Carlingwood Shopping Centre Redevelopment

[Jay31]

Founds some interior shots of the new Canadian Tire on the Lundy site: https://www.mplundy.com/our_projects/canadian-tire-carlingwood-mall/. There are some interesting architectural elements that I've never seen in a Canadian Tire before - it definitely looks like a flagship store.

Signs outside say "Fall 2022" now, so getting closer!

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by Jay31

Founds some interior shots of the new Canadian Tire on the Lundy site: https://www.mplundy.com/our_projects/canadian-tire-carlingwood-mall/. There are some interesting architectural elements that I've never seen in a Canadian Tire before - it definitely looks like a flagship store.

Signs outside say "Fall 2022" now, so getting closer!

I was chatting with a worker outside the store the other day and he said store should open in November.

I would have figured much sooner given that the racking and lighting seems to be up.

[Harley613]

I wonder if Claridge will buy this and repurpose/integrate the property into their Nielson Dairy project.

[GeoNerd]

Just saw this tweet. Not an official announcement obviously.

[Marshsparrow]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I wonder if Claridge will buy this and repurpose/integrate the property into their Nielson Dairy project.

What a colossal waste of $ - what went wrong with this location?

[waterloowarrior]

Canadian Tire sold the property to Riocan in 2008 for $40 millon and did a 15 year leaseback, so one factor may be that the lease is expiring. Carlingwood is owned by OPB Realty (the Ontario government employee pension plan) and perhaps a similar arrangement is being proposed. These are all billion dollar corporations that can afford to redevelop if they want to. The old location is currently being advertised for lease btw https://www.realla.ca/details/26328379

[Jay31]

Reports in a neighbourhood facebook group, with a picture of a sign posted at the existing location say that the new one will open on Thursday Sept 22nd at 8am.

I just walked by the new one, and there's still some construction work going on at the entrance and no work today... so, I think Thursday looks more likely.

[originalmuffins]

I mentioned on the Railfans discord that it would be nice to see a Giant Tiger take over that lot (would provide essentials and grocery to the area) but like Harley, others said this is directly connected to that 6 tower development by Claridge.

I think it may be better off if Claridge buys it and incorporates a more mixed-used mini neighborhood district out of it, would be nice. The design of their towers and height is a pretty decent plan at the moment, would be cool if they incorporated different type of retail and amenities if they add this lot to the plan.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

What a colossal waste of $ - what went wrong with this location?

My honest opinion? Parking behind a store is too weird and uncomfortable for the typical Ottawa resident. We prefer our stores to be off in the distance with enormous parking lots lining our stroads.

[Richard Eade]

Hmmm. That is an interesting take on things. I wonder if it is the same issue with people wanting to have a street parking space in front of a store, instead of beside it on a side street?

I suppose that it might have something to do with people wanting to be able to see the parking as they approach a store. Was there a reason that all those shopping malls were built with huge parking lots beside the road, and the stores pushed to the back? Is it a more ‘welcoming’ approach that beckons people in?

In the case of that Canadian Tire, specifically, people had to turn off of the main road and then find the parking lot entrance – which seemed oddly confusing. I also found the under-building parking to be more restrictive, because of the columns that hold up the building. However, if I was able to get a place under the building, I appreciated the shelter from bad weather.

The ‘improved’ IKEA also has a parking lot under its building. The difference is that there is only 1 IKEA in the area, so people have no choice. Interestingly, when I have gone to that IKEA, I generally find the ‘front’ (open lot) parking to be full, and I am forced to head in under the building. The parking doesn’t seem to get as crowded under there – but I still seem to prefer the ‘front’ lot.

(Of course, like many others, I detest the new Bayshore parking structure and avoid it like the plague. I wonder if it is just that drivers think that open lots are less of a risk to their cars?)

[SidetrackedSue]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Interestingly, when I have gone to that IKEA, I generally find the ‘front’ (open lot) parking to be full, and I am forced to head in under the building. The parking doesn’t seem to get as crowded under there – but I still seem to prefer the ‘front’ lot.

I go down Iris and approach that parking lot from the back, making the garage the "front" of the store.

As for that Canadian Tire, I appreciated it being scaled to walking and biking, so no large parking lot to cross to get to the door (especially when coming from the bus.) As well, it made the main entrance to the south so more energy efficient (although being sheltered it isn't as important as say, all the stores in the YIG plaza in Barrhaven which open directly to the north wind.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by SidetrackedSue

I go down Iris and approach that parking lot from the back, making the garage the "front" of the store.

As for that Canadian Tire, I appreciated it being scaled to walking and biking, so no large parking lot to cross to get to the door (especially when coming from the bus.) As well, it made the main entrance to the south so more energy efficient (although being sheltered it isn't as important as say, all the stores in the YIG plaza in Barrhaven which open directly to the north wind.

There is no door facing Carling which I found highly offensive when I went there on foot once. I was also walking from a job next to Westgate so I also had the treat of walking the far way around to the parking lot. Similar treatment to the Superstore on Richmond.

[SidetrackedSue]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

There is no door facing Carling which I found highly offensive when I went there on foot once.

Geez, I could have sworn there was one.

The Superstore one is now closed, lost to Covid. Since it was part of the planning approval compromise with the neighbourhood, I'm not sure what steps should be taken to get it back. We got the corner one (at McCrae) back about a month ago.

Edit:

This (April 2021) shows a sign that says "New Main Entrance Around Building" which makes me think maybe the Canadian Tire street front entrance (which was obviously there at one time because who would put in a wheelchair ramp to a fake door?) was closed after a respectful amount of time to pretend they were following the site plan rules.

https://goo.gl/maps/3yyBffRxMwoipRUa9

[ponyboycurtis]

LOL.. WELCOME!... now frig off and walk around you friggin plebe! Funny how that works.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by SidetrackedSue

This (April 2021) shows a sign that says "New Main Entrance Around Building" which makes me think maybe the Canadian Tire street front entrance (which was obviously there at one time because who would put in a wheelchair ramp to a fake door?) was closed after a respectful amount of time to pretend they were following the site plan rules.

https://goo.gl/maps/3yyBffRxMwoipRUa9

Yeah, you can see in the 2014 Street View imagery how there used to be an operational main entrance to the Carling Avenue side of the building:

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by SidetrackedSue

Geez, I could have sworn there was one.

The Superstore one is now closed, lost to Covid. Since it was part of the planning approval compromise with the neighbourhood, I'm not sure what steps should be taken to get it back. We got the corner one (at McCrae) back about a month ago.

Edit:

This (April 2021) shows a sign that says "New Main Entrance Around Building" which makes me think maybe the Canadian Tire street front entrance (which was obviously there at one time because who would put in a wheelchair ramp to a fake door?) was closed after a respectful amount of time to pretend they were following the site plan rules.

https://goo.gl/maps/3yyBffRxMwoipRUa9

I'll admit to having only been in the building a handful of times, but I believe that originally, the cash registers were upstairs and there was no shopping on the main level. When the Mattress Mart at the east end of the main floor closed, it was amalgamated into the Canadian Tire store and more products were added on the first floor. This meant relocating the cash registers to the first floor, and forced the street door to be closed as there was no way to force people using that door to exit through a register because of it's proximity to the escalator. The progression can be seen in the historical StreetView images - they actually added a larger "Entrance" sign to the door a couple years before removing it. It's not a perfect excuse, but at least there is a reason unlike Superstore.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

LOL.. WELCOME!... now frig off and walk around you friggin plebe! Funny how that works.

Hey man, I love your commentary, stories, and uncensored opinions. We share many opinions, in fact. SidetrackedSue has her own opinions though, and I respect them. She has been an infrequent, but valued contributor to the forum. She is an active community member in Westboro, and I think we all benefit from her being here. I think your comments here are uncalled for.

[originalmuffins]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Hey man, I love your commentary, stories, and uncensored opinions. We share many opinions, in fact. SidetrackedSue has her own opinions though, and I respect them. She has been an infrequent, but valued contributor to the forum. She is an active community member in Westboro, and I think we all benefit from her being here. I think your comments here are uncalled for.

I read it the same way you did at first, but as I reread it, I think Pony just forgot to put quotations as if Canadian Tire management was talking to a pedestrian.

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

"LOL.. WELCOME!... now frig off and walk around you friggin plebe!". Funny how that works.

I think there was just a mistyping of what was meant to be said.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by originalmuffins

I read it the same way you did at first, but as I reread it, I think Pony just forgot to put quotations as if Canadian Tire management was talking to a pedestrian.



I think there was just a mistyping of what was meant to be said.

Fingers crossed!!!!

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Fingers crossed!!!!

I was trying to insert my own commentary of what the sign in the window was saying

At least that's how I interpreted the exchange.

Edit... you would have to click on the google link! haha. I can see how you came across now.