Centre Mall -> The Centre on Barton

[flar]

Definitely not a train station, I've seen many a Loblaws and Zehr's that look like that. It's kinda surprising that there aren't any grocery stores of that design around here. I guess we'll have one now.

It'll be interesting to see what effect this development will have in this area of Hamilton.

[raisethehammer]

wow....Hamilton really is tossing away the future simply to fatten the pockets of a few multinationals. amazing.

[BrianE]

There's some disapointing features for sure. But look at the site how it was before. http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geo...79.811136&spn=0.005267,0.009356&t=h&z=17

These plans are a quantum leap forward if you ask me. Viewed from the air, Centre mall was a parking lot wasteland. Not a single building along Barton, Ottawa or Kennilworth.

Does anyone have time to do a quick layout of how they think this 31.7ha plot of land should have been developed? I would be interested to see the ideas. For example, I think they could have made the stretch along Barton look like the International Village BIA on King St. Retail on bottom and 2 -3 stories of apartments on top. Would it kill them to have people actualy living on this land?

[DC83]

Originally Posted by BrianE

Does anyone have time to do a quick layout of how they think this 31.7ha plot of land should have been developed? I would be interested to see the ideas. For example, I think they could have made the stretch along Barton look like the International Village BIA on King St. Retail on bottom and 2 -3 stories of apartments on top. Would it kill them to have people actualy living on this land?

There's already the Centre Mall Apartments in the west-end of the lot. Let's just say the bldg isn't the most desirable rental units in the city hahaha

Streetwall is an improvement, 100%! No arguing that! However, they SHOULD have built those units with street-entry. I also doubt there'd be any display windows facing the street either.

Street-facing entry along Barton along with mix-use units (either businesses or residential on top, even if only 2-3 stories) would have made much, much more sense. The fact they didn't do any of this is why I'm so annoyed.

[raisethehammer]

agreed. how hard is it to continue the streetwall down Barton with a built-in clientele living upstairs.
All the big box crap could still have been built along the back of the site, but the street would have been much nicer.
This way just sucks, like upper james.

[DC83]

^^ Well, firstly, the big boxes aren't built to house anything ontop besides maybe a million A/C units to make sure their suv-driving clientelle are just as cold in the summer as they are in the winter.

I was up at Costco the other week, and saw they were ripping apart the old Future Shop for the new Best Buy (wow.. what a difference), and the side 'walls' (if you want to call them that) were about as thick as my arm... and I'm a small guy haha

These boxes are made so crappy b/c the developpers want to walk away with as much $$$$$$$$ as they can. To hell with quality or sustainability.

[matt602]

The project may suck, but as already posted it's leaps and bounds ahead of the current Centre Mall. The place was so horridly out of date, barely maintained and incredibly oppressive. Had to walk through a sea of parking spaces to even get to the mall. At least now we'll have a modern project going up, even if it's of the big box kind.

I'm sure most people will argue of it's 1950's vintage, but I just don't see it in my eyes. I kind of blame the owners in the past 10-15 years for letting it go to waste.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

The the new Centre Mall. I wonder if they will change the name as it will not be a mall anymore?[/IMG]

I think they should go old-school and (re)rename it 'The Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre'!

What would everyone else like to see it called?

[markbarbera]

I concur - and I hope they make good on their promise to incorporate the signature triple-arches into the site.

[fastcarsfreedom]

Surprise!...I agree...it definitely should refer to the full name (Sears, for the record, continued to use the fall name in it's ads/corporate materials). I'm sure abbreviated name "The Centre" works well also. And the triple arch ABSOLUTELY should be preserved...it is the Centre as I remember it.

[mishap]

Originally Posted by DC83

I think they should go old-school and (re)rename it 'The Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre'!

What would everyone else like to see it called?

That, or "The Barton Centre."

[MsMe]

Yea the arches need to stay. Not sure where they would look best though. Maybe at an entrance on Barton St. somewhere.

[raisethehammer]

maybe over the TD drive-thru.

[markbarbera]

I was thinking of the site of the HSR terminal, which I guess is technically a drive-thru as well.

[SteelTown]

It'll likely go along the front entrance from Barton and next to the food court building.

[raisethehammer]

I'm not aware of any HSR terminal on this site.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Here's a proposal for a Centre Mall transit terminal with labelled retail stores like Loblaws, Shoppers, Canadian Tire, Zellers, etc.

posted by steeltown some time ago

[DC83]

^^ That render shows that this tudor-style bldg we were wondering about is clearly a Loblaws. Makes sense since I've seen this style used before.

Those arches will most likely be incorporated at the main entrance where, in the photo above, the buses enter.

I had no idea the 4 Bayfront went to Centre Mall? Or is this new for the route?

[SteelTown]

That's just a proposal hsr terminal, nothing serious.

[raisethehammer]

that proposal was done by a guy over on the Canadian Transportation blog. it's not a 'real' proposal from the HSR or Centre Mall.