Changing view from the food court

The view from the food court has seen a new addition to the skyline when looking out towards Halifax Street and Willingdon Avenue as the Aviara project at Douglas and Halifax continues along.  The current view will dramatically change as the first phase of the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment unfolds over the next 3 years.  The corner of Halifax and Willingdon where the old Bus Loop sits will be the site of the first high-rise tower (Brentwood One) that recently sold out on the first day of sales.

 2012

2014

Skyline July 20, 2014

Destination Toyota confirmed for Still Creek

According to the City of Burnaby website, Destination Toyota will be moving from its current location at Lougheed and Madison to Still Creek across the way from Morrey Nissan.  It's already known that the site of the current location is up for sale and may even already have been sold to a developer.

New intersections around Brentwood

As Phase 1 of the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment gets set to begin, new intersections are being added on Lougheed Hwy and on Willingdon Ave.  The traffic signals have already been put in place (but not yet activated) at a new intersection just north of Halifax Street.  On Lougheed Hwy, traffic disrupting work is being done at a newly forming intersection with traffic lights to come at Alpha Ave and Lougheed Hwy.

Uniqlo looking at multiple Metro Vancouver locations

We already know about Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo looking at entering Vancouver's downtown, but it's now being rumoured that the chain will be looking at multiple locations in Metro Vancouver.

I hope that Shape Properties is aware of the powerful draw that a Uniqlo would become for Brentwood Town Centre.

Vancity Buzz story below

UNIQLO NEGOTIATING TO OPEN VANCOUVER STORES

Japanese fast-fashion retailer Uniqlo is working with a broker to open stores in Vancouver.

Uniqlo tends to open several stores in each market it enters, and Vancouver will be no exception. In the United States, Uniqlo chose to open in prime retail space on busy streets and in prominent malls. We can therefore expect a large downtown Vancouver Uniqlo flagship, as well as several smaller stores within malls.

Uniqlo’s American expansion provides insight into what it has in store for Canada. First concentrating on metropolitan New York City and San Francisco, Uniqlo opened large flagships as well as stores in top local malls. It subsequently announced expansion plans for Los Angeles, Boston and Philadelphia. Its current strategy involves placing multiple stores in each market, leveraging advertising dollars in each city.

In Canada, Uniqlo will use a similar geographic strategy, concentrating its first stores in Vancouver and Toronto. Sources inform us that Uniqlo is in talks to open a Robson Street flagship, and that a Pacific Centre location could also be in the works. Several suburban Uniqlo stores are likely, all in high-traffic malls. Metropolis at Metrotown, Oakridge Centre, Park Royal and other busy malls could eventually house Uniqlo, and we’ll update you when we learn more.

Stay tuned for more exciting retail announcements from Retail Insider, here on Vancity Buzz.

Sight-lines are ever-changing

As I strolled through Willingdon Heights Park the other day, I noticed the Aviara tower rising beyond the community centre.  With that tower reaching full height and nearby projects along the Douglas / Gilmore / Halifax triangle nearing their approvals, I couldn't help but imagine how long it will be before one is no longer able to get a clear, straight view to Metrotown from anywhere north of Lougheed Hwy when walking in Willingdon Heights or Brentwood Park as the Lougheed corridor between Gilmore Ave and Holdom Ave sees more towers springing up.

Speaking of the Willingdon Community Centre, the facility definitely needs an upgrade and expansion to accommodate the thousands of new locals expected to call the area home over the next few years.

This needs to be done in addition to building a new community centre further east off of Beta Avenue and Dawson Street.  In order to create complete neighbourhoods, recreational spaces must be evenly distributed throughout the city to make them more accessible to walking and cycling.

Low-rise and restaurant coming to Dawson and Willingdon

A low-rise development is being initiated by Amacon for the portion of Dawson Street from 4460 Dawson eastward to 2273 Willingdon Avenue.  It will be a mixed-use development with commercial/restaurant space at street level.  The restaurant space is expected to front Willingdon Avenue.

More details available on the City of Burnaby site (link below)

https://burnaby.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?Id=14430

More commercial/retail tenants confirmed for Solo District

With Whole Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart and a liquor store already confirmed to move into the Solo District site, Uncle Fatih's Pizza will take up residence there as well.  There is word that Ricky's Restaurant and BCAA will also move in along with a Starbucks coffee shop.

It's nice to see another restaurant come into the area.  I wonder if Milestones will make a comeback.