Port Place Mall renovations?

[nanaimoboy]

I understand Port Place mall is going to undergo an extensive makeover. Anyone know when this will begin?

[Wyatt Earp]

It hasn't been tendered yet and therefore I'm not sure. If what I know to be correct is true, the mall will basically not exist for some time as this project takes shape.

I think it would start in April but it could be sooner.

[nanaimoboy]

I wonder if they will make it like Brooks landing is now, with all the stores on the outside and no mall to walk through any longer. I'll miss that. I hate going to Woodgrove Mall. Too big and too crowded.

[Wyatt Earp]

If the latest resembles the last of what I saw, it has a major residential component to it with a more urban or walking sort of vibe to it. Basically the right of way that is Nicol Street extends through the mall to the gab. ferry intersection on front street. So, there will be major upheval to get that but it could work very well.

Don't anticipate a brookslanding / northbrook feel or a mall like woodgrove when it is complete. It is likely the drawings at with the city so go take a look.

Cheers.

[Flugel Horn]

Here's the link to a Canwest Daily News story from this week:
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailyn...5-cc75b813b8ed

- read it soon, because it doesn't last long on their site.

Here's a teaser

Owners First Capital Real Estate plan to transform the shopping centre into a strip mall featuring traffic corridors linking Terminal Avenue to Esplanade Street, opening it to pedestrian traffic from the new cruise ship facility and the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

It will be developed in phases, finished with a 26-storey highrise condominium tower overlooking the harbour, accompanied by eight- and four-storey commercial buildings. Thrifty Foods and London Drugs would stay put, but much of the existing mall will be demolished to accommodate the redesign.

[kickidee]

I do not think I am reacting to change which many of us hate. I think this sucks. I love all the little shops, and being inside a mall.
The people are helpfull and friendly there.
It is a place to be warm, it is a genuine old mall and folks go there to meet.
It is no longer fit for the tour ships and the new occupants of highrise downtown I guess.
Chunk by chunk we are hiding our charactor. We are loosing the individual and going for the glitz! Uck!
Well just so as the newcommers will not have to gaze apon our homeless and poor in one of the last hangouts.
I shall do my upmost not to have a bad day.

[sheena]

To me the mall is (was) a godsend. Kind of one stop shopping - doctors office- post office- liquor store - drug store - grocery store. Need a gift - purdy's or the wonderful jewlery store there - I used to love the kitchen store that was there. Maybe the casino once in a while. The location I would think would be great for when the cruise ship terminal is built - cruisers love to shop thats for sure. I hate the fact there is no shopping this end of town and what little there is - in Harbour park mall will be gone soon - I don't think this is progress. I used to love downtown back in "the day" - but that day is gone.

[mrraulduke]

I do not think I am reacting to change which many of us hate. I think this sucks. I love all the little shops, and being inside a mall.
The people are helpfull and friendly there.
It is a place to be warm, it is a genuine old mall and folks go there to meet.
It is no longer fit for the tour ships and the new occupants of highrise downtown I guess.
Chunk by chunk we are hiding our charactor. We are loosing the individual and going for the glitz! Uck!
Well just so as the newcommers will not have to gaze apon our homeless and poor in one of the last hangouts.
I shall do my upmost not to have a bad day.

There was a crappy mall at Edmonds and Kingsway that was alot like Park Place mall, A grocery store, a liqour store, and a few 'boutique' shops that not alot of people shopped at.

they tore it down, added a parkade, a new grocery store/ drug store and bank, starbucks ( yuck! ) and a bunch of other outdoor accss shops. when it was open, it was busy year round, a bunch of interesting stores opened up and it was a great little plaza. Hopefully they'll do this to port place.

[yogi bear]

To me the mall is (was) a godsend. Kind of one stop shopping - doctors office- post office- liquor store - drug store - grocery store. Need a gift - purdy's or the wonderful jewlery store there - I used to love the kitchen store that was there. Maybe the casino once in a while. The location I would think would be great for when the cruise ship terminal is built - cruisers love to shop thats for sure. I hate the fact there is no shopping this end of town and what little there is - in Harbour park mall will be gone soon - I don't think this is progress. I used to love downtown back in "the day" - but that day is gone.

Four of the abovementioned services will remain in the existing portion of the mall which is slated to be retained (London Drugs, Thriftys, Medical Arts, and liquor store) although the clinic and liquor store will move from their current locations....and a reminder that both London Drugs and Thriftys will remain open during the renovation process...

Cheers all,
Al

[Wyatt Earp]

Exactly, the mall won't really go anywhere - just change.

Expect lots of street level foot traffic type entrance to stores, some parking, then a mix of commercial and professional on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors and then residential above that in the towers.

The drive up store front things like Country Club and Brookslanding are an incredibly outdated design from the mega mall carrier over of say Heritage Centre in Calgary, South Edmonton Commons (Edmonton), the Commons in Duncan and even the new parts west of Park Royal in West Van.

A Mall (with a roof) is a great thing because it is inside - it rains here but it doesn't get people out of their cars...