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 Intrinsic
      
Location: Collingwood
Gender: Male
 |  | (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
< on 6/9/2009 8:49 PM >
|  | | | source:
http://www.stcatha...lay.aspx?e=1604417
City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
Posted By MARLENE BERGSMA, STANDARD STAFF
City councillors have cleared the way for a $75-million shopping centre on an abandoned industrial site in east St. Catharines, with their decision Monday to eliminate an obstacle to the development.
Councillors voted unanimously to make a decision next month on Smart Centre's proposed 350,000-square-foot retail plaza, overruling the objections of city planning staff, who said the development still needs more study.
It's a decision the company has been waiting for since 2005, when it bought the abandoned Ferranti-Packard Transformers building, said Josh Kaufman, director of land development for Smart Centres.
From the beginning, Smart Centres planned to develop the 30-acre parcel on Dieppe Road between Bunting Road and Neilsen Avenue for retail uses, moving Wal-Mart from its current location in the Lincoln Mall on Welland Avenue into the new shopping centre.
Since 2005, it has conducted and paid for nine different traffic, planning, marketing and engineering studies, Kaufman said.
But with the economy now in a funk, Wal-Mart's position as an anchor tenant is in jeopardy unless the city makes a quick decision, Kaufman told councillors Monday night.
That's why the company took the unusual step of appearing before council to ask for a shortcut.
"The push here today is that it is very possible if timing doesn't progress in as quick a fashion as we are hoping, there is the possibility that the tenant may not be part of this development," Kaufman said.
City planner Paul Chapman had recommended the city undertake a comprehensive land-use study before considering whether to allow industrial land to be converted to retail use. Before industrial land can be changed to retail, the province requires a comprehensive review, Chapman wrote.
Without such a review, the city would have a more difficult time defending a rezoning if the decision is appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board, Chapman wrote. The study would take eight to 12 months.
But Kaufman said Smart Centres can't afford to wait any longer.
Local businesses also want the vandalized, abandoned property cleaned up, he said.
"This can be a catalyst, an opportunity to jump-start development now," he said.
Kaufman also said Smart Centres intends to keep a small strip of light industrial sites along Neilsen Avenue.
The St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce also urged speed.
"Don't let this project get tied up in a review process that has already taken too long," said Walter Sendzik, general manager of the chamber. "We believe the city is open for business; you can demonstrate that tonight."
Sendzik said the chamber has always supported the switch from industrial land to commercial at that site because the city should be trying to attract small, light industries, not the massive heavy industry such as Ferranti-Packard once was.
Economic development director David Oakes said St. Catharines is unlikely to attract a company to replace the transformer manufacturer because the site is too contaminated and the building has been stripped of its industrial potential.
"It's not usable anymore," Oakes said.
Smart Centres will demolish it to make way for the plaza.
But first it must clean up the PCB-contaminated site, a move supported by Sendzik.
"This is a company that bought contaminated industrial land and has a plan to clean it up -- and provide a commercial complex in a part of the city that needs a facelift," Sendzik said.
He said the property taxes paid by a new commercial development will help reduce taxes for other businesses.
But council watcher Bernie Slepkov told councillors not to rush into a development that may be rendered obsolete when oil prices skyrocket and imported consumer goods are no longer available or affordable.
St. George's Coun. Greg Washuta disagreed.
"Quite frankly, they can't wait around another eight to 12 months for us to make a decision," Washuta said. Delaying the development further would mean "public perception would not be good."
St. George's Coun. Peter Secord agreed, saying it's the first development in his ward since he's been on council.
"I want to get things moving. It's taking way too long," Secord said.
Councillor Mark Elliott, who owns a retail shop in downtown St. Catharines, declared a conflict of interest and did not participate in the discussion or vote.
The development will be the subject of a public meeting on July 27, when council will make a final decision on whether to rezone the land.
- - -
Green Wal-Mart
The new Wal-Mart shopping centre proposed for Dieppe Road near Bunting Road in east St. Catharines will be cleaner and greener than the Fourth Avenue power centre, promised Josh Kaufman of Smart Centres, the property's owner and developer.
Green features will include:
A white roof to reflect sunlight and help keep the buildings cooler.
High-efficiency lighting and heating
Increased insulation
Lavish landscaping, featuring native and drought-resistant species
More trees
On-site recycling
Water efficient bathroom fixtures
Pedestrian-friendly access and internal pathways
Bicycle parking
Benches and canopies
Streetscaping along Bunting Road, Dieppe Road and Welland Avenue
"Living wall" to mark the site's north boundary
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UsER28459
Location: Southern Ontario
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 1 on 6/10/2009 2:09 PM >
| | | | That place is bolted up pretty tight.They even put piles of dirt in front of most of the doors.I noticed camera's the last time I was there but they didn't look very active.PCB's are not very attractive though....looks like time is running out.
I was exploring the cave last night. That's why I was late.
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fedge
Location: Gaud Corners, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
you blight up my life™®
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 2 on 6/10/2009 8:09 PM >
| | | | If Walmart serves as a catalyst to get that property cleaned up, that can only be a good thing. Anytime a business, even Walmart, wants to get started in this economical Hanoi pit o' hell climate we're in, we should let them.
18-odd Years Of UER-ing! |
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UsER28459
Location: Southern Ontario
Gender: Male
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 3 on 6/13/2009 2:20 PM >
| | | | There's another Wal-Mart close by so i'm guessing that one will close down when they build here.
I was in the neighborhood so I took a few lack luster exterior shots of how the property sits today.
[last edit 6/13/2009 2:21 PM by UsER28459 - edited 1 times]
I was exploring the cave last night. That's why I was late.
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UsER28459
Location: Southern Ontario
Gender: Male
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 4 on 11/8/2009 3:27 PM >
| | | | I didn't want to clutter this thread... http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=73745 sry for the old thread bumpage.
Just a heads up,
What do you think...decoy or could be someone on the property with the keys?
I was exploring the cave last night. That's why I was late.
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GORE
Location: Niagara region
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 5 on 11/8/2009 4:59 PM >
| | | | blast....cancels my plans for the day...
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kowalski
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 6 on 11/8/2009 5:19 PM >
| | | | Posted by fedge
Anytime a business, even Walmart, wants to get started in this economical ----- pit o' hell climate we're in, we should let them.
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Setting aside the ridiculous reference in your post, I have to point out that it's a post that has apparently been made in ignorance of the total history of Walmart in North America. Anything is better than Walmart, including nothing.
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Boffo
Moderator
Location: Smithers, BC
Gender: Male
HONK! HONK!
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 7 on 11/8/2009 6:46 PM >
| | | | Posted by UsER28459
What do you think...decoy or could be someone on the property with the keys?
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I doubt he patrols inside, it is fairly chemically inside. There was one large chunk of the plant that had a very strong toxic smell...
Here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you. |
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Hi/Po
 
Location: Earth
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 8 on 11/8/2009 7:41 PM >
| | | | Posted by kowalski
Setting aside the ridiculous reference in your post, I have to point out that it's a post that has apparently been made in ignorance of the total history of Walmart in North America. Anything is better than Walmart, including nothing.
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I agree; the average big-box store doesn't even need to clean up the land, they can just cap most of the contaminated soil land. And the land remains low in value, and communities get little of value: a cheap new shopping option, but lots of traffic, more garbage, a generic and unappealing built form and greater challenges to small businesses.
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kowalski
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 9 on 11/8/2009 8:07 PM >
| | | | Posted by Hi/Po
a cheap new shopping option
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Indeed, at the expense of others that probably pay better, and at the expense of existing shopping districts that create value both through the community networks they create and support, and through the local capital they raise that then gets reinvested in other local businesses and initiatives (which again create jobs that pay better than Walmart jobs), etc. Walmart devastates communities.
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fedge
Location: Gaud Corners, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
you blight up my life™®
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 10 on 11/8/2009 10:21 PM >
| | | | Posted by kowalski
Setting aside the ridiculous reference in your post |
Jay-sus, hasn't anyone seen Pulp Fiction?!?
18-odd Years Of UER-ing! |
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oddspot
Location: Small Town Alberta
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 11 on 11/8/2009 11:04 PM >
| | | | Posted by kowalski
Indeed, at the expense of others that probably pay better, and at the expense of existing shopping districts that create value both through the community networks they create and support, and through the local capital they raise that then gets reinvested in other local businesses and initiatives (which again create jobs that pay better than Walmart jobs), etc. Walmart devastates communities.
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As a retailer I say one thing to any of the "Walmart devastates communities arguments.... Walmart and the rest of us big box retailers survive and thrive on one thing, people spending their money in our stores. Consumers drive retail success and/or failure.
Every time one of us goes to Canadian Tire, Walmart, Rona etc... for a $14.99 DVD player, a $39.99 particle board cabinet or a $30 dollar power drill and opens our wallets, we are responsible for that company's growth and the economic impact it creates.
Thank You for Your Patronage
Even A Genius Has Questions!?!
I do things because I choose to, not because I have to. My Life, My Rules - No Exceptions! |
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makewiththebits
Location: Aurora, Ontario
Gender: Male
DISABLED EXPLORATIONS
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 12 on 11/9/2009 1:41 AM >
| | | | The security van appears to be a decoy, was there today and the place was empty, van parked out front, no one in or around it.
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GORE
Location: Niagara region
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 13 on 11/9/2009 7:11 AM >
| | | | Thanks for the info.
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UsER28459
Location: Southern Ontario
Gender: Male
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 14 on 11/9/2009 3:07 PM >
| | | | Posted by makewiththebits
The security van appears to be a decoy, was there today and the place was empty, van parked out front, no one in or around it.
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So did you go in?
I was by myself and decided to move on to something else.
I was exploring the cave last night. That's why I was late.
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makewiththebits
Location: Aurora, Ontario
Gender: Male
DISABLED EXPLORATIONS
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 15 on 11/9/2009 5:23 PM >
| | | | Of course, found one massive oven-like object. It looks large enough to hold more than one fully grown elephant:
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z0th
Location: /dev/urandom
Gender: Male
On the bleeding edge of cocking things up.
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 16 on 11/9/2009 5:42 PM >
| | | | Posted by makewiththebits
Of course, found one massive oven-like object. It looks large enough to hold more than one fully grown elephant:
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at least one over-the-top security van.
UsER28459 wrote:
So did you go in? |
yea. seems our timing was good as well.
edit: tagfix, pic.
[last edit 11/9/2009 6:04 PM by z0th - edited 2 times]
gallery | deviantart | flickr |
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UsER28459
Location: Southern Ontario
Gender: Male
| | | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 17 on 11/11/2009 8:40 PM >
| | | | I need more friends!
:facepalm:
I was exploring the cave last night. That's why I was late.
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Hi/Po
Location: Earth
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 18 on 11/11/2009 9:08 PM >
| | | | Posted by oddspot
As a retailer I say one thing to any of the "Walmart devastates communities arguments.... Walmart and the rest of us big box retailers survive and thrive on one thing, people spending their money in our stores. Consumers drive retail success and/or failure.
Every time one of us goes to Canadian Tire, Walmart, Rona etc... for a $14.99 DVD player, a $39.99 particle board cabinet or a $30 dollar power drill and opens our wallets, we are responsible for that company's growth and the economic impact it creates.
Thank You for Your Patronage
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The stores are resilient to community members not shopping in their stores, especially in a lower density community. With a large parking lot, they can just attract people from beyond the community.
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GORE
Location: Niagara region
Gender: Male
| | Re: (St. Catherines) City paves the way for $75-million retail centre
<Reply # 19 on 11/13/2009 3:23 AM >
| | | | Was driving by tonight and saw some more cars parked around the place, one had stickers on the side but I didn't get a great look at it because I was still on the road. They were just pulling up near the front.
The security van was gone when I drove by later.
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