p5connex
Active Member
Uggh, now I truly know I will never visit this place. Its the perfect mix of themed urban fantasy, with themed big box and parking. What more could one ask for?
p5
p5
Toronto Woodbine Racetrack Ancillary Facilities Building | 14.5m | 2s | Woodbine Ent | DIALOG
bAuHaUs
Active Member
Yes we do have fewer warm months in Toronto than some of the US cites where these lifestyle centres have been successful...yet if you look at Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary (heated sidewalks) or Croaker Park in Columbus, OH (year-round climates similar to ours)....people adapt and still frequent these destinations. The activites change, that's all.
lordmandeep
Banned
It could work but it should be more indoors then outdoors...
This kind of thing could work as the place has easy access on the highway.
PLus hate Vaughan Mills with all the passion you want, the place is a success.
This kind of thing could work as the place has easy access on the highway.
PLus hate Vaughan Mills with all the passion you want, the place is a success.
bAuHaUs
Active Member
Sounds like the Eaton Centre to me, and millions find their way down there every year. Yes, the TEC is in Canada's highest population density node, yet we shouldn't discount the merits of this, and future projects that not only provide needed construction jobs and retail employment. This site has sat vacant and underutilized for decades. I only see a win-win here.
alklay
Senior Member
I would be pleasantly surprised if this can be pulled off (but I welcome the try). I too feel our climate is not condusive for outdoor 'experiences' like this, that the recession will hold things back (getting financing for retail development will be difficult in this climate, when landlords are having a difficult time filling already existing retail stock) and the area is already saturated with big box stores and chain restaurants (and nearby malls, such as Woodbine Place, are really suffering).
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lordmandeep
Banned
the reason why Woodbine sucks is because it has crappy stores and really outdated.
Look at Bramalea city centre.
That new massive new outdoor plaza (Trinity Commons) really hurt the mall at first.
Then the mall spent millions of dollars and got better stores and is as busy as ever.
However you are right that a great deal of retail has come into that general area and there is some talk of a another massive strip mall in East Brampton.
Look at Bramalea city centre.
That new massive new outdoor plaza (Trinity Commons) really hurt the mall at first.
Then the mall spent millions of dollars and got better stores and is as busy as ever.
However you are right that a great deal of retail has come into that general area and there is some talk of a another massive strip mall in East Brampton.
yyzhyd
Active Member
I never visited Vaughan Mills' until they opened the Banana Republic Outlet Store... been a regular ever since.
bAuHaUs
Active Member
I know you might not be allowed to share inside information (so it's okay to ignore this
Or are you just implying that it will be built sometime in the future i.e. with no time line whatsoever -> maybe in 20 years lol
What I'm saying is that the "word" in the industry is that it will be built in the near term (1-5 years)....they are agressively leasing the centre and some of our clients have shown a real interest in this project. The big box retail along 427 will get leased first, and will push for the rest to be built. The Cordish group has a history of building great commercial venues, so I don't think they'll walk away from this project that easily. We'll have to see what happens this year...
TOfan696
Active Member
I was at the executive council meeting for the 2009 budget at city hall yesterday and this project is deffinitly going through with city funding
alklay
Senior Member
City funding? Maybe a tax break, but I am not sure about city funding (and such would be a horrible idea).
taal
Senior Member
The tax break has already been discussed in detail (there is some controversy surrounding it).
There is no direct "city funding" otherwise.
Towered
Superstar
God, what a disgusting amount of surface parking - how about at least hiding it with a retail strip right along Rexdale Blvd?
The city should ban all future surface parking lots, especially if they're visible from streets.
The city should ban all future surface parking lots, especially if they're visible from streets.
taal
Senior Member
Yea, or why not have 3/4 massive parking garages instead ... I guess they imply it takes more time to get from your car to the shops
That's one aspect I don't like at all.
But again, over time - that's something that might be changed too if it's successful.
catcher_of_cats
Active Member
Looking at the site plan I can only think that this project is a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars, a colossal waste of land with all that surface parking, and that the planners of this project are idiots for not integrating the various components. I hope that this current scheme is scrapped and brought back to the drawing board.
