September 8, 1991

48 pages

Classifieds 986-6222

Office, Editorial 985-2131

SUNDAY

Carol Crenna on
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Fashion: 13

Display Advertising 986-0511

Distribution 986-1337 25¢

wale

NEWS phato Neil Lucente

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Logan Doodson goes eyeball to eyeball with his bullhead catch at Ambleside Landing.

West Van’s Park Royal Shopping
Centre to undergo $20M upgrade

ment and finance, “We're looking

THE OWNER of the largest retail complex in West Van-
couver has earmarked the property for an upgrade worth

in excess of $20 million.

A Larco Group of Companies
spokesman said the move to
revamp Park Royal Shopping
Centre was a development plan
“to bring the centre into the 21st
century. "7

The upgrading will see new
construction and improvements on
the north and south sides of the
mall, The revitalization project is
expected to be phased in over a

By Michael Becker
News Reporter

two- to three-year period, beginn-
ing in the spring of 1992.
The upgraded shopping centre
will have little additional space.
Said) Lareco spokesman Bill
Park, vice-president of develop-

ata very minor increase in gross

But we're recon-

leaseable area.
substational

figuring a fairly
amount of space.*’

The plan calls for improved
traffic Mow to and from the mall
along Mari. e Drive.

Said Park, ‘There are a lot of
ingresses and egresses on the north
side of the mall. We're going to
adjust that so there isn’t so much
confusion. There are going to be
fewer access points and a better
traffic flow situation.”

Major changes will be made to
the exterior of the mall and a new
food court and market will be ad-
ded to the south side of the mall.

Park anticipates no major
changes to the number of retail!
tenants or larger retailers
operating in the mall.

The mall modification has yet
to go before the public and West
Vancouver District Council. Plans
for the upgrade are undergoing
preliminary analysis by the
municipal building department.

A public information — pres-
entation will be made to council
Jatec this month.

Added Park, “Once that date
(for the meeting) has been finaliz-
ed we're going to set dates for
ratepayers assaciations."*

The southern portion of the

mall sits on Jand owned by the
Squamish Indian Band.

“Wei are in discussion with
them concerning the redevelop-
ment plan,” Park said. He added
that no changes to the leasing
agreement with the band are being
contemplated.

“The existing lease has got in
excess of 90 years remaining on
it,"” he said.

Park said Larco has embarked
on the upgrade to its property to
“bring it up to more contem-
porary standards, improve the
traffic flow and = impreve the
visibility."

Larco purchased Park Royal for
about $160 million last sear. The
mall was the first regional shopp-
ing mall of its kind in Canada
when it first opened in 1950.