Regina’s city council has approved entering a lease with the Regina Food Bank to help create a community food hub in the city’s downtown.

Under the deal, the food bank has been granted a decade-long lease for 1720 12th Avenue for $1 per year. The food bank will operate outside a former SLGA store beside the empty lot.

The food hub would act like a grocery store and community centre, while the unused lot would run a food hamper drive-thru and build raised green scaping to facilitate community renewal.

Council also approved a $100,000 one-time cash donation and an in-kind service of paving over the leased lot.

The one-time donation will be taken from the Community Investments Grant Program, with a remaining $130,000. Meanwhile, the cost of paving, estimated at $100,00 or less, would be paid from the city’s Land Development Reserve.