Quote:
Originally Posted by Spongebob
Aside from the Cornwall Centre, why can't Regina get a half decent mall? The Southland Mall has great potential with the library and movie theatres there already but they can't seem to get an anchor tenent in the old Wal Mart store. The Victoria Square hasn't had much to offer for a long time. The Golden Mile just keeps losing stores. I would like to see Regina open a new mall in the suburbs or renovate an existing one on the scale of the Cross Iron Mills mall in Calgary (or close to it). I understand the frustration with the big box store mess in the east end, but what other options are there in Regina?
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Because Shopping Malls in general are duds. This isn't a Regina specific case, most Cities have a swath of under performing malls. The model is outdated, unless you have a center which can attract and keep a host of upper-tier tenants then you will get your Golden Miles and Vic Squares off the mix. Malls we're created in the days of suburbia and the car, downtown's wanted to make fake environments to convince people in the burbs to come downtown and spend money. They created islands of concrete to keep patrons as far away from the "real world" as possible. Most malls have done some work to open themselves back up but most remain duds.
Unless you are able to attract top-end tenants or big anchors you will fall into despair and oblivion. IMO the "Shopping Mall" is outdated. Nobody is building these things anymore unless they are in Dubai and China and have tons of cash.
The majority of the malls are owned by big conglomerations and REITs whom care nothing about the local market they are present in. Until the paint starts peeling and mold surfaces do they rush in to fix their properties up.
If I had my way Cornwall would be blown up with a "Arcade" put in its place. A opened up mall which is more about shopping. A mix between a open air "lifestyle" center with a modern take on the old school Arcades to shield us from our harsh winters (but still with the ability to open up in the summer times). Toronto has the first outdoor shopping center, it would be nice to see Regina get Canada's first "Arcade"
A mix betweeen this:
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Shops at Don mills, Toronto; Source: Ascribehq.com
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The Naples Arcade, I believe this was the first one? Source: allpostersimages.com/
The Grove, Dubai; Source: dubaicityguide.com
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Some type of modern retractable element to open it up in the summer
New Wimbledon roof; Source: architect.co.uk
Well hey how about we just blow up Cornwall, extend F.W. Hill Mall and throw a glass skin over the thing. It would be Stephen Avenue on steroids!
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