of the Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA).
The entire lobby area of the Residence Commons building will be renovated starting May 2013, assistant director of housing services Natalie Allan said.
In an Oct. 19 meeting with director of housing David Sterritt, RRRA was told Abstentions would also have to close for renovations in May, Tallerico said. RRRA had been previously warned of this in an email Oct. 2, he said.
Allan said the goal of the Abstentions renovation would be to make it look more like a convenience store seen in the community, like a 7/11 or a Mac’s convenience Store. It would improve the lighting and familiarity of the store, she said.
But the university is also insisting that RRRA pay for the costs of the renovations itself, Tallerico said. This was calculated as the cost of the architect, any special design costs, and the costs of construction, he said. In the Oct. 19 meeting, Sterritt “ball-parked” a potential cost of $500,000, Tallerico said.
“The suggested price of these renovations is absolutely ridiculous and it would essentially cripple RRRA financially,” Tallerico said.
Sterritt is currently on leave and could not be reached for comment. Allan could not corroborate the potential cost of the Abstentions renovations, but said that the $500,000 figure “seems high.”
At the meeting, RRRA president Omar Bainto said he protested RRRA being forced to pay for the renovations and asked Sterritt why RRRA should pay for renovations when they are the tenants and the university is the landlord.
According to Tallerico, Sterritt “said that the renovation was going forward regardless whether RRRA wanted it or not.”
Allan said that now was a good time for RRRA to renovate Abstentions. RRRA would be able to use the same contractors, architects, and engineers that Carleton is using for the lobby renovations. The renovation would take place over four months next summer, Allan said, and would be finished in time for the new school year.
The Abstentions renovation coincides with a larger problem Tallerico said RRRA is having with finding office space on campus.
“As of now […] we have no guaranteed space, no location number for our office location next year, and they’re closing down our store for renovations,” Tallerico said.
“And by closing down our store, we’re going to be losing a huge amount of revenue.”
Petitions containing a variety of issues — including financial compensation to RRRA for renovations — are available in Abstentations.
Abstentions directly employs 11 cashiers and a manager, Tallerico said. RRRA plans to meet with Sterritt with their concerns after he returns from leave on Nov. 12.
