St. Laurent Shopping Centre

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

As others have stated; given the current location, neighbourhood and amenities, I don't necessarily have excessive hope for a Singapore-style project at St-Laurent, but I would expect, at minimum, a few towers (even if all rentals) to add density and residents to prop up mall foot traffic. Even something as simple & basic as the towers which were built at Gloucester centre.

I think the difference is Gloucester centre is in an area with decent residential amenities (parks, supermarkets, bulk barn, easy access to transit station whether or not the mall is open). The St. Laurent area is all industrial/commercial.

[originalmuffins]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think the difference is Gloucester centre is in an area with decent residential amenities (parks, supermarkets, bulk barn, easy access to transit station whether or not the mall is open). The St. Laurent area is all industrial/commercial.

That's why they should incorporate a grocery store component (put in a Sobeys Fresh Market or FarmBoy) in one of the new rental towers, and create easy access outside of the mall so there's access within the mall during hours and an easy connection if there is no mall access. If anything, even if its currently industrial and commericla, transforming the mall into something with great transit, great new units and density, with good amenities...it's doable, and not outside the realm of possibility especially considering it already has LRT access.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by originalmuffins

That's why they should incorporate a grocery store component (put in a Sobeys Fresh Market or FarmBoy) in one of the new rental towers, and create easy access outside of the mall so there's access within the mall during hours and an easy connection if there is no mall access. If anything, even if its currently industrial and commericla, transforming the mall into something with great transit, great new units and density, with good amenities...it's doable, and not outside the realm of possibility especially considering it already has LRT access.

I suspect the business case isn't there. "Comfortable" access outside the mall would be expensive (some sort of a bridge or tunnel would likely be required) and "East Central" Ottawa already has a significant concentration of grocery stores. (Two Farm Boys, two Walmarts, Giant Tiger, Adonis, Food Basics, Freshco, and Independent, two Loblaws.)

[Fading Isle]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think the difference is Gloucester centre is in an area with decent residential amenities (parks, supermarkets, bulk barn, easy access to transit station whether or not the mall is open). The St. Laurent area is all industrial/commercial.

Gloucester Centre is also a pretty big employment hub with CSIS and CSEC Headquarters right there and all the banking/tech offices just across the 174. I imagine the St. Laurent area has much fewer/lower paying employment opportunities within walking distance than Gloucester Centre.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

Gloucester Centre is also a pretty big employment hub with CSIS and CSEC Headquarters right there and all the banking/tech offices just across the 174. I imagine the St. Laurent area has much fewer/lower paying employment opportunities within walking distance than Gloucester Centre.

If the Feds could get going on the Boarder Services Campus across the Queensway, that could help the St. Laurent situation. I get that post-pandemic, the Feds might be questioning their need for new office space, but consolidating their current offices and getting rid of leases in Class C and B buildings are still worthwhile goals.

[BlueJay]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

If the Feds could get going on the Boarder Services Campus across the Queensway, that could help the St. Laurent situation. I get that post-pandemic, the Feds might be questioning their need for new office space, but consolidating their current offices and getting rid of leases in Class C and B buildings are still worthwhile goals.

There has been clearing going on in that area on Tremblay, I wonder if it is the start of something.

[CanadaGoose]

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-store-in-toronto-interview-renderings/

IKEA Announces 80,000 sq. ft. Scarborough Town Centre Concept Store in Toronto [Interview/Renderings]


I doubt Ikea would take over Sears in St Laurent Mall ever, but a possibility.

[MichelKazan]

Originally Posted by CanadaGoose

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-store-in-toronto-interview-renderings/

IKEA Announces 80,000 sq. ft. Scarborough Town Centre Concept Store in Toronto [Interview/Renderings]


I doubt Ikea would take over Sears in St Laurent Mall ever, but a possibility.

Too bad. It's not a bad space for an IKEA at all.

East end residents as well as Gatineau residents could definitely benefit from this as opposed to going to the west end store. It's also right on the LRT.

The space is also nice and big and apparently, there's a warehouse in the basement?

[J.OT13]

Part of Seats has been taken over by... checks notes... Urban Behavior (American spelling). I don't know how much of the space is has taken on, but I believe it's the entire first level.

That said, it would be nice to get a second IKEA. One of the big box centres in Le Plateau had IKEA penciled in years ago, but it never came to be.

[Kitchissippi]

I was at the mall yesterday and the escalators to the LRT are ( still?) out of order with the same sign that’s been up since like 2015 this place is doomed

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think the difference is Gloucester centre is in an area with decent residential amenities (parks, supermarkets, bulk barn, easy access to transit station whether or not the mall is open). The St. Laurent area is all industrial/commercial.

How broadly do you define "area"?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How broadly do you define "area"?

A reasonable walk.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I was at the mall yesterday and the escalators to the LRT are ( still?) out of order with the same sign that’s been up since like 2015 this place is doomed

Interesting and depressing evolution at St. Laurent. It's a mall that at least on the surface seems to have a lot going for it - potentially.

Comparatively speaking, I feared the worst for Les Galeries de Hull when Sears collapsed, but they haven't done too badly and I think most of the Sears space has been taken up by Éconofitness and L'Aubainerie.

[Dengler Avenue]

It's a mall that at least on the surface seems to have a lot going for it - potentially.

Given the relative variety of bubble tea shops, I agree.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Given the relative variety of bubble tea shops, I agree.

[Harley613]

St. Laurent had all the power to be Ottawa's only Megamall (1.5 million square ft+ GLA) back in the early 2000's when they were planning the second floor. It could have become a destination mall. It has done nothing but shrink in retail usage of it's GLA and fade away in importance since that was cancelled, aside from the touch up job on the interior and entranceways.

[acottawa]

I am not entirely clear what St Laurent could have done differently. It has always been a mid-market mall catering to the lower middle class, which is quickly disappearing (both in terms of people and stores catering to that demographic).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I am not entirely clear what St Laurent could have done differently. It has always been a mid-market mall catering to the lower middle class, which is quickly disappearing (both in terms of people and stores catering to that demographic).

I just don't see why it couldn't be a successful eastern equivalent to Bayshore.

It's at the junction of two major highways that come in from the suburbs, exurbs and rural areas. Plus it has better transit connections than Bayshore.

Bayshore like St Laurent also has quite a few poorer areas in the vicinity, and both malls have richer and middle class areas not too far away.

It has free parking as an advantage over Rideau Centre.

Sure, Trainyards has become a major competitor nearby but that type of stuff also exists in the west end not too far from Bayshore.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I just don't see why it couldn't be a successful eastern equivalent to Bayshore.

It's at the junction of two major highways that come in from the suburbs, exurbs and rural areas. Plus it has better transit connections than Bayshore.

Bayshore like St Laurent also has quite a few poorer areas in the vicinity, and both malls have richer and middle class areas not too far away.

It has free parking as an advantage over Rideau Centre.

Sure, Trainyards has become a major competitor nearby but that type of stuff also exists in the west end not too far from Bayshore.

Bayshore more or less has a monopoly on enclosed retail for the entire West side of the city. It is the largest mall between the Rideau Canal and Winnipeg. St Laurent is fairly close to the Rideau Centre, Train Yards and shared a catchment area with place d’orleans and even the Gloucester Centre and the Gatineau malls. The West side is also I think more affluent than the East Side and definitely more populous.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by acottawa

It is the largest mall between the Rideau Canal and Winnipeg. .

This is something I would say!