Centre Mall -> The Centre on Barton

[fastcarsfreedom]

I find the most recent parts of this discourse puzzling. Firstly, I don't really see how government has given developers "free reign" to sully our otherwise pristine society. Secondly, I still sense a great deal of negativity even after the decision was made to reduce parking and create more of a streetwall--something the urbanist movement has been clamoring for.

Personally I hope that the smaller, independent shops that are moving out into the surrounding neighborhood absolutely thrive. If they are well-run businesses with established clientele it shouldn't be difficult for them...particularly those lucky enough to find their way to Ottawa Street, which already has great foot traffic--and soon, an outdoor market. Personally I can't think of a better place for the market than the vibrant urban neighborhood that Ottawa Street is.

While I have some sympathy for folks who are forced to relocate their businesses because of the redevelopment (especially the few with a long history at the mall--the loss of Jim's Nut Shack is tragic...)--the majority of the small independents with reasonable rents are in the mall because large, national retailers vacated the premises years ago. In the mid-80s when Cadillac Fairview bought the mall, it was running full-tilt with Sears, Robinsons and the expansion anchored by Kmart. The corridors were dominated by the types of retailers you now see at Lime Ridge, Eastgate, Burlington and Mapleview. The food court was packed. Times changed, demographics changed, the neighborhood changed, shopping habits changed. What was once a full-line department store (Robinsons) became Zellers, Kmart left and remained mostly vacant, the food court sputtered--finally the entire 1980s expansion was erased--sealed off. As a regional shopping centre, the property faltered. Though I can appreciate it's "homey" neighborhood feel--that atmosphere was a product of the property's failure, and not something intrinsic. While not everyone may appreciate the nature of this development, or they types of buildings and businesses it will bring to the site--it's a massive vote of confidence in the city and the neighborhood by Redcliff--and the only tangible investment in the property in over 20 years.