The Chatham building that housed the Chatham-Kent Nonprofit Centre, the United Way of Chatham-Kent, and other tenants has been sold.
United Way of Chatham-Kent (UWOCK) CEO Barb Palace says Royal LePage Peifer Realty has bought the building at 425 McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham, adding that the United Way and several other tenants will continue to work in the building.
Palace said it became necessary to sell the building because the pandemic shifted how people work, gather, and share space.
"While UWOCK won’t be able to offer the rental spaces we once did, at this point the change in use made sense. The work we do is so important to us, and this allows our small team to be able to focus on our work supporting community, and away from the building maintenance required as a landlord," said Palace. "Royal LePage Peifer Realty is a wonderful community partner who understands and supports the work that United Way and the other tenants will continue to do from these offices. We look forward to sharing their new home."
Palace noted the building will no longer be known as the Chatham-Kent Nonprofit Centre and as of February 1, 2023, the building will no longer be available for external rentals of board or training room space.
Royal LePage Peifer Realty will be moving into the building in March 2023.
"The catalyst for the change were changes in community needs and how we use the space," Palace said. "The change also enables us to concentrate on the core work of the United Way in our community."
Several organizations have used the building as a community hub since 2018 for art shows, Annual General Meetings, board meetings, and fundraisers.