A redeveloped Edmonton City Centre shopping mall could include a pair of 50-storey towers, affordable apartments, a mini-Chinatown, indoor patio, Italian grocery store or food hall and security guards at building entrances, according to the developer buying the downtown property.
Richie Lam, co-CEO of the Edmonton development firm Westrich Pacific, shared plans and floated ideas the company is considering at the International Chinatown Conference at the Brighton Block this week.
Lam told reporters at the conference on Tuesday afternoon that the company takes possession of the property — including its office towers and parkades — in November.
“I truly believe if this model works in the City Centre mall, having residents here, I think it’s going to work [elsewhere],” he said. “To me, it just makes sense.”
Lam said the company plans to build 1,500 housing units in total, with a to-be-determined portion being affordable units. He said 240 of those units would be on top of the former Hudson’s Bay department store.
He said he thinks the housing units will attract a younger demographic.
That first phase of the development atop the Hudson’s Bay space should be easier, he said, because excavation won’t be required and the mall already has parking.
But further development phases will require demolition and construction, Lam said.
Security changes
Video was posted on social media this week of Lam speaking during a session at the conference about the company taking a different approach to securing the mall.
“Let’s just try this: at every entrance, at every pedway, we are going to put four security guards and a police officer there, a metal detector and a bag scan,” he is heard saying in the video recorded of the session on Monday.
“If you look like you should not belong at the City Centre mall, you’re not working there, providing services or spending money, you’re not coming in.”
When asked by reporters Tuesday about his plans for security measures, Lam said those plans are still being determined and might change. He added plans could include more cameras and securing the open northwest parkade.
Lam said mall tenants and customers are telling him they don’t feel safe, so the company has to change something to attract retailers and shoppers.
“I understand this will be a little bit controversial,” he said, adding he believes the company must approach the issue with respect and compassion.
While speaking to reporters at Edmonton City Hall on Tuesday, Mayor Andrew Knack was asked about Lam’s remarks and said he would have to know more about the company’s security plans to comment on them, but added he is excited about the development leading to more people living downtown.
“I know more residential development, activating commercial spaces — that helps improve safety and security,” he said.
Ward O-Day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson also said she is excited about the residential plans for the development and that the city could weigh in on pedway access links.
“The pedway is sort of quasi public space so just understanding how that intersects with their security needs is a conversation we’ll need to have,” she said.
Lam said the company has a goal of unveiling its final plans in December and hopes to start construction work early next year.