London Road Shopping Plaza Redevelopment (east side Sept. 2019) BlackburnNews.com photo by Josh BoyceLondon Road Shopping Plaza Redevelopment (east side Sept. 2019) BlackburnNews.com photo by Josh Boyce
Sarnia

London Road Shopping Centre redevelopment on track

Development on the east side of the London Road Shopping Centre is quickly taking shape.

A new 2,100 square foot unit attached to Crabby Joe's is expected to be completed in about a month, along with new sidewalks, curbs and parking to the south.

Plaza Owner and Managing Partner Rob Dawson said access to Afton Drive from the plaza will also be finished within the coming weeks.

He said phase 2.5 of the three-phase project will see the redevelopment of the remaining old Zellers plaza.

"Which would be one to three units and then we're exploring stand-alone commercial and then exploring what potentially multi-residential could look like on that site," said Dawson. "Addressing a big need in our community, but then also a good balance of bringing further traffic flow to the site."

He said the $15 million redevelopment of the busy shopping centre, which was announced in the fall of 2016, is on schedule.

"We are in year three of that five-year plan as we head into 2020," said Dawson. "By 2021 we hope to be done, but unfortunately Mother Nature dictates from our winters when we can get in the ground and get infrastructure put in place to be able to build. Overall we had a five-year plan, we had hoped by 2021 and sitting here today we feel very confident about that."

Dawson said there's also been interest in the recently vacated Family Video store on the west side of the plaza.

"We're exploring some internal growth and we're exploring some external growth with new interest," he said. "We are very confident of that space and its redevelopment. Hopefully, those tenants that take that space can make some announcements in the coming months and again we are excited about what opportunities lie ahead there."

Dawson said it's unfortunate to see any tenant partner go. He said they worked with the tenant to reduce the space and made rent concessions in the past and it's unfortunate it didn't work out.

The third, and final phase, in the area of the former Jack Doyle's Irish Grille and Sports Bar, could include additional commercial space or possibly multi-residential units.

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