White Oaks Mall Redevelopment

[GreatTallNorth2]

I would say there is little chance that White Oaks Mall dies when you consider the population growth of London, the fact that we live in a winter climate much of the year, the access to the 401, etc. Malls are re-inventing themselves so there will be changes over the years to replace some retail but not a chance the mall dies. It is one of two major malls left in the city.

[Djeffery]

I'm sorry, a winter climate "much of the year"?. How about a small part of the year. Which hasn't slowed the shopping habits of people switching over to power centres and big box. All they need is Penequity to start building beside Costco and White Oaks is losing a good chunk of their name brand retailers. I don't know that Westdell has the pockets to prop that place up renting out stores to "Bob's Sports Cards" and another 15 cell phone case stores.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I'm sorry, a winter climate "much of the year"?. How about a small part of the year. Which hasn't slowed the shopping habits of people switching over to power centres and big box. All they need is Penequity to start building beside Costco and White Oaks is losing a good chunk of their name brand retailers. I don't know that Westdell has the pockets to prop that place up renting out stores to "Bob's Sports Cards" and another 15 cell phone case stores.

They inherited the mall with the leases. This is a long play for them not short term. More population growth, as we are currently seeing, only helps them. London is a city divided in half with regards to the malls - North is Masonville and South is White Oaks. All you have to do is look around at other cities of similar size and you see that 2 major malls in London is about right for our population. And White Oaks Mall will be a major stop on the BRT system, which only enhances their position. And I dare say that Westdell probably does more market research then people like you and me. Several of these developers have ties and connections to other deep pocket groups. I am not saying that White Oaks is great, but when you put several large towers up around the mall and more transit, I would say it has great potential.

[CanadianTalk]

Council unanimously approved the zoning changes that would allow for Westdell to build their 30s and 32s towers.

Originally Posted by CanadianTalk

City planning staff is recommending that Council refuse the applicant's requested proposal for the first phase (30s and 32s towers @ Bradley/Montgomery) and instead approve a proposal that allows for a maximum height of 27s.

https://london.ca/sites/default/files/2024-07/FINAL%20OZ-9725%20-%201105%20Wellington%20Road.pdf

Will make for an interesting discussion at council. This goes to the planning committee on July 16th and then to full council on July 23rd.

[CanadianTalk]

A site-plan application was filed this week for the two towers that will replace the parking garage at Bradley and Montgomery.

[jammer139]

I'd be surprised if Westdell puts a shovel in the ground on this any time soon. They have done nothing on the residential proposals they have around the city. Also Drewlo's and Auburn five high rise tower proposal across the street isn't going anywhere either and likely neither will proceed until the Wellington BRT infrastructure project construction completes in 2026 in this area.

Originally Posted by CanadianTalk

A site-plan application was filed this week for the two towers that will replace the parking garage at Bradley and Montgomery.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by jammer139

I'd be surprised if Westdell puts a shovel in the ground on this any time soon. They have done nothing on the residential proposals they have around the city. Also Drewlo's and Auburn five high rise tower proposal across the street isn't going anywhere either and likely neither will proceed until the Wellington BRT infrastructure project construction completes in 2026 in this area.

Isn't filing for the Site Plan Application showing that they actually want to build it soon? Meaning it's the very step before shovels go in the ground. I just don't know why they would apply if they didn't want to move forward. They would be motivated to build and have more residents on the same property as their mall. I was reading the article in the Free Press where the sale of the mall was news and the owner of Westdell said they have major plans for the mall. They are local and have been building so fingers crossed the shovels go in the ground this year.

[goldandnavy]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Isn't filing for the Site Plan Application showing that they actually want to build it soon? Meaning it's the very step before shovels go in the ground. I just don't know why they would apply if they didn't want to move forward. They would be motivated to build and have more residents on the same property as their mall. I was reading the article in the Free Press where the sale of the mall was news and the owner of Westdell said they have major plans for the mall. They are local and have been building so fingers crossed the shovels go in the ground this year.

They did the same thing for their site at 1737 Richmond Street - full site plan approval, but they are signing new leases where the new building is supposed to be, so not sure of their motivations.

[jammer139]

Development process map.

steps simplified - obviously there can be more steps like heritage approvals, ground water and soil testing and engineering approvals rolled into these

1 - get Zoning approved
2 - Site Plan Application approved
3 - Building Permit and if necessary demolition permit

Obviously as a owner you also need to hire a general contractor and all the sub contractors to actually manage the construction project

[Djeffery]

If they start this year, they will be finished after BRT is finished, which sounds like the perfect marketing plan. And it seems to make sense to me to get ahead of Drewlo in that area. Hopefully they are seriously getting ready to go.

[jammer139]

During their ground breaking ceremony for the 26s called Serano Village West up on Capulet they mentioned they might start the 32s here at White Oaks Mall in 2027.

[GreatTallNorth2]

I drove by White Oaks today on Bradley and I thought I saw some equipment at the parking garage and also the garage was empty. I was wondering if they are going to be taking down the garage to eventually build one of the towers?

[Djeffery]

I haven't been by so I don't know what equipment is sitting there, but it's possible they could be getting ready to demolish it. But that garage hasn't been used in I can't even remember how long now, years certainly.

[MolsonExport]

I haven't been to White Oaks in at least two years (I live much closer to Masonville, which is also more upscale). How is the it holding up since the shuttering of the Bay? I got the feeling that White Oaks has been slowly sliding downmarket over the past two decades (too many cellphone-bling shops).

[Djeffery]

It never struck me that the Bay was a big traffic driver for the mall anyway. I think most Bay shoppers parked on that side of the mall, went in to the Bay and left. I would guess there was as much foot traffic cutting through the Bay to get to the mall as there was people with the Bay as a destination. Kind of like how years ago we used the Marks and Spencer entrance to go to the mall because it was the closest to Jalna and the bus stops of the day (before the buses went into the mall parking lot).

[GreatTallNorth2]

White oaks Mall is posting on their social media “If you build it, they will come” which I am guessing must refer to a major tenant. Or the residential? Anyone have any guess?

[K85]

The return of Woolco and that engraving place

[GreatTallNorth2]

Maybe a BiWay too?

[jammer139]

Don't give up on a Consumers Distributing store.

[GreatTallNorth2]

At this point I would take any of those stores. On another note, White Oaks posted another one: