Regina Construction II - Page 144

Stormer · #**2861** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:12 PM**

Many say that the Cornwall and other downtown malls in North America have ruined downtowns, in particular street level retail.

Commencing in the early 1970s, Ontario's provincial government poured millions of dollars over the course of a decade into the ODRP program in order to revitalize the downtown retail areas of smaller communities throughout the Province. Typically, this involved the construction of new downtown malls to compete with growing suburban shopping opportunities.
However, there was no business case or market analysis to justify the construction of these downtown malls. Typically, this involved the construction of new downtown malls to compete with growing suburban shopping opportunities. Many residents noted that the enclosed facilities represented the antithesis to the one unique aspect of downtown shopping: street-related stores.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton_Centre#Ontario_Downtown_Renewal_Programme_.28ODRP.29
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...d-canadian-shopping-mall/article1873460/

blacktrojan3921 · #**2862** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:28 PM**

While I personally think it's a bit of BS, it does explain why some of the biggest malls in the world are located in suburban areas, ex. West Edmonton Mall, Eastwood Mall Complex, Mall of America, Persian Gulf Complex, and American Dream Meadowlands.

skthunder77 · #**2863** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 8:04 PM**

I have some opinions on the Box Stores vs. Shopping Mall vs. street retail downtown.

First of all I HATE the box store setup. As a parent with smaller kids I find it the most annoying thing to have to park, unload the kids, go to one store, reload the kids, and then go to another store. If it is a nice summer day it isn't so bad depending on how much or what you buy but in the winter!?! Try pushing a baby in a stroller accross a parking lot through snow...in a wind...gimme a break.

Contrast that with parking once, unloading once, and shopping indoors. No-brainer.

I understand and appreciate the appeal of street level retail downtown as well, but I think times have changed and the type of street level retail that will be able to exist in this day and age will be specialty, boutique type of stores that are exclusive and will draw people out. The challenge is to cooperate as a downtown district and cross-promote in the hopes that if people come downtown to shop at one, that they will continue to the other so to speak.

I would also like to see a major expansion of the Cornwall so that Regina could benefit from some more exclusive retailers and would love L O V E love if Regina could get a new downtown movie complex attached to the mall somehow.

The Galaxy was a pain when I lived in the NW due to the rush of traffic when movies were starting....and it is still a pain now that I live in the East and I have to drive to the NW or the South to see a movie...I like the idea of CENTRAL, downtown attractions.

micheal · #**2864** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 8:06 PM**

A downtown movie theatre would be a great addition.

Chadillaccc · #**2865** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I absolutely loathe the idea of suburban malls. What do you think kills downtowns?

We should be glad that Cornwall is still the destination shopping centre for Regina. Without it our downtown would really die off.

EXACTLY! Regina is lucky that the Cornwall Center hasn't gone belly-up like some downtown malls in other smaller cities have:

PP in Winnipeg
Galleria in London

Stormer · #**2866** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 9:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

EXACTLY! Regina is lucky that the Cornwall Center hasn't gone belly-up like some downtown malls in other smaller cities have:

PP in Winnipeg
Galleria in London

Galleria in Regina,
Bayside in Saskatoon

brithgob · #**2867** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

Galleria in Regina,
Bayside in Saskatoon

Galleria (even though there was a pedway link to Cornwall) lacked an anchor. So did Bayside, once the Bay moved into the old Eaton's.

kw5150 · #**2868** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 10:31 PM**

All of Calgary's malls have been renovated at some point and many have a ctrain connection..............maybe the ctrain helped? Inner city density is also the key to inner city mall survival. I dunno, maybe a great food court also helps entice people.....all of the calgary malls are in awesome condition.

Stormer · #**2869** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 11:11 PM**

Tried to get Tower III to show up but it was too dark.

Nathan · #**2870** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 11:35 PM**

The Cornwall food court is always packed. And it also does well because there is such a concentration of office workers that pick stuff up throughout the say or stop by after work. I believe I was reading somewhere that it has one of the highest sales per sq ft values in the country. Or at least one I'd the highest for the company that owns the mall.

The Galleria also failed party because of the Cornwall. There just wasn't enough need for two malls right next to each other downtown. My mom told me quite a whole ago that when the Cornwall opened, the good stores at the galleria shifted to the Cornwall and then the Galleria died a slow and painful death.

Stormer · #**2871** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

The Cornwall food court is always packed. And it also does well because there is such a concentration of office workers that pick stuff up throughout the say or stop by after work. I believe I was reading somewhere that it has one of the highest sales per sq ft values in the country. Or at least one I'd the highest for the company that owns the mall.

The Galleria also failed party because of the Cornwall. There just wasn't enough need for two malls right next to each other downtown. My mom told me quite a whole ago that when the Cornwall opened, the good stores at the galleria shifted to the Cornwall and then the Galleria died a slow and painful death.

Before the Galleria there was the Midtown Shopping Centre in the same location. It even had a full grocery store in the basement. In the late 80's after the Cornwall was built, the building and the office tower were completely re-done inside and out, not unlike the recent renos to make it federal offices a few years ago. The Galleria had numerous interesting and unique stores when it first opened. three levels including a food court. After about 10 years it was pretty much toast. I believe a few stores may have ended up in the Cornwall.

brithgob · #**2872** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

Before the Galleria there was the Midtown Shopping Centre in the same location. It even had a full grocery store in the basement. In the late 80's after the Cornwall was built, the building and the office tower were completely re-done inside and out, not unlike the recent renos to make it federal offices a few years ago. The Galleria had numerous interesting and unique stores when it first opened. three levels including a food court. After about 10 years it was pretty much toast. I believe a few stores may have ended up in the Cornwall.

But the food store (Dominion, because the chain pulled out of Western Canada) was gone well before the revamp as the Galleria. In fact, I wonder if that's what led to it. Anyway, the mall may have remained viable with groceries, since Cornwall never did have a food store.

jw6969 · #**2873** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 4:18 PM**

What was built first, the Cornwall or the galleria?

Stormer · #**2874** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 4:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw6969

What was built first, the Cornwall or the galleria?

As I explained below, the Midtown was first (1964 I believe) replacing regina's beautiful "gingerbread" City Hall, whcih was demolished. IN 1980-81 the Cornwall was built. In the late 80's the Midtown was completely reno'd and became the Scotia Centre Galleria. In the mid-2000's it was completely reno'd again and became the Alvin Hamilton Federal Blg.

micheal · #**2875** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 4:40 PM**

Can anyone provide pics of the old city hall?

cutterp · #**2876** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micheal

Can anyone provide pics of the old city hall?

http://bit.ly/vHtG5E First Result should do it...

drm310 · #**2877** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micheal

Can anyone provide pics of the old city hall?

Stormer · #**2878** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micheal

Can anyone provide pics of the old city hall?

Simpson's Dept Store on the left. Guarantee Trust in the background - still there (One Tooth store with condos above). Also Old Post Office which served as City Hall in the 60's and 70's is in the background on the left.

TechnicalRecession · #**2879** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

Simpson's Dept Store on the left. Guarantee Trust in the background - still there (One Tooth store with condos above). Also Old Post Office which served as City Hall in the 60's and 70's is in the background on the left.

What a shame that building no longer exists, it's a beauty! And I beleive it got torn down, too bad the civic leaders of the time didn't realize what an architectural gem it was..

micheal · #**2880** Posted **Dec 8, 2011, 8:25 PM**

its definately a shame it wasn't saved. What was the state of its condition? and did it play a role in its fate?