Fanshawe Park and Highbury - retail plaza (Under Construction)

[MolsonExport]

They don't drink milkshakes, I assure you.

[jammer139]

Yeah something weird definitely happening with the planning of this building on the corner. Maybe they changed their minds an intend to make them separate. Should know soon when they start excavating for the foundation footings.

[CanadianTalk]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Yeah something weird definitely happening with the planning of this building on the corner. Maybe they changed their minds an intend to make them separate. Should know soon when they start excavating for the foundation footings.

I did find it odd that the original plans had McDonalds sharing a building with another commercial tenant... I can't think of any McDonalds in London or the surrounding area that are not in their own building (other than the ones you might find in a Wal-Mart or gas station)

On the subject of this plaza, there are signs outside that says that the Food Basics will open on May 8th

[jammer139]

Work has begun on the concrete light pole bases for the parking areas and for the laneway off Fanshawe Rd. Could see curbing poured soon and paving in the coming weeks.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Could see curbing poured soon and paving in the coming weeks.

I would hope so since May 8 is "the coming weeks" lol

[White737]

What do you guys think will go in at the north east corner of highbury and Fanshawe ?

In the London plan that area is listed as shopping.

It’d be awesome to get a third Costco and have it there. I’m

[K85]

I'd love a third Costco at or near the VMP and between Dundas and Clarke. Lots of open land, and easy road access

[haljackey]

I remember hearing rumours of a Costco at Fanshawe and Highbury a few years back- near the NE corner. But just rumours.

The new store in the south end is great- but since it simply replaced the old one it's not really a 'new' store in terms of store count in town.

Both locations are swamped and only getting crazier. I thought the location in Brantford that just opened might have helped relieve things but I guess not really- probably helped out the stores in Hamilton however.

With prices on everything going up and up, and sales harder to come by, Costco will become more and more attractive for not just large households, but everyone. I'm a brand new member and still not used to the insane crowds- but I do like how I can get a light lunch in free samples when I visit

[jammer139]

I would think Costco would be looking at opening a store in Sarnia before a 3rd store in London. Would attract some American shoppers from Port Huron area.

[Djeffery]

We've gone to the Brantford store several times now and in the various times we have been there, it's been pretty quiet by London and KW standards. For SW Ontario I would think them replacing the old Kitchener store would be more of a priority than adding any new ones elsewhere in the region. No sure what piece of land they would find to build on but they need both a bigger store and a bigger parking lot there. This store, like the old London South, dates back to Price Club days I believe, although London was older.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by White737

What do you guys think will go in at the north east corner of highbury and Fanshawe ?

In the London plan that area is listed as shopping.

It’d be awesome to get a third Costco and have it there. I’m

I've been saying for years that this would be the ideal location for a third Costco, which is badly needed. I have actually left without entering Costco a few times after spending 15 minutes circling without success for parking. The Wonderland location has become a zoo over the 20 years that I have been a customer.

[White737]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I've been saying for years that this would be the ideal location for a third Costco, which is badly needed. I have actually left without entering Costco a few times after spending 15 minutes circling without success for parking. The Wonderland location has become a zoo over the 20 years that I have been a customer.

Ha true. They have definitely gotten really bad. It’s To the point, as you say, that you just decide not to go due to traffic and crowds.

Although I don’t know if our London ones are any busier than any others.

I’d like to know how they make their decision on a new store. It seems like our population growth warrants it. And Fanshawe and highbury is a major intersection with large commercial space.

[White737]

The food basics “opening soon” sign now says it’s open May 8.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by White737

Ha true. They have definitely gotten really bad. It’s To the point, as you say, that you just decide not to go due to traffic and crowds.

Although I don’t know if our London ones are any busier than any others.

I’d like to know how they make their decision on a new store. It seems like our population growth warrants it. And Fanshawe and highbury is a major intersection with large commercial space.

As bizarre as this sounds, a third Costco in the north east might actually help reduce traffic issues in the Oxford/Wonderland area.

[CanadianTalk]

Here is a construction update photo that Westdell posted today:

[White737]

I wonder if they’ll put a light in at rob panzer and Fanshawe.

Looks like a lot of work is left on the parking lot before opening.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by White737

I wonder if they’ll put a light in at rob panzer and Fanshawe.

Looks like a lot of work is left on the parking lot before opening.

Hate to see another light on Fanshawe, but it's going to be needed there, especially as that plaza won't allow lefts out onto Highbury northbound (or as I found out last week, lefts from Highbury northbound into the receiving area, that was fun lol). Not sure what timeline for Rob Panzer to be connected right around to Highbury, but it looks like nothing is being done about that.

The parking lot in front of the grocery store, where all the cars are in that photo, is paved but as can be seen, it's a muddy mess as vehicles track the dirt over from the rest of the site. I wouldn't expect much else will be paved in the next couple weeks.

[CanadianTalk]

Originally Posted by White737

I wonder if they’ll put a light in at rob panzer and Fanshawe. ...

I emailed the City not that long after construction started on the plaza last year and they told me that they do a traffic light study this Spring, and they'll email me back to let me know if a light is needed for that intersection... will update this thread if I hear back.

[White737]

Nice work!

It probably won’t be too bad when it’s just the food basics open. But once they have the phase 1 complete they will definitely need it. And probably need a highbury entrance.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by White737

Nice work!

It probably won’t be too bad when it’s just the food basics open. But once they have the phase 1 complete they will definitely need it. And probably need a highbury entrance.

There is an entrance from Highbury, that you can see going off the left edge of that aerial shot a few posts up. As I said in a prior post, this entrance is only accessible from southbound Highbury. At some point, Blackwell Drive will connect that roundabout at bottom right to Highbury to the north of phase 2 of this project which has that Costco sized proposed CRU on the site plan. Blackwell is past the median divider so will allow traffic from northbound to come in to this plaza.