By Marielle Boutin
Get those credit cards out and prepare to indulge yourselves in a wealth of new fashion choices Oshawa, because your style saviours have answered your prayers.
That’s right, the famous Oshawa Centre is getting a makeover and Ivanhoe Cambridge is the stylist with the magic touch.
Construction is now underway and the $230 million renovation should come to fruition within the next few years and will see the splendid arrival of 60 new stores.
Once the additions and changes have been made, Ivanhoe Cambridge, the company that owns the Centre, will be the proud father of its largest mall in Canada. Spreading over 11600 square meters, the job will also see the food court moved and scaled to fit seating for 1000 people. Underground parking will also be needed to accommodate the increased amount of shoppers.
While this is a momentous occasion for all you haute couture, chic divas and di-dudes, the expansion will also be a seed that will spawn numerous benefits for the city of Oshawa and the Durham Region in general.
So let’s break it down now with our MC, Mayor John Henry.
What exactly are the benefits?
“The plaza itself of course is being changed and we get revenue when they come in for permits” and adds that any increased footprint to the mall will be an increase for the city.
“From the start to the finish, from the demolition to the reconstruction, all of this will provide jobs to the tradespeople like our steel hangers and our electricians, our plumbers and those who do brick work. And when the mall’s finished it opens up all those jobs that come with the 60 new stores. It’s exciting…it’s a great opportunity to provide local employment and when the project’s finished it will provide great retail jobs to help with the issue of unemployment, especially youth unemployment.”
“The mall is just one small step of the change in the reinvention of the city of Oshawa. I think what you see in downtown Oshawa now UOIT, Durham College and Trent having a visible presence in our community, the demographic is changing. That’s the big shift and it’s just one more opportunity to reinvent our economy.”
Keep yourself up to date with news on the expansion and make sure to plan ahead if you’re planning on shopping during the construction.
The Circuit Magazine 