Broadmead Village, the outdoor, open-air shopping centre located just off the Pat Bay Highway near the Royal Oak overpass, is preparing for an expensive facelift.
Property owner and developer Grosvenor Americas hopes infusing $6.5 million into the 21-year-old strip mall, in the form of new storefronts, improved pedestrian walking and gathering spaces, and nearly 200-square-metres of new retail space, will help keep it a relevant place to shop, amid an overall shift in the shopping world.
“I think the trend has been to convert open-air shopping centres into more of a lifestyle centre. Grosvenor is embracing the community aspect of the term “lifestyle centre” – offering more to the community to come and enjoy their experience here,” said Alison Miles Cork, asset manager with Grosvenor Americas.
“Victoria’s changing. The retail landscape is changing with Uptown and the renovation of Hillside. … Grosvenor wants to ensure that we maintain the centre and continue to attract the kind of quality retailers the community wants.”
Miles Cork said the plan for the outdoor pedestrian space includes a new water fountain, a fireplace and more seating, to help make it more of a gathering place. The existing storefronts will also be changed, to include more “West Coast contemporary elements” using wood and greenery.
“Our intent is to minimally impact the existing retailers, in terms of their business, so the renovation will be heavily articulated, with tenant co-ordination,” she said.
Jim Griffith, president of the Broadmead Area Residents’ Association, said first impressions of the upgrades are positive.
“It’s a much-needed facelift that should’ve been done years ago,” he said.
Grosvenor Americas runs all of Broadmead Village, save for the Canadian Tire. A total of 41 businesses currently operate from the shopping centre.
The plan – which still needs to be approved by the District of Saanich – is to begin with upgrading the landscape, pedestrian and parking elements. Building the new storefronts and additional retail space would begin in the summer or early fall. Project completion is expected by mid-2013.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
