Post by Jari on Aug 27, 2005 11:58:25 GMT -5
What follows Arena fall?
Developer courts retailers
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER
The president of Shindico Inc. is trying to put together an impressive lineup of stores near Polo Park Shopping Centre, once Winnipeg Arena is crushed and cleared away.
"It would be nice to find retailers that aren't here yet or which aren't here in a big way," developer Sandy Shindleman told The Sun as city officials prepared to stop taking demolition bids for the 50-year-old Winnipeg Arena this week.
ANCHOR STORE
Shindleman named no specific companies but said the retailers that will move on to the five-acre site -- and likely on to land occupied by CTV's studios -- will be "something pleasing" to traffic on Empress Street and include an anchor store "that isn't accounted for" in the local market.
They'll also be large enough, he predicted, to help the commercial sector take a far larger share of the property tax load.
"Anything we get built there or leased there should lower our share in the property-tax bill for homeowners," he explained.
Shindico's plans will come together in coming months, as his talks with the International Council of Shopping Centres help identify the best tenants for a complex likely to run from the Arena to CTV's adjacent site.
Ontrea Inc., an Ontario-based group Shindico is working with, is in talks with CTV.
Shindleman's plans comes as the city's property department prepares to assess demolition bids for the Arena. Proposals close today, with tear-down to begin by October and wrap up in April. "It could be an implosion. That's a possibility," said spokeswoman Pam Sveinson.
Ontrea Inc., is paying $3.6 million for the Arena site under a deal in which the city spends about $1.4 million to demolish the barn.
Mayor Sam Katz said the city must capitalize if the Arena is blown to bits like the Ogilvie Mills plant was on Sunday.
"If they're going to implode it, they should make sure they get some professional camera people out there to get it," Katz said. "Because we could be able to sell it down the road for a movie shoot."
Developer courts retailers
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER
The president of Shindico Inc. is trying to put together an impressive lineup of stores near Polo Park Shopping Centre, once Winnipeg Arena is crushed and cleared away.
"It would be nice to find retailers that aren't here yet or which aren't here in a big way," developer Sandy Shindleman told The Sun as city officials prepared to stop taking demolition bids for the 50-year-old Winnipeg Arena this week.
ANCHOR STORE
Shindleman named no specific companies but said the retailers that will move on to the five-acre site -- and likely on to land occupied by CTV's studios -- will be "something pleasing" to traffic on Empress Street and include an anchor store "that isn't accounted for" in the local market.
They'll also be large enough, he predicted, to help the commercial sector take a far larger share of the property tax load.
"Anything we get built there or leased there should lower our share in the property-tax bill for homeowners," he explained.
Shindico's plans will come together in coming months, as his talks with the International Council of Shopping Centres help identify the best tenants for a complex likely to run from the Arena to CTV's adjacent site.
Ontrea Inc., an Ontario-based group Shindico is working with, is in talks with CTV.
Shindleman's plans comes as the city's property department prepares to assess demolition bids for the Arena. Proposals close today, with tear-down to begin by October and wrap up in April. "It could be an implosion. That's a possibility," said spokeswoman Pam Sveinson.
Ontrea Inc., is paying $3.6 million for the Arena site under a deal in which the city spends about $1.4 million to demolish the barn.
Mayor Sam Katz said the city must capitalize if the Arena is blown to bits like the Ogilvie Mills plant was on Sunday.
"If they're going to implode it, they should make sure they get some professional camera people out there to get it," Katz said. "Because we could be able to sell it down the road for a movie shoot."