With each passing day, the construction of the four-level College-owned shopping and office building next to Ben and Jerry's nears its completion.
However, with less than two months remaining before the building's scheduled opening in late September, the College real estate office is yet to finalize the list of stores and businesses that will occupy the space.
After the initial announcement in Spring term that clothing store Talbots and investment brokerage Advest will be located in the building, the real estate office has still not been successful in finding a suitable business that will occupy the remaining 6,000 square feet of empty space.
Director of Real Estate at the College Paul Olsen said his office is currently having discussions with one tenant to fill the rest of the space. However, he declined to comment on who this potential tenant is or what kind of store it is.
Olsen further added that he was unsure when the negotiations with this prospective tenant will end and whether they are likely to succeed or not.
"I wish I knew the answer to that," Olsen said, adding that if the discussions are unsuccessful, the real estate office will consider subdividing the 6,000 square feet space.
However, Olsen added that in any event he hopes to finalize all the businesses occupying the space by the end of the Summer term.
Although many students who spoke with The Dartmouth felt otherwise, Hanover zoning regulations do allow popular food chains like McDonalds, Burger King and Starbucks Coffee to occupy building space.
Annie Hood, administrative assistant at Town of Hanover's Planning and Zoning Office, said such restaurants are allowed to open outlets in the area as long as they meet certain regulations like providing adequate parking for their customers.
Olsen, however, said his office is not considering such restaurants for filling the space.
"We don't have any interest in pursuing such a user for the remaining space and haven't looked into it," Olsen wrote in a BlitzMail message.
However, most students who spoke with The Dartmouth expressed interest in such restaurants coming to town.
Jessica Houston '02 said she would like to see Starbucks open in Hanover. "A Starbucks Coffee place would be good," she said. "People want a place to hang out at night."
Olsen also dispelled rumors about clothing stores Banana Republic and Abercrombie & Fitch coming to Hanover, saying the real estate office has not even contacted those stores.
Olsen's office had also spent almost six months negotiating with Eddie Bauer, but those discussions with the clothing store fell through during Spring term.
Olsen previously told The Dartmouth that because of the time spent negotiating with Eddie Bauer opportunities with alternative prospective tenants was also lost.
