The east end of Haney Place Mall has been rebuilt and Thrifty Foods has moved in.
Now work is about to start on the west end to allow Target to take over from Zellers.
Target, of Minneapolis, Minn., is asking the District of Maple Ridge to allow it to renovate and expand that portion of the mall, as part of its purchase of Zellers stores across Canada.
Included in the project is expanded floor space bringing the store to 10,334 sq. metres at a cost of about $10 million.
The renovations won’t be a marked departure from the existing building, however, because the brown brick exterior will be maintained.
The mall also will be seeking relaxation of its building height from three storeys required downtown commercial zoning, to two storeys, the same accommodation that was given to Westminster Savings Credit Union building, on the same property.
As well, 72 additional parking spots will be added along with 13 bike parking spaces.
Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said work should start next March and be completed by about November 2013.
“They’re investing a ton of money in property that’s not even theirs,” Daykin said.
He added that Target also donates five per cent of each store’s before-tax profits to the community and that about 250 people will be employed there, more than the current workforce in Zellers.
