[Burnaby] The Amazing Brentwood | 15 Towers | 186m | 56 flrs | U/C & Proposed

[Alex Mackinnon]

Did it actually sell out?

[jlousa]

I don't have any inside info on Brentwood as I haven't cared enough to acutally ask anyone on the inside about it. Wouldn't be surprised if they do not have a single marque tenant signed though and just have a hopeful that has shown interest and is waiting until the last minute before they commit. My gut tells me that any marque would simply be settling for Brentwood though and it wouldn't be their choice location.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jlousa

My gut tells me that any marque would simply be settling for Brentwood though and it wouldn't be their choice location.

No kidding. However, never underestimate the potential of the suburb town centres to replace traditional retail centres.

I have good feelings about the Brentwood neighhourhood.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

No kidding. However, never underestimate the potential of the suburb town centres to replace traditional retail centres.

I have good feelings about the Brentwood neighhourhood.

I remember when that was true...just after World War 2. I don't think that suburban mall based retail spaces are going to replace traditional retail centres, considering that we are seeing the reverse happen right now. Malls are losing their lustre (hence the need for comprehensive development) and marquee tenants want flagship locations in highly visible, highly trafficked, and high tourist zones.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

I remember when that was true...just after World War 2. I don't think that suburban mall based retail spaces are going to replace traditional retail centres, considering that we are seeing the reverse happen right now. Malls are losing their lustre (hence the need for comprehensive development) and marquee tenants want flagship locations in highly visible, highly trafficked, and high tourist zones.

Remember that East Hastings used to be the shopping district for Vancouver? Now it's Robson Street.

Rodeo Drive in LA wasn't always the place to be for shopping, although downtown LA is seeing a resurgence these days, but only because they are building new malls downtown.

The world won't wait for you, and that applies to the world of retail. You snooze, you lose.

Also, malls are hardly losing their lustre, except those suburbia one-storey malls surrounded by huge parking lots, in the middle of nowhere.

[Caliplanner1]

Originally Posted by Vin

Remember that East Hastings used to be the shopping district for Vancouver? Now it's Robson Street.

Rodeo Drive in LA wasn't always the place to be for shopping, although downtown LA is seeing a resurgence these days, but only because they are building new malls downtown.

The world won't wait for you, and that applies to the world of retail. You snooze, you lose.

Also, malls are hardly losing their lustre, except those suburbia one-storey malls surrounded by huge parking lots, in the middle of nowhere.

The "resurgence" of downtown L.A. is driven more so by (multifaceted) mega/marquee destination projects like L.A. Live and not by downtown malls per se given the relative dearth of upsacle housing projects downtown. The recent development/expansion of urban rapid rail transit/the subway etc. has helped to drive retail growth somewhat in downtown L.A..

With all that said, Brentwood is pretty unique in combining upscaled residences/retail/entertainment/leisure/transportation project elements all together.

[SpongeG]

I think Brentwood will take off, it's close to SFU and BCIT, and a lot of people hate going to metrotown. It will be a good alternative.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Remember that East Hastings used to be the shopping district for Vancouver? Now it's Robson Street.

Rodeo Drive in LA wasn't always the place to be for shopping, although downtown LA is seeing a resurgence these days, but only because they are building new malls downtown.

The world won't wait for you, and that applies to the world of retail. You snooze, you lose.

Also, malls are hardly losing their lustre, except those suburbia one-storey malls surrounded by huge parking lots, in the middle of nowhere.

OK, go try to convince people that the best way to revitalize a downtown is to build huge malls in the middle of their dense urban cores. Good luck.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I think Brentwood will take off, it's close to SFU and BCIT, and a lot of people hate going to metrotown. It will be a good alternative.

I think so too. Also the fact that it's basically a complete rebuild of the entire mall, will give it a boost.

The relatively high quality of Solo District across the street as well as the (hopefully) large addition of office space down the road at Gilmore will certainly add to the appeal of Brentwood. Add in the big redevelopment of the Concord Brentwood project and you've got yourself a large daytime population at Brentwood.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by csbvan

OK, go try to convince people that the best way to revitalize a downtown is to build huge malls in the middle of their dense urban cores. Good luck.

I think it really depends on the build form of the mall. If you go with a Brentwood -style redevelopment focuses on "high street" retail it can be much more successful compared to a completely enclosed indoor mall like Metrotown that kills pedestrian activity and street life.

[burnaby88]

There is literally nothing to buy in that mall. I asked some staff again about the future tenants and I was told so many leases are not being renewed. Sears is beyond dead quiet and I could see that store shutting down. The seating areas however are busy with the SAME people sitting there all day not buying anything. This can't be good for the mall.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

OK, go try to convince people that the best way to revitalize a downtown is to build huge malls in the middle of their dense urban cores. Good luck.

Funny how the limited imagination visualizes only one type of mall: the "street-life-killing" kind.

http://la.curbed.com/2013/10/10/10188268/new-renderings-revealed-for-dtlas-macys-fortress-makeover

http://la.curbed.com/2011/4/5/10474110/new-downtown-target-renderings-released-new-name-announced

Originally Posted by burnaby88

There is literally nothing to buy in that mall. I asked some staff again about the future tenants and I was told so many leases are not being renewed. Sears is beyond dead quiet and I could see that store shutting down. The seating areas however are busy with the SAME people sitting there all day not buying anything. This can't be good for the mall.

Wait till the thousands of new residents start filling the condos upstairs. They will need places to shop. I'm sure Sears would be happy to be back then.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Jebby

I think it really depends on the build form of the mall. If you go with a Brentwood -style redevelopment focuses on "high street" retail it can be much more successful compared to a completely enclosed indoor mall like Metrotown that kills pedestrian activity and street life.

I agree with that fully. That being said, I think what makes the Brentwood model successful is the fact that it is a mall attempting to modernize itself by returning to a "high street" concept. In other words, they are taking the tired, decades old mall concept and re-imagining it, thanks to the copious amount of excess space, to be something more akin to a downtown with high streets. I think that this is a great model for suburban malls, but that is because they are a fading business.

I don't think that this is necessarily a model that would work in a downtown core that is already full of high street shopping. Vancouver has a key downtown mall, Pacific Centre, and it works well because it gets out of the way of the street (by being underground). However, the most desirable retail space in Vancouver is on its "high streets" where flagship stores can be opened. For example, Alberni Street for luxury and Robson Street on the blocks around Burrard. Aritzia has a store in Pacific Centre, but its flagship is on Robson. Apple has a store in Pacific Centre, but it wants a flagship store that is standalone and on a high street.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by burnaby88

There is literally nothing to buy in that mall. I asked some staff again about the future tenants and I was told so many leases are not being renewed. Sears is beyond dead quiet and I could see that store shutting down. The seating areas however are busy with the SAME people sitting there all day not buying anything. This can't be good for the mall.

It's expected. The mall is a construction zone. I'm sure in 2-3 years it will be a much different story.

[excel]

Originally Posted by burnaby88

There is literally nothing to buy in that mall. I asked some staff again about the future tenants and I was told so many leases are not being renewed. Sears is beyond dead quiet and I could see that store shutting down. The seating areas however are busy with the SAME people sitting there all day not buying anything. This can't be good for the mall.

If was just there today. I wouldn't say there is nothing. It appeared that around 2/3s of the stores were occupied by tenants and there was a decent amount of traffic for a Thursday afternoon. Definitely not a great selection of stores but not completely dead like everyone keeps saying.

[excel]

Today:



























mine.

[GilmoreStation]

• Video Link

[mcminsen]

^^^ Best. Update. Ever.

Notice how on the orbit part the drone goes just out to the edge of the property but not out over the road or adjacent properties. Then (in the last part starting ~6:07) the jaw dropping ascent and pan up and around to the north shore view. I wish we could have drone updates for other big projects, too.

[SFUVancouver]

Wow! That drone footage is amazing, and I love the slow ascent and pan at the end.

[Jebby]

What is truly amazing is the fact that what is currently being built, despite it's massive size, still leaves a huge amount of the property untouched.

This truly is massive.