[sryboy]

Excited to come home and see all the updates in person!

:cheers: :tup:

[Whalleyboy]

Sorry these update pictures have taken awhile but here they are

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0128.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0127.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0126.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0119.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0117.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0112.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0111.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0098.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/whalley_boy/100_0097.jpg
all photos are mine

[clee7903]

Thanks for all the hard work updating us with photos. Please keep them coming. :cheers:

[SpongeG]

i never really paid attention but does the walmart have a level of underground parking? and than roof parking?

[Whalleyboy]

Some old guy told me while i was taking pictures they are adding an underground parking lot but havent seen anything on it

[officedweller]

This is from the MCMP website - no underground parking:

The Guildford Town Centre Expansion (GTC) project consists of a 3-phase renovation and expansion to the existing shopping centre. The anticipated completion of this renovation is October 2015.

Phase 1 consists of a new Wal-Mart Store and a parking level located above the store.

Phase 2 incorporates the retail expansion which consists of a two-storey addition to the existing Guildford Town Centre, including retail stores and food court component. Level 1 is approximately 157,000 sf and Level 2 is approximately 165,500 sf for a total floor area of approximately 330,000 sf. The project also includes site improvements to existing surface parking areas around the existing building totalling approximately 1 million square feet. The exterior of the existing mall building will be refurbished with a warmer colour palate highlighted by more contemporary entrance canopies.

Phase 3 is an interior renovation of the existing mall, including a reconfiguration of some malls and a re-alignment of stores finishes stylized to forest and coastal themes.

http://www.mcmparchitects.com/projects.cfm?projectID=160

[Fairbanks]

The new Walmart Supercentre must be opening soon. Anyone have any recent pics of the Guildford Expansion? I can find NOTHING online with uptodate pics.

[SpongeG]

it was still pillars in the ground when i last saw it last month no walls nothing

[SpongeG]

took some pics today - this is the north west side i guess

i didn't get a pic of it - but there is a new pyramid structure on it - barely visible in the pics - very visible from the east side

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6025/imag0245o.jpg

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/2149/imag0246x.jpg

[peterprinciple]

http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/BC/Surrey/Guildford/2011/0213/2

Kind of far away but here is an aerial of the Guildford expansion courtesy of Global Air Photos

[peterprinciple]

http://www.civicsurrey.com/

[peterprinciple]

30 odd years ago I managed the McD's on 152nd across the street from Guildford.
Would love to see some pics of the expansion please, if anyone lives nearby. I am on the Island now and seldom get over to that part of town.

Greatly appreciated.

Peterprinciple

[memememe76]

The two-storey parkade next to Walmart along 150th is just ugly. I'm glad I live along 152nd, because walking along 150 would suck (now I just have to drive through it). Even though surface parking was problematic, at least for pedestrians there was a straight access to the Mall/Wal-Mart through the parking lot. Now the stupid parkade will block that route. It also blocks the view of the movie theatre.

[jhausner]

The two-storey parkade next to Walmart along 150th is just ugly. I'm glad I live along 152nd, because walking along 150 would suck (now I just have to drive through it). Even though surface parking was problematic, at least for pedestrians there was a straight access to the Mall/Wal-Mart through the parking lot. Now the stupid parkade will block that route. It also blocks the view of the movie theatre.

That's not a parkade. Unless I'm confused what part you're talking about, the new building right along 150th is the new Walmart. The old Walmart will no longer be. The parking will be on top but the building itself will be Walmart so I believe there will be a direct pedestrian access right from 150th.

At least that's what it shows on the plans a number of pages back.

[SpongeG]

its the back wall of the walmart i think right? walmart's new entrance will be located on the east side? or will it be a south side entrance?

[xd_1771]

New-look, larger Guildford Town Centre on horizon

SURREY - Guildford Town Centre is about to get bigger - and nicer, too.
A groundbreaking event Thursday (Sept. 22) will launch the next phase of a $280-million redevelopment of the shopping mall, the gross leasing area of which will increase from 980,000 to 1.2 million square feet by the end of 2013.
It's billed as one of the largest shopping centre redevelopment projects in Canada.

Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/look+larger+Guildford+Town+Centre+horizon/5437533/story.html#ixzz1YdMQrvV8

Oh boy, here we go...

[skymaster]

Some old guy told me while i was taking pictures they are adding an underground parking lot but havent seen anything on it

Some guy in a orange vest told me the same thing.

[SpongeG]

thanks for the link - looks like its not too long till the walmart opens

The first phase of redevelopment included the expansion of the Walmart store (into a "Supercentre," set to open Oct. 28) and a new parking facility.

Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/look+larger+Guildford+Town+Centre+horizon/5437533/story.html#ixzz1YeSH1WrH

[hollywoodnorth]

Some guy in a orange vest told me the same thing.

did he have a hard hat on? you sure it wasn`t a yellow vest :notacrook: :cheers:

[SpongeG]

they did build underground parking already

[Whalleyboy]

New-look, larger Guildford Town Centre on horizon

SURREY - Guildford Town Centre is about to get bigger - and nicer, too.
A groundbreaking event Thursday (Sept. 22) will launch the next phase of a $280-million redevelopment of the shopping mall, the gross leasing area of which will increase from 980,000 to 1.2 million square feet by the end of 2013.
It's billed as one of the largest shopping centre redevelopment projects in Canada.

Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/look+larger+Guildford+Town+Centre+horizon/5437533/story.html#ixzz1YdMQrvV8

Oh boy, here we go...

there something i see wrong with there numbers the add on of the mall is 200,000+ add on. But if you also add the 200,000+ super walmart add on it puts it at over 1.4 million. Which means this will be the second biggest mall in BC. taking over the pacific centre at 1.3 million

[jhausner]

Well actually according to the development proposal and the planning report and I quote:

In total, once the proposed Phase II improvements are completed, the mall will result in 176,260 square metres (1,897,249 sq.ft.) of retail floor area.

Link to planning report: http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7909-0174-00.pdf

So I think the numbers are a bit confused right now. The site itself says for example the Super Walmart will be 149,000 square feet yet the proposal and building permits say it is larger at just over 165,000 square feet. Not sure who to believe as I'd be more inclined to lean towards the city who really requires detailed drawings and figures.

Then again if you believe the planning reports in the city and development permits, that would put Guildford as the second largest Mall in Canada ahead of Metrotown. I'm finding that hard to believe and would be more inclined to put it around 1.4 million square feet at the high water mar which would nudge it to 7th largest.

Wonder if there is a way to get official word. Also wondering if the planning report includes the non-attached portion of the mall itself aka things like the Marks Work Warehouse, the new retail buildings being constructed on 152nd, and the Movie Theater which are all counted as retail space on the "mall land". That would mean overall mall retail could be 1.9 million square feet but the contiguous mall floor space would be 1.4 million.

Either way I think it points to the fact we definately in the next decade need to see LRT out to Guildford and some major redevelopment and densification projects start underweigh ala MetroTown. Could you imagine the draw to the Central Surrey area if we had LRT out to Guildford.

People in Surrey Central would have access to the second largest regional mall (Guildford) at their finger tips, and Central Surrey Mall which is no slouch either at 618,000 square feet. Not to mention you'd be 15 minute skytrain to Metrotown itself.

[jlousa]

Numbers are certainly all over the place

Guildford Town Centre keeps getting bigger. The 985,000-square-foot mall is being renovated to add 215,000 square feet of retail space, the mall’s general manager, Peggy White, told Business in Vancouver earlier this summer.

More details about the current expansion is expected to be announced today by owner Ivanhoe Cambridge.

A multi-storey parkade is being built to make 5,200 total parking spaces – up from 3,500 current spaces and 5,000 spaces that existed before the mall expansion started.

Most of the 800 people who work at Guildford on an average day drive to work and take parking spots that would otherwise be freed up for shoppers.

Sources told BIV that the mall owner will confirm it has pumped $280 million into the complex to build the new space – a project that has created 4,000 construction-related jobs. Once complete, the new space would add 750 permanent retail jobs.



http://www.bivinteractive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4797:guildford-expansion-to-be-announced&catid=14:daily-news&Itemid=46

[jhausner]

^ that would put it at 1.2 million.

But even those numbers seem wrong. If it is only 215,000 being added, WalMart itself is anywhere from 150,000 to 165,000. So that would mean the remaining "Phase 2" which is a full 2 storey large addition to the mall would then be only 50,000 -> 65,000 which again seems drastically wrong.

Maybe they mean 215,000 + the walmart. That would then make more sense and put both phase 1 and 2 at a combined 380,000 square feet making the mall around 1.37 million square feet.

Either way the mall will be a good size and with all the vast parking lot space still there, prime for redevelopment. I'd love to see all the surface parking replaced with the parkage, underground parking, and some actual higher density development. Let's get some residences right at the mall near to where the bus loop and eventual LRT terminus will be.

[peterprinciple]

Numbers certainly are all over the place, In fact, the largest enclosed mall in BC is Metrotown at 1.783 million sq ft.

[peterprinciple]

there something i see wrong with there numbers the add on of the mall is 200,000+ add on. But if you also add the 200,000+ super walmart add on it puts it at over 1.4 million. Which means this will be the second biggest mall in BC. taking over the pacific centre at 1.3 million

The largest enclosed mall in BC is Metrotown mate. 1.783 million sq ft. That's gonna be tough to beat.

[peterprinciple]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_enclosed_shopping_malls_in_Canada

[skymaster]

The largest enclosed mall in BC is Metrotown mate. 1.783 million sq ft. That's gonna be tough to beat.

Yes, but it's quite impressive for a mall that was built in 1966 and renovated compared to Metro which was built in 1986.

[peterprinciple]

Yes, but it's quite impressive for a mall that was built in 1966 and renovated compared to Metro which was built in 1986.

Agreed and Guildford has always been a personal favourite of mine but it remains that Metrotown is second largest in Canada after West Edmonton.

[Zassk]

And Metrotown was really two competing malls when built, so it is no wonder that once combined they are the biggest in B.C.

[officedweller]

I remember back in the day when Guildford was BC's largest mall and proudly advertised that way.

I also remember when Richmond Centre was 2 separate malls too (Richmond Centre and Richmond Square, I think were the names) - when Lansdowne Mall was king.

[LeftCoaster]

And Metrotown was really two competing malls when built, so it is no wonder that once combined they are the biggest in B.C.

Richmond Centre was built as two seperate malls and actually operated as 2 separate malls until just a month ago.

[skymaster]

Whatever happened to the old red enclosed telephone booth that stood in front of the mall entrance to Walmart on the second floor?

[peterprinciple]

Would love to see some photos of the festivities tomorrow at Walmart Grand opening if anyone is planning to attend. Mostly curious about the finished exterior and current state of construction on phase 2 please.

Thanks in advance.

[SpongeG]

it opens tomorrow? i have to be in surrey for an appointment - i should drop by

[skymaster]

it opens tomorrow? i have to be in surrey for an appointment - i should drop by

Just make sure you don't forget your kevlar vest.

[usog]

Just make sure you don't forget your kevlar vest.

Jeez if I live in Whalley does that mean I shouldn't skip out on the armored car?

So the walmart opening is for the supercenter right?

[Whalleyboy]

Jeez if I live in Whalley does that mean I shouldn't skip out on the armored car?

So the walmart opening is for the supercenter right?

Yeah the new one in Guildford =D

[SpongeG]

you'd think it was the first walmart in canada with the big crowd that was there today - the store doesn't feel that big is smaller than i thought it would be but they cram everything in it

you have to walk outdoors a bit to get to it - so if its raining like it was today you will get soaked as i did :(

i have a pic of a new elevator they have installed or are installing - a bunch of escalators have been installed replacing former sets of stairs - much better and feels much brighter somehow with that change

they have created a new entrance next to the old walmart that gets you to the upper level parkade as well as a path that gets you to walmart but its only about 1/4 covered

[SpongeG]

Nestle Toll House is opening in the mall - they have been said to be expanding into canada a while now - is the first sign of one have seen

pics by me
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2436/imag0604.jpg

the new elevator - basically opposite to the ugly old elevator - see a glimpse of the new escalator in the back
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/9320/imag0605.jpg

[skymaster]

I actually like the look of the old tiling. It's the look of the green tiling that I don't like. I think they installed the green tiling during the renovations they did in the early 2000's.

[peterprinciple]

Just wondering if anyone lives close to Guildford? Could you take some pics of the new walmart and expansion construction please?

[logicbomb]

Just wondering if anyone lives close to Guildford? Could you take some pics of the new walmart and expansion construction please?

Tried to take a pic of the new Walmart and parkade but was questioned by a mall security person who told me that taking pictures of private property is a criminal offense....:haha:

One source told me that they are aiming to bring in high-end retailers (obviously). Same individual told me they are going for the bare basics for the interior renovations of the existing mall. Still have to ask what's going on with the old Walmart building because they were supposed to keep it intact and renovate the interior, however they are demolishing it as you can see by the images.



Shot at Guildford Town Center on 2011-12-19: Work continues on the parkade expansion + new wing of Guildford Mall.
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/3679/p1912111243.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/959/p19121112431.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1093/p1912111244.jpg

Shot at Guildford Town Center on 2011-12-19: Work continues on removing the old Walmart building. Taken from the new parkade entrance (above the walmart)

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7144/p19121113001.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/714/p19121113001.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9599/p1912111301.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/p1912111301.jpg/)

[peterprinciple]

Wow! Thanks for the pics. Will return the favour when I visit Abbotsford next weekend. Will post pics of High Street Town Centre in Abbotsford.

[SpongeG]

i was out there a week or two after the new walmart opened - i had also gone on opening day, and was surprised to see how much had been demo'd already at the old walmart - when are they aiming to open the expansion? 2013 or 2012?

[memememe76]

When (and how) will the new Walmart actually be connected to the mall? I hate the separation. And with the new entrance, it takes me longer to walk to the Walmart from my place. And thank goodness I don't live along 150th, because that monstrous parkade is hideous. Were pedestrians at all considered when designing this new Walmart?

And why is the new Walmart so messy and dirty so quickly? Compared to the supercentre in South Surrey, well...there's no comparison.

Ultimately, this new redesign is a complete and utter disappointment.

[SpongeG]

the walmart will not have a mall connection other than you have to leave the mall to get to it - i think the ground level will have a closer entrance than now but you will have to leave the mall to get to walmart and upstairs will be the same - based on the plans they show - there is a showroom kind of thing inside the mall near old navy with all the plans and such

[Whalleyboy]

to be honest i think there parkade came out looking good along 150th. I mean it looks better then the parkade for central along university drive.

also gotta say having the new super centre has really hurt the super store in guildford went in there the other day for insurance and it was dead.

[logicbomb]

They've almost entirely demolished the old Walmart. Seriously wasn't expecting that considering how original plans showed them retaining 1/3 of the building for the new wing of the mall.

[jhausner]

It may look like they were retaining the original building but I think they will most likely just build a new building to take 1/3rd of the space. It's sometimes cheaper to tear down and rebuild than to rehabilitate a building that is many decades old.

[peterprinciple]

the walmart will not have a mall connection other than you have to leave the mall to get to it - i think the ground level will have a closer entrance than now but you will have to leave the mall to get to walmart and upstairs will be the same - based on the plans they show - there is a showroom kind of thing inside the mall near old navy with all the plans and such

I have seen the inside of the mall and there is an entrance to the new walmart.

[SpongeG]

directly to the store though? it looks like you have to leave it to get to it - its all covered but the walmart has its own independant entrance

[Whalleyboy]

Currently there is no inside connection with walmart and the mall but once the new mall expansion is done there will likely be one at the corner of the walmart

[peterprinciple]

Currently there is no inside connection with walmart and the mall but once the new mall expansion is done there will likely be one at the corner of the walmart
Agreed, unlike Target which likes "not being connected to a mall" Walmart will have a new mall entrance. I was there recently and the entrance was still there but I guess it was prior to them closing that one.

Sorry for misspeaking earlier on this topic.

[jhausner]

I went into the new Walmart during the holiday season to pick a few things up and took a look at the back to see if there was actually an entrance (thinking there would be). It looks like there are at least 2 spots where a mall entrance could be installed but the main area appeared to be where the seasonal (Christmas) items were. The shelving looked rather temporary and the back wall had 2 emergency exits already. Also seemed wide enough to put a few cashiers.

Who knows though. I think a mall connection would be good for business but when the new extension is complete and you don't have to walk 10 minutes up and down stairs to go from Walmart to the mall, a non-connection may not be as big a deal. Right now though it is a right pain.

[logicbomb]

There will be a connection from the mall to the underground parking lot. They will presumably open up the garden center entrance when this happens. Another entrance upstairs via the nature walk which will connect to the new wing of the mall to the Walmart pyramid entrance.

Anyways, took a few photo's today. Most of the (old) Walmart is now gone.

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5038/p10011211261.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9463/p1001121126.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/383/p1001121125.jpg

Worth noting that reno's are set to begin in the near future (March?).

[Whalleyboy]

So talking to someone who worked at the walmart today i was told there not done the walmart yet. They still have some expanding to do to it

[TheEmotionalstone]

I found this on YouTube today...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wagl73DtEKw&feature=related

I don't know if it's already been posted here, but I though it would be nice to bring it up. :)

[jhausner]

It's going to look nice when its done.

[hollywoodnorth]

Guildford Town Centre 1985 TV ad

mnVEnfeEDSA

[KateW1]

One source told me that they are aiming to bring in high-end retailers (obviously).

Like that's going to happen. Can't picture H&M, Forever 21, Sephora, Banana Republic, Lululemon, Guess, BCBG, Tommy Hilfiger, et al setting up shop in there. Guildford is nowhere near the level of Pacific Centre, Oakridge, Metrotown, Richmond Centre, Park Royal.

[osirisboy]

Like that's going to happen. Can't picture H&M, Forever 21, Sephora, Banana Republic, Lululemon, Guess, BCBG, Tommy Hilfiger, et al setting up shop in there. Guildford is nowhere near the level of Pacific Centre, Oakridge, Metrotown, Richmond Centre, Park Royal.

WTF? since when are those stores high end lol

[ryanmaccdn]

WTF? since when are those stores high end lol

Umm they are clearly high end given the location and mall type.

If someone said brooks brothers that's just not believable.

So yeh they are high end.

[NewfBC]

Like that's going to happen. Can't picture H&M, Forever 21, Sephora, Banana Republic, Lululemon, Guess, BCBG, Tommy Hilfiger, et al setting up shop in there. Guildford is nowhere near the level of Pacific Centre, Oakridge, Metrotown, Richmond Centre, Park Royal.

But... Guildford is accessible from the east without crossing the Port Mann and paying a toll. This will certainly appeal to a lot of people in the Valley.

Ron.

[SpongeG]

the bay at guildford is one of a few in the vancouver area to have a polo ralph lauren shop in it, i think the other bays are richmond, park royal, oakridge and downtown

[jhausner]

Lol "Guildford nowhere near the level". That's about as ignorant a statement as one can get. You should get out a bit more often and experience the real world. ;)

The real reason why Surrey would be a bit more hard pressed to attract (especially Guildford) the higher end stores is more to do with market than anything and I don't mean at the level that we all live in trailer parks and can't afford to buy 2-ply toilet paper.

20-30% of people who shop at the "designer" stores at Metrotown/Downtown are from "the burbs." So to open a store out here will simply be reducing sales in that area and spreading out the sales. You simply wouldn't be tapping into a new market.

Richmond has the stores because Canada Line is only recent and with a good consentration of people around Richmond Center already, that market would be less pressed to travel Downtown to shop let alone go to Metrotown. Park Royal, well it is in West Van and it just makes sense. Coquitlam Center which has 1/4 the population of Surrey and has the same average household income has pretty much all the stores on that list. Why though? Because until Evergreen, Coquitlam is largely cut off again from the rest of the region. You don' thave teens from Coquitlam traveling to Metrotown as often as you do those from Surrey, Delta, or Langley.

We've had SkyTrain out here and easy access to Metrotown/Downtown for a lot longer than any of the other suburbs. So that's largely the REAL reason why it would be a tougher sell to have them open stores in Guildford. You simply would just divert revenues rather than tap into new ones.

But to say it's "nowhere near the level" is just funny. And I have a bridge I can sell you really cheap... honest.

[Whalleyboy]

Although you have to admit the whole toll bridge could change the market in metrotown a lot. A lot of people do drive to metrotown from the valley and once the toll is on the bridge I'm willing to bet that will change their minds of going there. So by opening a new store in Guildford it will keep customers going to some of those stores like h&m, Forever 21, lululemon, etc.. instead of finding new stores that are closer and they don't have to pay a toll to go to.

[memememe76]

I figure most people in Surrey take the Patullo when going to Metrotown (or Skytrain). In terms of shopping, I think Coquitlam Centre will take a hit once the tolls kick in, as will the IKEA. For myself, I will just go to the IKEA in Richmond whenever I am in the area. As I live and work in Surrey, I hope never to take the Port Mann unless absolutely necessary. Yes, I am that petty.

What I think Guildford needs is an electronics store. I'm thinking an Apple Store, maybe?

But ultimately, my life in Guildford won't improve dramatically because there's now a Banana Republic. If I had my way, there'd be a new Fitness World, a great bakery, a great sandwich/deli shop, and a great coffee shop.

[Mishpet1]

Can anyone provide photo updates for this project? Been a few months. Thanks

[xd_1771]

Can anyone provide photo updates for this project? Been a few months. Thanks
The front area you always see in conceptual photos is starting to take shape in front of 152nd St.

[SpongeG]

was there a few nights ago was surprised to see how far along it was, looks massive, will that space next to walmart in the underground parking become retail?

[jhausner]

was there a few nights ago was surprised to see how far along it was, looks massive, will that space next to walmart in the underground parking become retail?

I believe it will. I was told by people involved with the Walmart that the back part of Walmart (against the mall construction now) will, when the project is near complete, open up to be a new entrance/exit to the mall. So Walmart won't be as disconnected as it feels right now from the rest of the mall.

[logicbomb]

Some brief observations, and notes (thanks to a friend working within the project):

The expansion is grand in scale, however considering that they're demolishing the old wing of the mall (north of 104th), it does seem a bit underwhelming when you get down to the numbers (basically the addition of 120,000sq/ft in retail space). Though, the project has greatly improved the insufficient amount of parking space which has plagued the mall for quite some time now (especially problematic during the holidays). The ground level parking lot beside the Walmart is heavily congested though. Seems as if they tried to pack the space with as many parking spots as possible, and seemingly failed to examine how people would get to and from their vehicles (especially if you're pushing a cart/stroller).
On a related note, the pedestrian friendly infrastructure is lacking with this project. There are no separated walkways in the ground level parking lot. Two standard 1.2 m sidewalks connect the mall to 152nd. 150th street isn’t incorporated into the developments whatsoever, poor planning considering the sheer density across from the mall.
The renovated portions of the mall look bland. You can tell they omitted many aesthetic features. Still doesn’t appear as if we’ll see façade renovations to the bay/London Drugs (as usual the onus is up to the retailers). Will wait for the final product to judge, but it doesn't look promising thus far.
Smaller/individual retailers are starting to close. No (major) tenants announced yet, probably won’t know until the end of next summer.

[hollywoodnorth]

Some brief observations, and notes (thanks to a friend working within the project):
-The expansion is grand in scale, however considering that they're demolishing the old wing of the mall (north of 104th), it does seem a bit underwhelming when you get down to the numbers (basically the addition of 120,000sq/ft in retail space). Though, the project has greatly improved the insufficient amount of parking space which has plagued the mall for quite some time now (especially problematic during the holidays). The ground level parking lot beside the Walmart is heavily congested though. Seems as if they tried to pack the space with as many parking spots as possible, and seemingly failed to examine how people would get to and from their vehicles (especially if you're pushing a car/stroller).
-On a related note, the pedestrian friendly infrastructure is lacking with this project. There are no separated walkways in the ground level parking lot. Two standard 1.2 m sidewalks connect the mall to 152nd. 150th street isn’t incorporated into the developments whatsoever, poor planning consider the sheer density across from the mall.
-The renovated portions of the mall look bland. You can tell they omitted many aesthetic features. Still doesn’t appear as if we’ll see façade renovations to the bay/London Drugs (as usual with these projects). Will wait for the final product to judge, but it doesn't look promising thus far.
-Smaller/individual retailers are starting to close. No (major) tenants announced yet, probably won’t know until the end of next summer.

no real surprise there. this seems like a 'stop gap measure expansion' if you ask me. the next step will be to start to bring the mall to the street with the use of Residential and Office towers and CRU`s at street side, etc. Think Station Square redevelopment but on a larger scale and over a longer period of time.

to me the most logical location to start with a tower would be the 104 at 150th corner.

[SpongeG]

the big loser in the redo over there seems to be the movie theatre, it just seems so lost and miniscule next to the giant parkade stucture and its lobby faces an ugly wall now and walking in the area now seems quite uncomfortable

[logicbomb]

no real surprise there. this seems like a 'stop gap measure expansion' if you ask me. the next step will be to start to bring the mall to the street with the use of Residential and Office towers and CRU`s at street side, etc. Think Station Square redevelopment but on a larger scale and over a longer period of time.

to me the most logical location to start with a tower would be the 104 at 150th corner.

Probably not going to occur until Central Surrey (Surrey's developing business district) fills out. The numerous empty lots around the Guildford area illustrate the lack of demand for residential/commercial office developments. Hopefully the Gateway project spurs on more development in the Guildford area, especially since the surrounding area looks run-down/depressed.

the big loser in the redo over there seems to be the movie theatre, it just seems so lost and miniscule next to the giant parkade stucture and its lobby faces an ugly wall now and walking in the area now seems quite uncomfortable

The elimination of the nature walk certainly didn't help matters. The early renderings (I saw in person) showed more integration with the theaters.

[Whalleyboy]

no real surprise there. this seems like a 'stop gap measure expansion' if you ask me. the next step will be to start to bring the mall to the street with the use of Residential and Office towers and CRU`s at street side, etc. Think Station Square redevelopment but on a larger scale and over a longer period of time.

to me the most logical location to start with a tower would be the 104 at 150th corner.

A while back i read something about street front stores. The plan and hopes were originally to push some more small shops out along 152nd street. But due to contracts with Sears and The Bay they are unable to overly block the view of them. So this has cut the ability to have a bunch of sreet front shopping around those to parts.

[jhausner]

What would really help Guildford would be the LRT we at times keep hearing about from Surrey. That would drive up demand.

[trofirhen]

What would really help Guildford would be the LRT we at times keep hearing about from Surrey. That would drive up demand.
:previous:
Could you elaborate on that a bit? It's interesting. Such as which routes, destinations, frequency, road integration, rolling stock, etc. I might hope that a Surrey or SoF Fantasy Thread might eventually come onstream. Major topic, in fact.

[trofirhen]

Lol "Guildford nowhere near the level". That's about as ignorant a statement as one can get. You should get out a bit more often and experience the real world. ;) .......

The real reason why Surrey would be a bit more hard pressed to attract (especially Guildford) the higher end stores is more to do with market than anything and I don't mean at the level that we all live in trailer parks and can't afford to buy 2-ply toilet paper........................


But to say it's "nowhere near the level" is just funny. And I have a bridge I can sell you really cheap... honest.:haha:
:naughty::deal:

[SpongeG]

:previous:
Could you elaborate on that a bit? It's interesting. Such as which routes, destinations, frequency, road integration, rolling stock, etc. I might hope that a Surrey or SoF Fantasy Thread might eventually come onstream. Major topic, in fact.

lots of discussion and possible routes in the south of fraser transit thread

i am not sure if its an official route depiction but it would go from king george to guildford and finish in fleetwood

[jhausner]

:previous:
Could you elaborate on that a bit? It's interesting. Such as which routes, destinations, frequency, road integration, rolling stock, etc. I might hope that a Surrey or SoF Fantasy Thread might eventually come onstream. Major topic, in fact.

http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/10797.aspx

Then scroll up.

[officedweller]

Posted by Yellow Fever at SSC Jan 21, 2013:

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9399.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9400.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9403.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9405.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9398.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/photos/IMG_9402.jpg

[officedweller]

and in case you didn't see them, Yellow Fever's interior shots from October 19, 2012:


http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_7092.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_7093.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_7094.jpg

[SpongeG]

in the last interior shots most of that is done now, the one wall is a living green wall, it looks quite nice in there in parts, a lot still needs to be done as it looks so dated

[red-paladin]

Well, it looks less like the space ship from 'The Black Hole' now.

[SFUVancouver]

Well, it looks less like the space ship from 'The Black Hole' now.

Yes! Fantastic reference.

[officedweller]

From Yellow Fever at SSC - looks sharp:

feb 11

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_9384_zpsb455ca48.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_9385_zpsb8025ba7.jpg

feb 11


http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_9386_zps7c0c14a8.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_9390_zps236f8878.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown%202/IMG_9391_zps875de0ba.jpg

[officedweller]

Greenwall across 104th Ave:

http://www.guildfordtowncentre.com/CMS/MediaFree/image/DSCN7424.JPG

Guildford Town Centre is Greening It Up!

We are sure that many of you have probably noticed the metal framing that is being built on the outside of the shopping centre going across 104 Avenue and wondered….what in the world are they doing?

That is the beginning of two very large living walls which will be completed this summer. There is a lot of work needed to build the structure for the plants to grow in, as well as the systems for watering and ongoing maintenance.

When the two sides are complete the combined area will be one of the largest in North America. These walls are designed and installed by Green over Grey which is the same group that created our beautiful living walls in Centre Court.

This is another way that Guildford Town Centre is creating a beautiful green environment in and around the shopping centre.

Updated 4-11-13


http://www.guildfordtowncentre.com/en-CA/redevelopment/redevelopment-gtc

[Whalleyboy]

About time they put that up on the site.
I messaged them a while back about what was going on there. I also told them it would be nicer if they could have a track whats going on where they are working so people could find out easier.

[trofirhen]

The new interior seems bright and crisp looking, IMO. Hope I'm right.

[Spork]

Is anything happening to the North portion at all? I was in there this weekend for a brief few minutes and almost vomited upon first seeing all of the brown. Ick.

[ryanmaccdn]

Lipstix on a pig.... am I right?

[officedweller]

Hopefully they have bigger plans (like office space)

[officedweller]

No mention of a redevelopment near Sears...

This says updated June 6, 2013 - not sure which were added:

The following retailers are opening in the new GTC Expansion:
•H&M
•Forever 21
•LEGO
•SEPHORA
•Browns Shoes
•Eccotique Spa & Salon
•Fossil
•Blue Ruby Jewellery
•Eccotique Salon & Spa
•Ricki's
•Disney Store
•Kiehl's
•Dynamite
•GUESS
•Bootlegger
•Danier
•More to come...

Updated 6-6-13


http://www.guildfordtowncentre.com/en-CA/redevelopment/retailer-announcements

Mall bags big stores

By Tom Zillich, Now
May 21, 2013

When the new wing of Guildford Town Centre opens this summer, new stores will include LEGO, H&M and Forever 21.

Up to 75 tenants will move into a new 200,000-square-foot section of the mall in time for its Aug. 28 grand-opening date.

The "phase two" redevelopment of the south end of the shopping centre began in June 2010, in the former parking lot near Walmart.

When all reconstruction work is done by the fall of 2014, the mall will be 1.2 million square feet in size, said Petra Barker, public relations manager with Guildford Town Centre.

"The opening at the end of August is the biggest thing that will happen during this whole redevelopment, with the most new stores," Barker told the Now. "A lot of those new stores will be announced over the next month or so."

Last week, LEGO Group announced plans to open at Guildford this summer. The store will be approximately 2,400 square feet in size, Barker said.

"When news started to leak (about a new LEGO store opening), people were really excited about it, in conversation," Barker said. "Having a LEGO store on this side of the bridge is fantastic, because I'm amazed by how many LEGO fans are in the community."

The new H&M and Forever 21 fashion stores will anchor the new wing, along with a large new food court for 1,000 people. The site of the current food court, which seats 400, will be converted to retail shops.

"H&M and Forever 21 are two of the most popular stores people want, when we ask them," Barker said.

At Central City Shopping Centre, new tenants include Neptune, a high-end Asian seafood restaurant, and Dollarama, which opens May 25. This fall, a two-level Target store will also open at the mall, which is home to 140 tenants in 640,000 square feet of retail space.

Twitter @tomzytaruk

© Copyright (c) Surrey Now


Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/Mall+bags+stores/8412409/story.html#ixzz2VnBjrC18

[memememe76]

Those are some good stores, esp. Forever 21 and H&M. I would love an Apple Store!

[SpongeG]

cool another lego store :)

[SpongeG]

Is anything happening to the North portion at all? I was in there this weekend for a brief few minutes and almost vomited upon first seeing all of the brown. Ick.

i thought the plan is that portion would be demolished