Belconnen Markets store holders opting to remain throughout the precinct's drastic redevelopment are expecting massive financial losses in the coming months, while other tenants are closing their doors before demolition starts.
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Cooking Coordinates owner Margaret Blyth is taking the latter option, having been forced out, she says, by plummeting business, a lack of advertising, and impending competition.
"Nothing the owners do here gets anyone into my shop. And I needed that, I needed the boost before it becomes a building site and they don't seem to see that as necessary," she said.
"It seems to me that it's all about money. It's not about businesses or the community at all."
Sydney-based site owner Elanor Investors in February received approval for stage one of the redevelopment, which will see a 3750-square-metre retail strip constructed on a vacant piece of land off Ibbott Lane by late 2019.
The strip would be suited to larger retailers and it had been suggested that one interested store would stock kitchen equipment, Ms Blyth said.
Stage two of the development was still under ACT government consideration but would see the demolition of the main market hall on Lathlain Street except for two retailers, Sea Harvest and Heng Hing Roast Inn.
Demolition would start in early 2020 with a new, 5500-square-metre market hall to open in its place by the end of the year.
An underground parking area with 151 car spaces would also be constructed, leading some store holders to question the wisdom of leaving two stores to operate in the middle of the site.
"We're going to be next to construction ... we don't know if people will still be able to find us," said Anna, the manager of Sea Harvest, who wanted her surname withheld.
"We expect that trade will go down. We don't know how much, we just have to wait and see."
Elanor Investors and developer Lockbridge said the appropriate people were not available to comment on any issues relating to the Belconnen Markets.
Remaining store holders would be relocated into "two large sheds" in the car park once demolition started, with storage containers for cool rooms.
Ziggys Fresh and Bunches @ Belconnen owner Ken Irvine said store holders had not seen any detailed plans for the temporary accommodation and it required "exponentially" more labour to stock storage containers instead of cool rooms.
Store holders had been told they would be required to vacate the existing market hall in October and would be set up in temporary accommodation within four days.
"We know the shape of the new building and we're told roughly where we're going but that's all we know. We've not had a lease offer from [Elanor] yet," Mr Irvine said.
The new market hall would feature a high roof structure that promoted natural light and increased the market's footprint by 30 per cent, a previous statement by Elanor said.