Irving Oil donates long-closed gas station property to City of Charlottetown
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Irving Oil Ltd. says it has donated "a significant piece of real estate" to the City of Charlottetown, allowing plans to proceed on turning a long-closed gas station into a community hub and collaborative space.
The former gas station building is located at 85 Euston St. in the midst of Charlottetown's downtown. Built in the 1930s, featuring an turreted design that Irving was known for using across the region at the time, the station was never demolished due to its architectural and historic interest.
Darren Gillis is the chief marketing officer for New Brunswick-based Irving Oil.
"We are proud to support the City of Charlottetown and its residents through this important land donation — providing a foundation for the city's vision for future development in its downtown core," he was quoted as saying in a news release issued Wednesday morning.
Residents hope 'eyesore' heritage gas station gets a new life
1 year ago
Duration 2:02
For almost three years, the City of Charlottetown has quietly been working on a plan to take over and revitalize a boarded-up Irving gas station on Euston Street. On Thursday, CBC News stopped by the site and talked with people walking by about what they thought of the building and its possible future.
The site has sat idle since a car rental company at the location closed, at some point after the gas pumps were taken out in 2008. Its future could include a new way to power vehicles, as an EV charging hub.
Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown said the donation will pave the way for an "exciting new chapter" for the downtown area.
"We have an opportunity to turn this facility into a EV recharging station, an e-bike recharging station, a interpretive centre, a community centre and with a focus on net zero," he said.
The mayor said this will tie into the city's push for a new e-bike rental program.
"The city is going to get into the e-bike rental, and also getting out in the community, [to] get more people, more residents, citizens using alternative modes of transportation. This fits that program."
This proposed project, called the Euston Street Irving ReEnergization Concept, has been in the works since 2021. The city has put aside $1 million from its capital budget and will get additional funding from Innovation P.E.I., as well as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Brown said the Irving Oil donation came with some conditions for competitive reasons.
"We can't get into the convenience store business. We can't start selling diesel or gas out of there — those are the obvious restrictions," he said.
Another clause specifies that the work must begin within 18 months and be substantially complete within 36 months. If the work isn't done within 48 months, the company reserves the right to buy back the site for $1.
Brown said it is now up to the city to take action — he hopes within the next three to six weeks.
There's a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot, but the exciting news is that we can start moving forward in an open forum.
"That's a provision, but you know what? Irving's made the announcement, this is official now… It's on the City of Charlottetown's part to get this project going, and get moving on finishing it, get it open to the public and make sure it becomes part of our community."
Euston Street site of Irving Oil station dating from the 1930s is now owned by City of Charlottetown
27 minutes ago
Duration 1:05
The old Irving Gas station in downtown Charlottetown is about to get a facelift. Irving Oil has donated the site to the City of Charlottetown. Mayor Philip Brown says the location will be turned into a charging station for EVs and e-bikes, as well as a community hub where municipal and provincial officials can work out of.
The mayor said he'd like to work with Irving to share some costs related to the property.
"I hope to develop something, a plan where they will share the cost of maintenance and operation, but that's to be worked out. There's a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot, but the exciting news is that we can start moving forward in an open forum."
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