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Is there retail on the bottom? If not I doubt any bubble tea sipping will be happening here. I don’t mean to be skeptical but this to me looks a bit like all those renders which have Bentleys in the images where we all know most Bentley owners are not going. It’s just advertising. But that’s me. It’s still miles better than what’s south of eglinton.'Tower in the Park" concepts always (to me) harkened back to the good old days of kids roaming freely, playing ball, riding bikes, playing games with marbles, and skipping rope. The concept above seems to me, probably because its another fresh memory, to be more adult orientated - very deliberate areas of greenery with specified areas of movement, seating....someplace where you take your Starbucks and meet a friend, coworker, client etc. etc. Using the word 'asian' as a point of influence is most likely not completely accurate, but having returned from another quick sojurn to the area, the designed area feels very familiar in concept - change up the plants a bit, add in a larger quantity of air pollution and I am right there, fending off bubble tea and a slice of a Durian Pastry.
If they build it, as with so many areas of greenspace in the GTA, imagination in plantings, and maintenance of the plantings and the hardscape will do so much to determine the ongoing success of the design.
www.mississauga.com
We I say 'replacing the mall', I'm not necessarily suggesting a reduction in retail, but the development of a more urban-style mall like the Eaton Centre. More vertical, more integrated into a fine grain block structure, etc. We should be doing something similar with Square One. Of course, this would work better with adequate transit actually serving the mall directly, like the Eaton Centre.It does have a weird tower in the park vibe. The street network looks ok though. It’s a million times better than what’s across the street. Do those people walk to the mall or drive. I suspect they drive.
I think all these mall operators hope that the new hoisin keeps the mall going. So I wonder if they really have plans to shrink the mall. The other thing is if you’re buying here you are buying specifically to be beside a mall. If the mall goes will the buyers be happy. Likely not.
Especially on this corner, where a street grid could be imposed with only minor incursions on the parking lot surrounding the mall. The redevelopment plans should include a proposed block plan for the entire site, to show how this would fit into that eventual build-out.I feel like keeping the ring road as is, is a missed opportunity to build a proper grid on such a large plot of land.
Agreed.I feel like keeping the ring road as is, is a missed opportunity to build a proper grid on such a large plot of land.
If square one got rid of the bay and it’s parking garage. The Walmart parking garage. And the unused old movie theatre are with its underground garage then you could build a grid more or less around it. I think those three things should be ok sacrifices.Agreed.
But the reason mall owners redevelop this way is to avoid disturbing the money-making GFA.
Adding a street grid means cutting up the existing building. That makes part/all of the mall unusable for a long time and requires more planning effort for the new retail layout.
Also there's no guarantee the new setup would perform as well as the current one.
You see the above points reflected in all the major mall densification initiatives--STC, Fairview, Yorkdale, Square One, Markville.
It sucks from an urbanist perspective, but it is what it is.
