Official Fredericton, NB projects thread - Page 224

caveat.doctor · #**4461** Posted **Apr 6, 2013, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgo

I noticed some progress on the Target store today. Lots of work outside and the inside appears to be mostly gutted already.

Just passed by today after a few weeks out of town (managed to catch one last breakfast at Zellers though!): peeking through the front door (which still say "Zellers"), the inside looks totally gutted. The entire upper façade has been removed too.

photo by caveat.doctor, on Flickr

If they renovate the exterior similar to how they redid other Zellers locations, perhaps it could look like this one in London:

Photo: Rockin' On: London Daily Photo http://londondailyphoto1.blogspot.ca/2013/01/zellers-bit-of-canadian-history-fades.html

Dr.Devon · #**4462** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 1:53 PM**

That parking lot is going to be a nightmare. As it stands now it is already pretty tight and if they anticipate increased traffic when Target opens it will be worse.

Taeolas · #**4463** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Devon

That parking lot is going to be a nightmare. As it stands now it is already pretty tight and if they anticipate increased traffic when Target opens it will be worse.

If they were smart, they would redo the lot to be the angled/herring bone style parking with alternating in/out lanes (and no parking along the back of the lot). It would still be a PITA, but it would hopefully make parking a bit easier. It's a possibility they could do that too since IIRC I've seen it at Targets in the States. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else they could do there to help with the parking, since they're very hedged in (and a parking garage would be completely out of the picture for what Target must consider as 'temporary' accommodations)

Blue Blazer · #**4464** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 2:49 PM**

not sure i think this may have been talked about on here, but I see Magee Jewellers is moving to Bishop Drive and out of their Main Street location. I cant blame them Main Street is turning into a dump. Vaccant old Canadian Tire Building and a thrift shop across the street from there. Keeper up Freddy looking good on Main Street #totaljoke

Blue Blazer · #**4465** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Devon

That parking lot is going to be a nightmare. As it stands now it is already pretty tight and if they anticipate increased traffic when Target opens it will be worse.

oh yeah its going to be Brutal. I can picture it now places like Future shop will have rent a cops walking around making sure people dont park in their parking lot.. Maybe they will hire that nogo company

Taeolas · #**4466** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 3:00 PM**

Don't think Future Shop could do that, since the Parking Lot is all part of the Uptown Centre mall space. Then again, Moores did manage to arrange something to keep Good Life from poaching their storefront space, so there may be lease clauses that apply. In any case, Target most likely would be grabbing Boston Pizza and Moores/Good Life spots than Future Shop spots.

Something does need to be done with Main Street. If we're lucky that big spot that was just bought may help. The Shoppers minimall Magees is moving out of isn't too bad, even with Sally Am next door, but the Crappy Tire spot needs to be developed (Developed into something OTHER than a U-Store location), and the Foodland mall could use a good face lift too.

Twinkies · #**4467** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 3:40 PM**

Its hard to do something with Main st when no one wants to be there. Something decent would have to fill the old Canadian tire local to anchor the street. Build around that but such a tuff sell.
Targets will be nuts for a while. May want to park at the high school and walk over.

orgo · #**4468** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 4:41 PM**

The parking taken up by the additional employees (about twice as many as Zellers) is going to make the problem even worse. It's pretty safe to say the Target parking will be just as bad as Sobeys. I'm sure they've thought about it, but short of buying Boston Pizza or RBC and tearing them down, there really are no options. It should be interesting.

Target is expecting about 2.5x (on average) higher foot traffic than the average Zellers they replaced.

cl812 · #**4469** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 5:09 PM**

A parking garage would be by far the best option, but highly unlikely in my opinion. I wonder how long they will stay in that location, I assume for little while since they are investing several million $$.

Taeolas · #**4470** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 6:05 PM**

I doubt they will be there long; ten years max IMO, possibly less. This investment now is just part of their Entry splash; by the time they come due for their first rounds of renovations, they'll probably be looking to decamp to Corbett or 2NC or any other Commercial Box centre in Freddy with room. Uptown Centre is just too small with no expansion room to be a long term solution, short of buying out the rest of the mall and tearing it down. (Maybe removing the block between Target and Staples might be enough) In any case, a parking garage isn't an investment I can see them making.

Maybe they can convince Freddy Transit to run more #13 and #16 routes along Prospect (along with Sunday service and evening service) so employees won't need to drive?

Freddypop · #**4471** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 7:52 PM**

Was by Target this afternoon and had a peek inside. Man.... the whole inside has been gutted. The floor, ceiling.......I mean everything! Only the 4 walls and roof remain from the old Zellers store. This is essentially a full rebuild. Anybody who thought this might be a cosmetic change is in for a big surprise.

Trevor3 · #**4472** Posted **Apr 8, 2013, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Was by Target this afternoon and had a peek inside. Man.... the whole inside has been gutted. The floor, ceiling.......I mean everything! Only the 4 walls and roof remain from the old Zellers store. This is essentially a full rebuild. Anybody who thought this might be a cosmetic change is in for a big surprise.

I was out in St. John's a couple weeks back and they had the 4th wall knocked out of that one and I know the store in Corner Brook, which like Fredericton's is located in a mall with no room to expand, is getting a reno valued at $10 million.

Blue Blazer · #**4473** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 11:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgo

The parking taken up by the additional employees (about twice as many as Zellers) is going to make the problem even worse. It's pretty safe to say the Target parking will be just as bad as Sobeys. I'm sure they've thought about it, but short of buying Boston Pizza or RBC and tearing them down, there really are no options. It should be interesting.

Target is expecting about 2.5x (on average) higher foot traffic than the average Zellers they replaced.

Tearing down RBC, That wont happen its a new building, and Boston pizza was buildt in 2005, its wishful thinknig but non of them buildings are going to be tore down. They should have just builit it up go costco aka wetlands

Taeolas · #**4474** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 11:57 AM**

If Target was really concerned about store size, or parking issues, they would have shut down the Uptown Centre location and rebuilt at Brookside Mall. Clearly instead, the draw power of the Mall District more than outweighed any parking concerns or other issues they may have though.

In the end, the 10 million (or however much the Uptown conversion is costing) is chump change compared to the amounts Target is putting in the Canadian launch. They're obviously doing what they can with what they got from the Zellers buy out, but we can be sure that once they're settled and are starting to look at store performances and such, they'll look at new stores or fixing issues at existing ones where needed. Maybe by then they'd be willing to just buy out Good Life/Moores/Reitmans/etc... to expand the parking and the store instead of building new.

As for the gut, Uptown Zellers certainly needed it. Considering their front Zellers sign burned last fall, they probably don't trust any wiring or plumbing or anything inside there.

Blue Blazer · #**4475** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 1:12 PM**

The plumbing well from the mens washroom was not good at all it looked like a diaster area, and my wife said the same about the womans... They wont trust anything in there... why chance it.. I agree it would have been perfect if the gym and moores would have moved that would have given that area alot more room to work with.. But i dont think the gym will be going anywhere soon

Freddypop · #**4476** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 8:48 PM**

Found this video from Target showing how they renovate a Zellers into a Target in 2 minutes..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EJ6jq5WJgo&feature=youtu.be&sf11444990=1

cl812 · #**4477** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 9:42 PM**

Noticed today that they have started renovations at the Regent Mall Walmart, there is a sign up on the outside of the Garden centre (noticed today driving home).

cl812 · #**4478** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 9:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Found this video from Target showing how they renovate a Zellers into a Target in 2 minutes..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EJ6jq5WJgo&feature=youtu.be&sf11444990=1

Interesting.

Is the store here going to have a Starbucks I wonder?

Freddypop · #**4479** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 10:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cl812

Interesting.

Is the store here going to have a Starbucks I wonder?

Yep...

KnoxfordGuy · #**4480** Posted **Apr 9, 2013, 11:12 PM**

Read in the Gleaner today that the office building being built across from the legion wants to have a height increase from 12 meters to 18 meters. Hope it works out