An Australian company that’s one of the world’s largest shopping centre owners is a driving force behind Councillor Doug Ford’s mall-based dream for Toronto’s eastern waterfront, the Star has learned.
Ford confirmed Thursday he has spoken to representatives of the Westfield Group, which has interests in 124 malls in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Brazil.
“They’re more than interested,” Ford said in a brief interview. “They have a lot of money sitting there waiting to invest in Toronto.”
If a deal came together, it would mark Westfield’s first entry into Canada, confirmed company spokesperson Katy Dickey from Westfield’s Los Angeles office.
“Toronto’s a great city, Canada’s a great country and Westfield is always looking at opportunities,” Dickey said.
But she wouldn’t elaborate, saying company policy is not to comment on “rumour or speculation.”
Veteran development lawyer Bob Onyschuk, who has close ties to Australia, said studies are needed on whether a waterfront mall could be successful.
“It’s really a matter of market studies,” Onyschuk said. “I think it would be a good site for retail — not big box retail — but that’s really a question for market analysis.”
Ford said he expected Westfield would be just one of the bidders if the city formally requested development proposals for a site in the city’s Port Lands area.
“It’s going out for RFP (request for proposals),” he said. “They’re one of the international companies that have been contacting us. We’re going to have local companies (bidding) I hope, and we’re going to extend it to the world.
“It’s going to be fabulous.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher, who represents the area, said a large mall isn’t in any current waterfront plan and she’s not sure it’s appropriate. Ford’s vision is for a 1.6-million-square foot mall, along with a monorail, boat-in hotel and giant Ferris wheel.
Fletcher said substantial public consultation should occur before any plan gets approved.
And others at City Hall are raising concerns that issues are being decided by a Ford cabal rather than council.
On Wednesday, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam released a letter accusing Mayor Rob Ford’s office of ruling “by fiat”, most recently by squelching a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics without consulting council.
In her letter, Wong-Tam said Doug Ford is but one of 44 councillors, he does not chair a committee “and is not entitled to special privileges…”
The mall envisioned by Doug Ford would be the same size as the Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Westfield’s mall in London’s Shepherd’s Bush neighbourhood.
Westfield is also opening a massive mall called Stratford City next to the 2012 Olympics site in London’s east end.
The project has drawn raves from London’s Mayor Boris Johnson, who on a company website praises the investment and job creation and says the development shows international business has confidence in London’s economy.
Ironically, the mall in Toronto would be built in an area that had been set aside for facilities for the 2008 Olympics, but Toronto lost out to Beijing and the site remains undeveloped.
The area risks lying fallow for decades, warned Councillor Peter Milczyn, chair of council’s planning and growth management committee and a member of Ford’s executive committee.
“The Port Lands are slated to be among the last of our waterfront lands to be redeveloped, with a time frame of as late as 2030-40 anticipated for part of the site,” Milczyn said.
“Every opportunity needs to be explored to attempt to accelerate the redevelopment of this key area of our city,” he added.
The executive committee is to discuss development of the Port Lands at its meeting Tuesday.
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
Ford confirmed Thursday he has spoken to representatives of the Westfield Group, which has interests in 124 malls in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Brazil.
“They’re more than interested,” Ford said in a brief interview. “They have a lot of money sitting there waiting to invest in Toronto.”
If a deal came together, it would mark Westfield’s first entry into Canada, confirmed company spokesperson Katy Dickey from Westfield’s Los Angeles office.
“Toronto’s a great city, Canada’s a great country and Westfield is always looking at opportunities,” Dickey said.
But she wouldn’t elaborate, saying company policy is not to comment on “rumour or speculation.”
Veteran development lawyer Bob Onyschuk, who has close ties to Australia, said studies are needed on whether a waterfront mall could be successful.
“It’s really a matter of market studies,” Onyschuk said. “I think it would be a good site for retail — not big box retail — but that’s really a question for market analysis.”
Ford said he expected Westfield would be just one of the bidders if the city formally requested development proposals for a site in the city’s Port Lands area.
“It’s going out for RFP (request for proposals),” he said. “They’re one of the international companies that have been contacting us. We’re going to have local companies (bidding) I hope, and we’re going to extend it to the world.
“It’s going to be fabulous.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher, who represents the area, said a large mall isn’t in any current waterfront plan and she’s not sure it’s appropriate. Ford’s vision is for a 1.6-million-square foot mall, along with a monorail, boat-in hotel and giant Ferris wheel.
Fletcher said substantial public consultation should occur before any plan gets approved.
And others at City Hall are raising concerns that issues are being decided by a Ford cabal rather than council.
On Wednesday, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam released a letter accusing Mayor Rob Ford’s office of ruling “by fiat”, most recently by squelching a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics without consulting council.
In her letter, Wong-Tam said Doug Ford is but one of 44 councillors, he does not chair a committee “and is not entitled to special privileges…”
The mall envisioned by Doug Ford would be the same size as the Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Westfield’s mall in London’s Shepherd’s Bush neighbourhood.
Westfield is also opening a massive mall called Stratford City next to the 2012 Olympics site in London’s east end.
The project has drawn raves from London’s Mayor Boris Johnson, who on a company website praises the investment and job creation and says the development shows international business has confidence in London’s economy.
Ironically, the mall in Toronto would be built in an area that had been set aside for facilities for the 2008 Olympics, but Toronto lost out to Beijing and the site remains undeveloped.
The area risks lying fallow for decades, warned Councillor Peter Milczyn, chair of council’s planning and growth management committee and a member of Ford’s executive committee.
“The Port Lands are slated to be among the last of our waterfront lands to be redeveloped, with a time frame of as late as 2030-40 anticipated for part of the site,” Milczyn said.
“Every opportunity needs to be explored to attempt to accelerate the redevelopment of this key area of our city,” he added.
The executive committee is to discuss development of the Port Lands at its meeting Tuesday.
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
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