[Skook]

djh, you have some great ideas, but I have to disagree about the Walmart.

Now,this is a moot point, since Walmart isn't going in there anyway, and the neighbourhood couldn't really take the traffic it would generate with all the residential that's gone in lately, but Walmart absolutely would have done well in there (and in many other locations besides). I don't agree that they compete directly with Costco - they are very different stores, very different concepts and very different customers (most Walmart shoppers are not going to shell out for a Costco membership, for one thing).

As for a grocery store, I live in the area and I can assure you that we are not well served foodwise. Things should be better when the Nesters opens in Woodwards, but right now, we're limited to gigantic portions at Costco or Asian food at T&T. You are completely out of luck if you want to get, say, ingredients for a taco (a couple of tacos, not 400 tacos at Costco).

International Village does rock at Chinese New Year, but it wouldn't be like that if that was the concept year round (the night market a few blocks away is cool, but it doesn't draw huge crowds - if IV was like that all the time, it would be even deader).

In my humble opinion, the best options for that mall are in: a) serving the immediate local community (which would have to be upwards of 5000 fairly affluent condo owners once Woodwards opens) or b) add something large scale that is currently missing downtown, like the kids play area or a major retailer that will draw people in or c) getting out of the retail biz entirely a la office space or a school, etc.