Sportsworld Crossing | 24 m | 6 fl | Phase 2 Construction

[UrbanWaterloo]

Sportsworld Crossing
50 Sportsworld Crossing Road, Kitchener
www.sportsworldcrossing.com (http://www.sportsworldcrossing.com/)

http://www.sportsworldcrossing.com/assets/001.jpg


Site Plan (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_SitePlan.pdf)
Strategic Location (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_StrategicLocation.pdf)
Aerial View (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_AerialView.pdf)
Lifestyle and Corporate Campus (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_Lifestyle.pdf)
Floor Plans and Parking (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_FloorPlan.pdf)
Premium Office and Amenity Space (http://www.asterixdesign.net/sportsworld_crossing/pdf_pages/Office_PremiumImage.pdf)

[Spokes]

'Sportsworld Crossing' bucks big-box trend
New owner wants smaller stores, offices in 'downzoned' project

October 05, 2007
CHUCK HOWITT
RECORD STAFF

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/7d/ab/128340ea4b00b71891c7f2d21c63.jpeg http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/c5/3c/f8afaeca4bbfa52051b334fe4863.jpeg

KITCHENER - Municipal officials were amazed.

They were expecting another big-box power centre at the former Sportsworld site.

But the new owners thought differently.

They wanted to go green with smaller retail stores, tree-lined streets and plenty of green space.

Not only that, they wanted to "downzone" the site so big-box stores would be prohibited.

"We shocked regional and city staff," Mark Kindrachuk, president of Intermarket, said of the rezoning request which is very unusual in development circles.

Intermarket, which is developing the 40-acre property on behalf of the new owners, GPM Managed Investments of Toronto, could have put up stores as large as 100,000 square feet.

Instead it opted for shops and retail tenants no larger than 15,000 to 20,000 square feet in area.

Yesterday, Intermarket unveiled more details of the $100-million project in the south end of Kitchener which will feature a mixture of office, retail, recreational and service uses.

A large scale model of the project was set up in the lobby of the twin-pad arena on the site. The formal name of the new development will be Sportsworld Crossing.

Construction of the buildings will begin next month and the owners predict the project will bring about 1,000 new jobs to the area. Melloul-Blamey Construction is the general contractor.

The grand opening is expected in 12 to 14 months, Kindrachuk said.

The project will feature about 300,000 square feet of office space and another 250,000 square feet of retail space.

The site is a triangle, bounded by King Street, Sportsworld Drive and Highway 8.

To improve flow, a new road will be completed through the centre of the site.

The office buildings will be grouped on a higher elevation at the back, close to the existing arena. This was done because office workers and arena-users come and go at different times so they can use the same parking lot.

Highway 8 drivers will see office buildings and an arena rather than the ugly loading docks common along highways in other parts of southern Ontario, he said.

Though the entire site will still have plenty of parking, it will be hidden behind an attractive streetscape of stores along King Street and Sportsworld Drive. The McDonald's will be moved to the corner of Sportsworld and Gateway Park drives.

The middle of the property will have a large park-like green space behind Moose Winooskis and the games arcade, featuring a waterfall, pond and place where outdoor movies can be screened in the summer.

Behind the green space and across a parking lot will be a V-shaped retail plaza. Stores will have decorative facades featuring brick, stucco, awnings and cornices, Kindrachuk said.

A future hotel and new restaurants will be located along King Street at the northwest corner of the site.

All commercial buildings will be certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system and concrete, asphalt and trees previously on site have been recycled.

Plans also call for a transit hub to accommodate buses and trains at Sportsworld Drive and Highway 8.

Intermarket originally planned to start construction last March but work was held up because of negotiations with the province over the final location of the transit hub, Kindrachuk said.

A group of local and provincial politicians were on hand for the news conference.

Regional Chair Ken Seiling said Sportsworld Crossing fits with the region's strategy to redevelop and intensify previously-used sites.

He also welcomed the transit component, saying there will be public transit close by "one way or another."

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr said though the city has placed much of its focus on rebuilding the downtown, it also recognizes that other sites need to be rejuvenated and intensified.

As well, he was impressed with the quality of the project.

"What you're doing is not simply in vogue, but the right thing to do."

David Caplan, provincial minister of public infrastructure and renewal, said the project is an excellent example of a "greyfield development" where a project once used only part of the year will now be redeveloped and utilized year-round.

GPM bought the property in 2005 after the previous owner filed for court protection from creditors.

chowitt@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/article/251916 (http://news.therecord.com/article/251916)


High-end retail will be a part of Sportsworld Crossing

April 18, 2008
Chuck Howitt
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - Greyhound bus commuter service and high-end retail shops such as Calvin Klein and Rockport will be among the tenants in the first phase of Sportsworld Crossing.

Developers of the huge office and retail complex proposed on the 16-hectare site at the south end of Kitchener released more details about the project yesterday.

The Greyhound commuter service will begin June 1. Parking will be available for 200 to 250 cars and passengers will wait in a canvas-like shelter that resembles a Greyhound bus.

The bus service is the first step in what the developers hope will be a transportation hub that includes a light-rail transit station linking the region operated by Grand River Transit. The station would be topped by several floors of offices.

"At the front of the project, we were thinking about transit a lot," said Mark Kindrachuk of Intermarket, which is developing the site on behalf of owner, GPM Managed Investments.

Construction has already started on the anchor building of phase one -- a 150,000-square-foot office building in the centre of the site. Shaped like a V and built on a slope, it will feature stores on one side and office space on the other, above the stores.

Tenants such as Reebok, Calvin Klein and Rockport have already signed leases and the entire retail section should be leased within the next few months, Kindrachuk said.

The third component in phase one is central green space behind the existing Moose Winooskis restaurant. The restaurant is being renovated and expanded and the pond and trees are being retained. Uses for this area include outdoor movies, concerts and a play area for kids.

The grand opening of phase one will be Nov. 28, with a soft opening earlier in the month, he said.

Phase two, which will begin in September, will include six to eight small retail buildings fronting on King Street and Sportsworld Drive.

Phase three, scheduled for 2009 to 2010, will encompass the area facing Highway 8 where the transit hub and more office space is planned.

Developing the site, formerly the home of the Sportsworld amusement park, has been tricky, Kindrachuk said. Melloul Blamey Construction, the general contractor, has had to work around existing businesses such as Moose Winooskis, the twin-pad arena and the Outback Steakhouse.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle," he said.

chowitt@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/article/338582 (http://news.therecord.com/article/338582)

[Spokes]

Pro Hockey Life to open in Sportsworld Crossing

November 15, 2008
RECORD STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

KITCHENER - Pro Hockey Life, a national chain that sells hockey equipment, apparel and accessories, will open a megastore at Sportsworld Crossing on Nov. 21. The 20,000-square-foot store will be the company's sixth in Ontario and 15th in Canada. Already open in the office-retail development at King Street and Sportsworld Drive are Calvin Klein Jeans, Reebok/Rockport and a Greyhound bus depot. A Nike Factory Store will open Dec. 6. McDonalds will unveil a new restaurant in December while Moose Winooski's will open an expanded restaurant next spring.

http://news.therecord.com/article/444557 (http://news.therecord.com/article/444557)


Old school house to become part of Sportsworld redevelopment

December 08, 2009
By Terry Pender, Record staff

KITCHENER — A 120 year old school house will be turned into a restaurant that specializes in meals prepared with locally produced ingredients as part of the development of Sportsworld Crossing.

Intermarket Developments will renovate and restore the Pine Grove School House on King Street East where a restaurant and wine bar will open early next summer.

The old school house was built some time in the 1800s and was slated to be demolished in the original plans for the area’s redevelopment.

But when some members of the neighbourhood asked the developer to save the historic building, the Toronto-based company promised to look into it.

“We couldn’t commit to anything, but really for the last two years we have been thinking about—how do you rework that building?” Mark Kindrachuck, president of Intermarket Developments, said.

“So one of the first things we did is have an engineer make sure it was structurally sound, and once we had that we got a little more serious,” he said.

Kindrachuck loves Balzac’s Coffee in the Distillery District in Toronto.

So he took the owners of the Woolwich Arrow Pub and the Borealis Grille and Bar in Guelph to the Toronto café so they could see the possibilities for reclaiming an old space.

“I didn’t take them to the sight initially because I thought they would get scared off by the way the building looked,” Kindrachuck said of the old school.

“I took them to Balzac’s and I showed them the plans and said: ‘This is what I think we can do here,’” he said.

“So we are going to do some of the same things at the school house,” Kindrachuck said.

An addition will be put on the side of the school house using reclaimed brick from an old house that is being demolished in central Kitchener.

The basement will feature exposed brick walls, stylized windows, a big harvest table, a wine rack covering one wall and live jazz.

“This is a small part of a big project, but in my mind it is the fun part,” Kindrachuck said.

People who work to preserve the city’s built heritage are doubly thrilled. They like the plans and are pleasantly surprised the developer chose to incorporate the historic building without a fight.

The building, while historically significant, is not listed on the city’s register of heritage properties and is not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

“It’s an interesting project in that it wasn’t designated, it wasn’t on our radar,” Leon Bensason, the city’s head heritage planner, said.

That means the city could not force the developer to include the old building in the project, but Intermarket Developments was on side once it was determined the building was structurally sound.

“That was great, especially since we didn’t have any legislative authority to back up a request that it be retained,” Bensason said.

“I think what we are seeing is a trend to some degree,” Bensason said. “The development industry is recognizing the value of retaining some of these buildings. We are seeing it now in plans of subdivision, how they could be used as a focal point in neighbourhood development.”

Coun. John Gazzola represents the area on city council and sits on the committee that advises council about heritage matters.

“They are going to sandblast it, they are going to put a bit of an addition on it but they are going to save the whole building and really improve upon it,” he said.

“We are fortunate because they could have torn the thing down and we wouldn’t have even known the difference,” Gazzola said.

The conversion of the old Pine Grove School into a restaurant is part of a large $100 million redevelopment called Sportsworld Crossing. It includes several premium retail stores and green spaces on a 40 acre site.

The site is bounded by Highway 8, King Street East and Sportsworld Drive. It includes 250,000-square-feet of retail and 300,000-thousand-square-feet of office space.

While the economic slump slowed the signing of new tenants the project is proceeding nicely, Kindrachuck said.

tpender@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/article/641488 (http://news.therecord.com/article/641488)

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Borealis Grille and Bar Concept

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/429/borealissportsworld.jpg
From: http://www.sportsworldcrossing.com

[Spokes]

Wow, looks good. I wonder what it'll look like on the other (parking lot) side. Hopefully lots of windows and and open feeling

[jay]

Hmm.. I like it. Maybe this will help draw people to that mall. Far as I know they still have a good portion of the mall vacant.

[RangersFan]

Looks pretty nice. I don't get down that way to often but it seems like there is still a fair amount of construction going on.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

I agree - I don't think Sportsworld Crossing is producing the results that were anticipated. While this area is no doubt "high traffic" as the developers claim with the high tens of thousands of vehicles passing by daily, to be honest most of them are just using Highway 8 or King Street as a link to get to the 401/Cambridge or into KW. In its heyday, the Gateway Park area used to have a real draw to it, but that was before there were Home Depots, big box movie theatres, Future Shops, etc. scattered throughout the tri-cities. Sure pro-hockey life is cool and unique, but Calvin Klein and Reebok can be found at many other stores across the Region. I went to eat at the new McDonalds about a year ago on a Saturday around lunch hour, and there were maybe 2 other people in the whole restaurant...felt kind of eerie.

While I like the looks of the restored school house into the Borealis restaurant, the addition beside it is nothing special. It looks like a stucco/pre-fabricated beige box with a sign slapped on it. When I can go eat somewhere Uptown that's just as nice and a lot closer to the bulk of the Region's population and public transportation, I would do that any day over trekking down to Sportsworld. This is especially true with tougher drinking and driving laws too - not too many people will be going to a suburban wine bar that has very limited public transportation and where taxi fares cost a fortune.

[Spokes]

And while there is a lot of traffic, there's no stores to catch peoples eyes to get them to stop. I think there's only 4 or so stores. The Moose always does well. I wonder if they've got any of the office space leased?

They'll probably start the next phase including the restaurant early this spring..

[urbandreamer]

Coming in as I do via Greydog every 6 months or so, I find this area pathetic. It's not very urban at all--mere window dressing. What the development needs: Thousand's of units of housing, perhaps as 5 story walkups. Then it needs better transit access, perhaps a local school. It should become an urban village, otherwise it's doomed to failure.

[jay]

Well once Highway 8 bypasses Old King the traffic will go down quite a bit. Most of the area is manufacturing anyways and I don't disagree with Urbandreamer, but I actually think the area is gone already.

[Spokes]

Ya and I can't really see residential being that appealing out there.

[urbandreamer]

^Designed right, anything can be appealing. Price+architecture sells, add in good retail and nearby jobs (check), and it will fly.

Something along the lines of what they're doing in Portland, Oregon:

http://www.portlandhomesonline.com/images/library/Image/West%20Elevation.jpg
http://www.portlandhomesonline.com/index.php?action=page_display&PageID=8

[DHLawrence]

What the development needs: Thousand's of units of housing, perhaps as 5 story walkups. Then it needs better transit access, perhaps a local school. It should become an urban village, otherwise it's doomed to failure.

They HAD a local school. It closed at least twenty years ago and they tore it down to build the Hampton Inn. They still technically have a local school in Parkway Public School in Preston Heights, but the Deer Ridge snobs would rather go to already-overcrowded Preston Public School. Maybe things will change when (if) the Limerick development is built.

What the areas needs is more local services--a grocery store and pharmacy come to mind. I'm sorry, but Costco is NOT a grocery store. Maybe they can build something on top of the old gas stations between the Shell and the highway--those can't be long for this world.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Welcome to the Wonderful Waterloo DHLawrence. I'm glad that you finally decided to join. We need more Cambridge representation on here!

[urbandreamer]

Costco--at least in North York--is a great source for Kosher meats. Some of their frozen food is interesting as well. But yeah, most of the stuff they sell is crap, and really not that great value compared to No Frills or even Price Chopper.

[DHLawrence]

Or Cambridge representation period :P

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

April 26th, 2010

New building going up near the intersection of King and Sportsworld.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Tritag034.jpg

[Spokes]

The heritage house on King has been sandblasted and looks great! And the buildings along king are popping up too. It's really going to suck that everything is pointed inwards along King. Not that it's at all a pedestrian corridor, but still.

[waterloo_local]

Was at the movie last night. Avatar on a large outdoor screen. Not bad. About 150 people showed up.

[waterloo_local]

I don't get some of the places at the new Sportsworld Pad. Marble slab, Ye's, etc. all seem quiet and just don't make sense to me there. You have to have a lot of foot traffic to sustain a place like Marble Slab / QSR establishments.

[DHLawrence]

They're probably expecting to get retail employees on their breaks as well as customers.

According to the woman at Home N-T-T in Preston, their store is going to be moving up to the Sportsworld area next month--presumably to this development.

[waterloo_local]

Never heard of Home N-T-T.
They just seem to have athletic outlets, not enough variety for me to continue to go out there. I suspect when Future Shop leaves to go to Sunrise traffic will continue to drop in that area.

I'm just amazed the developers keep building at Sportsworld without tenants. The main building has 5-10 vacancies along the main strip. I think they are thinking "if we build it, they will come" which isn't the case in my opinion.

[DHLawrence]

As long as Chapters, the movie theatre, and Costco are there, traffic will still stay up there.

There is a Paderno kitchenware outlet and two non-sports wear retailers will be showing up soon, but it isn't much to sneeze at right now.

[waterloo_local]

Reebok, Nike, Athletic Locker (coming soon), and Hockey Life. Yea there's s till Calvin Klein and Paderno, but the overfall "feel" is sports apparel to me.

How often do people frequent a Reebok outlet? Maybe once per month, whereas a place like Sunrise has people visiting the site weekly or more. Just needs some more variety.

For sure traffic will be out there for Costco, Empire, and Chapters, but Staples is eventually going to close when their lease is up and if traffic goes down by 15-20%, it will just kill anything that's breaking even now.

[DHLawrence]

Do you have a reference for Staples closing?

I know that there are plans for the outer Home Depot parking lot and the Future Shop property to be put together once Future Shop moves out. That should attract something decent.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

I think as stated before, this Sportsworld/Gateway Park retail area is no longer a prime and dominant shopping destination it once was in the mid-late 1990s. Much more prime locations have come to market since, usually around the regional malls. Just look at all the retail development along Fairway Road over the past 10 years. This area is much more desirable, and now has much higher traffic (since Best Buy, and the redevelopment of the former Sears Home Store into the Food Basics/SportCheck Plaza). Also wait until the Canadian Tire plaza on Fairway gets redeveloped... This also goes for the Hespeler Road strip (Cambridge Centre & Bridgecam) and King/Northfield (Conestoga Mall, Home Depot/Future Shop and now SmartCentres by the market). Just wait until The Boardwalk comes to market, and I think Gateway Park will continue to dwindle. There just isn't enough residential or other supporting land uses around it to give it a solid market - especially with these other Regional Centres. This all isn't to even mention that Gateway Park is poorly supported by transit compared to other shopping destinations. The other dominant regional shopping destinations all now have the appropriate land use market mix to make them extremely successful.

Remember - back in Gateway Park's heyday, it had the only multiplex theatre, big-box home improvement store, only Future Shop, only bix box format Staples (with the exception of the old store on Courtland Avenue), and even the old Sportsworld park itself. The only real regional draw to this area left today is Costco.

[SP!RE]

I saw the facades of this development facing King Street and Sportsworld Drive... and I'm ever so disappointed. Their facades are entirely stucco and other "solid" materials (not even glass on the doors) and have been built facing into the parking lots. It'd almost be better that they were just set back on the parking lot... at least then the storefronts would still face out.

What a huge letdown. The back of the buildings along the highway was a nice surprise, but that's also a very low-profile piece of design to put so much work into. The stuff that counts-- the stuff that is built out at the sidewalk, and was promised to create a "neighbourhood" feel-- is awful. :(

[Urbanomicon]

The only real regional draw to this area left today is Costco.

The movie theatre draws an enourmous amount of people, more than Costco imo. Moose Winooskis also keeps busy.

[Rowe]

I saw the facades of this development facing King Street and Sportsworld Drive... and I'm ever so disappointed. Their facades are entirely stucco and other "solid" materials (not even glass on the doors) and have been built facing into the parking lots. It'd almost be better that they were just set back on the parking lot... at least then the storefronts would still face out.

What a huge letdown. The back of the buildings along the highway was a nice surprise, but that's also a very low-profile piece of design to put so much work into. The stuff that counts-- the stuff that is built out at the sidewalk, and was promised to create a "neighbourhood" feel-- is awful. :(

I'm on the same page, its nothing exciting in terms of design. Sure retail, jobs and whatever are nice, but sadly we have to live with this for a long time.

And in terms of the neighbourhood feel is even worse.. this is just "suburban strip mall" + 'Park' feel. The region needs to look to other low density cities like Markham; although it's a suburb there is much more thought put into the long term.

I just hope that the Sunrise area with be less of a horror to drive in when this is built.

[waterloo_local]

I don't think anyone living around Sunrise, myself included, would drive to Sportsworld over going to Sunrise. There's virtually nothing there to get me to drive 15 min on a regular basis. Once in a while I may go to Nike or Moose, but that's infrequent.

[UrbanWaterloo]

September 1, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/SportsworldCrossing-September12010-1a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/SportsworldCrossing-September12010-2b.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/SportsworldCrossing-September12010-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/SportsworldCrossing-September12010-4.jpg

[Rowe]

Gross. Thanks for the update on construction though.

[sixer]

I think as stated before, this Sportsworld/Gateway Park retail area is no longer a prime and dominant shopping destination it once was in the mid-late 1990s. Much more prime locations have come to market since, usually around the regional malls. Just look at all the retail development along Fairway Road over the past 10 years. This area is much more desirable, and now has much higher traffic (since Best Buy, and the redevelopment of the former Sears Home Store into the Food Basics/SportCheck Plaza). Also wait until the Canadian Tire plaza on Fairway gets redeveloped... This also goes for the Hespeler Road strip (Cambridge Centre & Bridgecam) and King/Northfield (Conestoga Mall, Home Depot/Future Shop and now SmartCentres by the market). Just wait until The Boardwalk comes to market, and I think Gateway Park will continue to dwindle. There just isn't enough residential or other supporting land uses around it to give it a solid market - especially with these other Regional Centres. This all isn't to even mention that Gateway Park is poorly supported by transit compared to other shopping destinations. The other dominant regional shopping destinations all now have the appropriate land use market mix to make them extremely successful.

Remember - back in Gateway Park's heyday, it had the only multiplex theatre, big-box home improvement store, only Future Shop, only bix box format Staples (with the exception of the old store on Courtland Avenue), and even the old Sportsworld park itself. The only real regional draw to this area left today is Costco.


Well said, I fully agree that the Costco is the only real draw here and when the new Empire Theaters finish at The Boardwalk, the theater at Sportsworld Park will drop as well.

On a side note, I heard the Future Shop was to be closing at Sportsworld with the new one opening at Sunrise. Interesting to see how this works out, I've always thought the Sportsworld Future Shop wasn't as busy whenever I stopped in.

[BuildingScout]

Well said, I fully agree that the Costco is the only real draw here and when the new Empire Theaters finish at The Boardwalk, the theater at Sportsworld Park will drop as well.

It would still be a draw for people living in Preston wouldn't it?

[Shawn]

I don't think anyone living around Sunrise, myself included, would drive to Sportsworld over going to Sunrise. There's virtually nothing there to get me to drive 15 min on a regular basis. Once in a while I may go to Nike or Moose, but that's infrequent.

Agreed. The only time I found myself making a special trip out to that area (for shopping/entertainment) was to go to The Brick (only location in Waterloo Region), catch a movie (I'm half way between Empire & Galaxy) or play some miniature golf (which no longer exists). It's certainly low on my list of frequent visits.

[KevinL]

It would still be a draw for people living in Preston wouldn't it?

If they've got low enough traffic on the Speed River bridge, they must then turn onto Fountain and either make a second turn on Shantz Hill (again, tricky with traffic) or take the long way round to the north through the industry and back in via Maple Grove. Not the most engaging, either way.

But these are literally their only options to get there. It's far easier to reach it from the 401 or Kitchener via 8/King.

[DHLawrence]

If they've got low enough traffic on the Speed River bridge, they must then turn onto Fountain and either make a second turn on Shantz Hill (again, tricky with traffic)

If you don't live here maybe. I've never had any problem going through Preston.



or take the long way round to the north through the industry and back in via Maple Grove. Not the most engaging, either way.

You go that way if you're a sadist, maybe.


But these are literally their only options to get there. It's far easier to reach it from the 401 or Kitchener via 8/King.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Unless you want to go to the Galaxy at Cambridge Centre (a rather underwhelming facility) it's the only movie theatre within reach of Cambridge. Why should we go into the middle of nowhere in Kitchener when there's a movie theatre right near the highway? I don't want to go to the Sunrise Centre. Same with some of the other stores in the area; why go out to Hespeler Road to go to Petsmart, Staples, or Book Express at Cambridge Centre when we have Chapters, Petsmart, and Staples right here a few minutes from my house? When I worked at the Home Depot there, one customer even said that they came here from Toronto to shop at that store because its selection was better than any of the others (it's bigger than the other Home Depots around).

It's also going to be a big draw for Conestoga students; Lord knows there's piss all right around the college.

[Urbanomicon]

It would still be a draw for people living in Preston wouldn't it?

Also it will still be the closest theatre for everyone living in South and East Kitchener.

[waterloo_local]

There is no doubt the theatre draws a lot of people and the renovations of it are quite nice. My point as well as others, as more development happens, there is less of a draw to go out to Sportsworld on a regular basis. I live by Sunrise and usually go to this Empire but will go to The Boardwalk when that one is open. There are probably 40k of people living around Sunrise and they will likely do the same when they go to the movies.

There will always be traffic out there, but it will go down.

[KevinL]

If you don't live here maybe. I've never had any problem going through Preston.

You go that way if you're a sadist, maybe.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Unless you want to go to the Galaxy at Cambridge Centre (a rather underwhelming facility) it's the only movie theatre within reach of Cambridge. Why should we go into the middle of nowhere in Kitchener when there's a movie theatre right near the highway? I don't want to go to the Sunrise Centre. Same with some of the other stores in the area; why go out to Hespeler Road to go to Petsmart, Staples, or Book Express at Cambridge Centre when we have Chapters, Petsmart, and Staples right here a few minutes from my house? When I worked at the Home Depot there, one customer even said that they came here from Toronto to shop at that store because its selection was better than any of the others (it's bigger than the other Home Depots around).

It's also going to be a big draw for Conestoga students; Lord knows there's piss all right around the college.

Fair enough, that's just the impression I got from going through the area. And I wasn't confining my remarks to the theatre; there's a lot of big-box and big-brand stores that are available elsewhere, too. Not everyone goes to the movies.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Well said, I fully agree that the Costco is the only real draw here and when the new Empire Theaters finish at The Boardwalk, the theater at Sportsworld Park will drop as well.

On a side note, I heard the Future Shop was to be closing at Sportsworld with the new one opening at Sunrise. Interesting to see how this works out, I've always thought the Sportsworld Future Shop wasn't as busy whenever I stopped in.

This had me thinking too - back in the late 90's, Gateway Park/Sportsworld likely attracted shoppers even as far away as Guelph. Again, many of the stores here were first to the area for quite some distance. Likely the only such stores between the GTA and London. Now Guelph too has many of these tenants (Home Depot, Galaxy Cinemas), so they have no need to travel all the way here as much as they did before. There is a proposed Costco in Guelph (http://www.fieldgatecommercial.com/property.asp?id=3#) too, so that will just further shrink the primary trade are for Gateway Park once it opens.

[DHLawrence]

That's why big box land won't last. Companies saturate the market by putting stores everywhere they feasibly can until they've reached the point where none of the stores in an area make enough money. They put the pressure on employees to increase sales, not realizing that the real competition is within the company, not with another company (e.g. Home Depot vs. Home Depot instead of Home Depot vs. Rona). After a while, the company cannot maintain all its stores and has to contract before it's too late.

[waterloo_local]

Does anyone know of any new tenants coming to the new pads ? Drove through the site the other day and it is just dead. Marble slab = empty.

The only thing busy is Moose and I am sure Hockey Life will pick up in the cold season.

Still makes no sense to me

[sixer]

Does anyone know of any new tenants coming to the new pads ? Drove through the site the other day and it is just dead. Marble slab = empty.

The only thing busy is Moose and I am sure Hockey Life will pick up in the cold season.

Still makes no sense to me

Hockey Life is overpriced, I recommend National Sports for the same selection and better prices.

[KevinL]

As of this week, GRT is routing the Route 52 through Sportsworld Crossing, bypassing the King Street /Sportsworld Drive intersection. Also, Route 72 (the van route to the Maple Grove industrial) now has its terminus in the Crossing area, moved from Future Shop.

[DHLawrence]

Good! That's a horrible place to have a bus stop.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Hockey Life is overpriced, I recommend National Sports for the same selection and better prices.

I would tend to agree that it is pretty pricey. It's rare to see something on sale there, for whatever reason everything seems to be at MSRP.

[waterloo_local]

Has the Future Shop by Sportsworld officially closed yet? The one at Sunirse has opened and is gorgeous inside. Big improvement over Gateway.

Curious as to what could ever take over that Future Shop. Bed Bath and Beyond is the only one I can think of but they just opened at the Hwy24 power centre so that's too close.

Not many retailers can take a large building like that. I suspect it will be empty for a long time

[Brenden]

Has the Future Shop by Sportsworld officially closed yet?

Yes its closed and everything is moved out, the store is empty.

[Waterlooian4Life]

Curious as to what could ever take over that Future Shop.

That site will be part of the new expaned Hi-way 8 Interchange when they build it 4 lanes all the way to the 401

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

That site will be part of the new expaned Hi-way 8 Interchange when they build it 4 lanes all the way to the 401

I don't believe it will be part of a new interchange. See Highway 401/8 Interchange thread (http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/showthread.php/64-Hwy.-401-8-Interchange?p=283#post283) maps.

[waterloo_local]

No chance the hwy interchange will come into that. The building is for lease and future shop only left due to dwindling sales.

Wonder where Waterlooian4Life got that information. Can you provide ?

[Section ThirtyOne]

Has the Future Shop by Sportsworld officially closed yet? The one at Sunirse has opened and is gorgeous inside. Big improvement over Gateway.

Curious as to what could ever take over that Future Shop. Bed Bath and Beyond is the only one I can think of but they just opened at the Hwy24 power centre so that's too close.

Not many retailers can take a large building like that. I suspect it will be empty for a long time
I've always thought a grocery store would do well in that area. The Deer Ridge/Edgehill/Preston folks all have to drive to either the Preston Zehrs (yuck) or the Hiway Market Zehrs (better) for the essentials. Between the three areas of town, I wonder if there is enough population to support one?

[waterloo_local]

I had never really considered a grocery store. They may be afraid to compete with Costco. The store format doesn't really fit with big boys (Loblaws, sobeys) store design. They go for wide, not deep, and there isn't really enough parking for them.

Perhaps a more discount one, ex. No Frills, could take the challenge on. There's so much money to be invested though with refrigeration, construction, freezers. Probably not worth it for them to just serve DeerRidge.

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

Has anyone else thought that maybe the Sportsworld area could use a change in zoning to reflect the area's changing nature?

Maybe the area would be able to support more retail if more people were living and working in the immediate area. With the amenities that exist there already, I'm sure high-rise apartments would be viable or even condos to a certain extent.

I'm thinking of something similar in nature to these buildings by the Cambridge Centre.

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.394563,-80.311807&spn=0,0.009624&z=17&layer=c&cbll=43.391883,-80.314651&panoid=mvExRqoJbjZlRoKPQktYbg&cbp=12,30.37,,0,5

Also, more office space could be incorporated into the district as well. It has easy access to highways 8 and 401, an abundance of hotels, and to a certain limited extent, it's already a bit of an office cluster.

All of these things in tandem would make it easier to serve a more localized retail market (as opposed to the previous regional function) throughout the day.

[DHLawrence]

Last I heard (which, granted, was two years ago) the second half of Home Depot's parking lot was going to be joined to Future Shop's to give them more area to work with.

And yes, this area needs a grocery store desperately. Don't know about No Frills; can't see the Deer Ridge people shopping there. Whatever goes in, it will beat going up to the one at Cambridge Centre; you shop at the Preston Zehrs at your own risk!

[KevinL]

Valumart might work; it uses a smaller floorplan but is more upmarket than No Frills.

Going on the Sobeys spectrum, they have a new midrange chain called FreshCo (http://www.freshco.com/default.aspx), though I've yet to see one in person.

[neonjoe]

FreshCo is pretty nice, the food quality seems good, they have a ton lot of ethnic like the price chopper on westmount, but they do not have hot deli or full serve chilled deli. You'll probably see sobeys test the concept at one of their existing discount locations before picking up a new location. The grocery market in this region is hard to crack for new banners.

[Spokes]

Has anyone else thought that maybe the Sportsworld area could use a change in zoning to reflect the area's changing nature?

Maybe the area would be able to support more retail if more people were living and working in the immediate area. With the amenities that exist there already, I'm sure high-rise apartments would be viable or even condos to a certain extent.

I'm thinking of something similar in nature to these buildings by the Cambridge Centre.

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.394563,-80.311807&spn=0,0.009624&z=17&layer=c&cbll=43.391883,-80.314651&panoid=mvExRqoJbjZlRoKPQktYbg&cbp=12,30.37,,0,5

Also, more office space could be incorporated into the district as well. It has easy access to highways 8 and 401, an abundance of hotels, and to a certain limited extent, it's already a bit of an office cluster.

All of these things in tandem would make it easier to serve a more localized retail market (as opposed to the previous regional function) throughout the day.

I've definitely thought that too. As it currently stands now though it might be a tough area to draw people too, at first that is.

[boatracer]

I live in West Galt on the south side of the river and it is a no mans land for grocery stores. There is the Food Basics on Park Hill Road which is good for the "basics" but not for the variety or more specialty food choices.

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

I've definitely thought that too. As it currently stands now though it might be a tough area to draw people too, at first that is.

I don't see why. People bought into the new apartment buildings by the Cambridge Centre, which is about as amenable as this location, and not even as central from a regional perspective. Lots of people also live in highrises behind Fairview Mall.

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

I live in West Galt on the south side of the river and it is a no mans land for grocery stores. There is the Food Basics on Park Hill Road which is good for the "basics" but not for the variety or more specialty food choices.

Well, there's still that Sobeys that is smack-dab in the middle of West Galt. Count your lucky stars you're not from North Hespeler. :P

[mpd618]

I think making Sportsworld a mixed-use area makes a ton of sense - like it does most everywhere. The only issue is that the (eventual) light rail station would very likely be at the rail corridor on the other side of Highway 8. However for a while the iXpress / adapted BRT would have a stop at that area.

[BuildingScout]

I've definitely thought that too. As it currently stands now though it might be a tough area to draw people too, at first that is.

It's near the highway. That's all Toronto commuters care about. You could build two thousand units there and they would sell in no time.

[Spokes]

I don't see why. People bought into the new apartment buildings by the Cambridge Centre, which is about as amenable as this location, and not even as central from a regional perspective. Lots of people also live in highrises behind Fairview Mall.

Ya, I see those as having far more around them than the Sportsworld area. By either mall you have a major corridor that is filled with commercial properties that would make living there better. Also, they're both transit hubs. Although sportsworld should be one.

[Spokes]

It's near the highway. That's all Toronto commuters care about. You could build two thousand units there and they would sell in no time.

Ya but then we're just encouraging more commuters on the 401. I'd rather see those 2000 units surrounding a future GO station if we are so set on targeting Toronto commuters which I don't think we should be. I don't want us to become Milton.

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

It's near the highway. That's all Toronto commuters care about. You could build two thousand units there and they would sell in no time.

Yeah, but they don't move the extra 50-100km out this way to live in high-rise apartments. It's about getting a big single-detached house and competing with the Joneses.

[ON-Inspector]

Well said, I fully agree that the Costco is the only real draw here and when the new Empire Theaters finish at The Boardwalk, the theater at Sportsworld Park will drop as well.

On a side note, I heard the Future Shop was to be closing at Sportsworld with the new one opening at Sunrise. Interesting to see how this works out, I've always thought the Sportsworld Future Shop wasn't as busy whenever I stopped in.

the only draw for a select market maybe, there are still lots of other draws....south, east Kitchener, Breslau once Fairway road is complete, look at all the development at Fairway and Lackner. then there's Cambridge as discussed.

there is also a decent amount of employment lands, 91.5 the beat is in there, there is a consulting engineering firm, MPAC is across the street, along with some other office towers, plus given the location to the 401, i can only imagine the office space is going to fill up. then there's the industrial land, all those people heading home, or for lunch.

Retail is only maybe a 3rd of the mix in that entire area, there are numerous specialty food stores in the old Lulu's redevelopment, at least 2 sushi restaurants, the Moose, Turtle Jacks, Mandarin, Kelsey's, Williams, two Tim's, car dealerships, hotels, office space, the movie theatre, (recently renovated). i love the Home Depot there, it has the most selection of any hardware/lumber store within an hour or so of the area.

does anyone know what is going in the development in behind the Hampton Hotel? i also noticed that the old East Side's is being worked on, would be interesting to see whats going in there.....


I wouldnt count on anything being built closer to the 401 any time soon, the land south of the Used car dealer is full of contamination, and the MTO owns a decent chunk for a revised Hwy 8 interchange..

i personally enjoy that area, and see it getting busier and busier every week.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

along with some other office towers

Don't get too carried away...:RpS_rolleyes:


there are numerous specialty food stores in the old Lulu's redevelopment, at least 2 sushi restaurants, the Moose, Turtle Jacks, Mandarin, Kelsey's, Williams, two Tim's, car dealerships, hotels, office space, the movie theatre, (recently renovated). i love the Home Depot there, it has the most selection of any hardware/lumber store within an hour or so of the area.

You can find these stores and restaurants in almost all major shopping areas of the Region though. They are no longer a draw unique to the Sportsworld/Gateway area. With terms of lumber, what about Fairway Lumber in St. Jacobs?

[ON-Inspector]

Don't get too carried away...:RpS_rolleyes:

Point taken, it is no downtown area, but given the area of South Kitchener, it still provides some customer base.


You can find these stores and restaurants in almost all major shopping areas of the Region though. They are no longer a draw unique to the Sportsworld/Gateway area. With terms of lumber, what about Fairway Lumber in St. Jacobs?

your right, you can. but for the people that live closer to the sportsworld area, why would they travel farther? i dont think the developers intent to capture the entire 480 plus thousand people in the Region as a market, but to draw a portion of that, which it does. i would love to shop at fairway lumber, but its a 20 minute drive up the expressway for me, ever try driving 20 minutes on the expressway with 14' trim hanging out the window?

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

your right, you can. but for the people that live closer to the sportsworld area, why would they travel farther? i dont think the developers intent to capture the entire 480 plus thousand people in the Region as a market, but to draw a portion of that, which it does. i would love to shop at fairway lumber, but its a 20 minute drive up the expressway for me, ever try driving 20 minutes on the expressway with 14' trim hanging out the window?

Fact of the matter is, the catchment area for those stores is now so small (with the exception of Costco and other places like Mandarin). Since the 1990s, the Gateway area has been eroded by other, much larger, newer and emerging shopping areas in the Region. These shopping areas are often easier to access and don't seem so secluded - especially to public transit. The only areas Gateway would directly serve as a primary shopping area are Preston, Deer Ridge, the Edgehill Drive area, and maybe Freeport (which is not that big of a combined market). The bigger residential areas of Hespeler, Doon/Pioneer Park, Chicopee, Stanley Park and everywhere else in the Region now has other choice areas to shop. The Hespeler Road strip, Fairway Road, and Sunrise are now much more attractive and worthwhile to people living in South Kitchener and North Cambridge to get their big box/chain store fix than to go to Gateway because they now offer the same store/product offering closer to home. When The Boardwalk is fully built out, it will be another threat to this area.

[sixer]

Fact of the matter is, the catchment area for those stores is now so small (with the exception of Costco and other places like Mandarin). Since the 1990s, the Gateway area has been eroded by other, much larger, newer and emerging shopping areas in the Region. These shopping areas are often easier to access and don't seem so secluded - especially to public transit. The only areas Gateway would directly serve as a primary shopping area are Preston, Deer Ridge, the Edgehill Drive area, and maybe Freeport (which is not that big of a combined market). The bigger residential areas of Hespeler, Doon/Pioneer Park, Chicopee, Stanley Park and everywhere else in the Region now has other choice areas to shop. The Hespeler Road strip, Fairway Road, and Sunrise are now much more attractive and worthwhile to people living in South Kitchener and North Cambridge to get their big box/chain store fix than to go to Gateway because they now offer the same store/product offering closer to home. When The Boardwalk is fully built out, it will be another threat to this area.

Well said, and it's true that when Boardwalk is done, people won't even need to go to Fairway Road that often. Best buy, Toysrus, Golf Town, Chapters, tons of restaurants, better Empire Theater, you name it, The Boardwalk will have it. Costco and Mandarin are the only reasons people will be heading to Sportsworld crossing. And those going to Costco, get in their car and drive home since they likely have something they need to refrigerate. Ummm, speaking of I need some more Skotidakis Jalapeno Yogurt Dip! lol

[jay]

I've always said if Costco goes anywhere else in the city that it is a nail in the coffin to the Sportsworld retail. I know people who live in Deer Ridge who say less traffic is better for the area.. I disagree with that. With HWY24/Pinebush retail growing and the impending Doon South retail happening it's only going cause less traffic/shoppers to the area from Cambridge/Doon.

[Brenden]

Anyone know when Borealis is planning to open?

[UrbanWaterloo]

May 12, 2011

King Street 'Presence'
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%201%20Resized.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%202b%20Resized.jpg

Borealis Grille & Bar
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%203b%20Resized.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%203c%20Resized.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%203d%20Resized.jpg

Parking Lot Presence
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Kitchener/Suburban%20Kitchener/Sportsworld%20Crossing/Sportsworld%20Crossing%20-%20May%2012,%202011%20-%204%20Resized.jpg

[SP!RE]

A plain old strip plaza. Ugh. So much for new wider sidewalks and shops facing out at King Street / Sportsworld Drive.

[panamaniac]

Good restaurant, but the rest of it is a waste of construction materials.

[mikeyp]

I still can't believe they tore down an amusement park (and a big chunk of my childhood memories with it) for this. Even the new Moose Wanooski's took a turn for the worse. That patio was great!

[sixer]

I still can't believe they tore down an amusement park (and a big chunk of my childhood memories with it) for this. Even the new Moose Wanooski's took a turn for the worse. That patio was great!

I fully agree, always enjoyed the park and the patio. Costco is the only reason I visit this area now and I think the majority of K-W living outside of the immediate area feels the same. There is not enough people in that area to support this entire development.

[bcwessel]

I fully agree, always enjoyed the park and the patio. Costco is the only reason I visit this area now and I think the majority of K-W living outside of the immediate area feels the same. There is not enough people in that area to support this entire development.

It's almost like instead of building a giant stripmall, adding offices, and then applying make-up to the whole thing they should've just built some city streets with city things on them (like shops, offices, residential, sidewalks, parks and other open spaces, etc...). Y'know, like town building and stuff. Oh well, I guess it's not that important. To build environments suitable for humans.

[Brando_T]

Fact of the matter is, the catchment area for those stores is now so small (with the exception of Costco and other places like Mandarin). Since the 1990s, the Gateway area has been eroded by other, much larger, newer and emerging shopping areas in the Region. These shopping areas are often easier to access and don't seem so secluded - especially to public transit. The only areas Gateway would directly serve as a primary shopping area are Preston, Deer Ridge, the Edgehill Drive area, and maybe Freeport (which is not that big of a combined market). The bigger residential areas of Hespeler, Doon/Pioneer Park, Chicopee, Stanley Park and everywhere else in the Region now has other choice areas to shop. The Hespeler Road strip, Fairway Road, and Sunrise are now much more attractive and worthwhile to people living in South Kitchener and North Cambridge to get their big box/chain store fix than to go to Gateway because they now offer the same store/product offering closer to home. When The Boardwalk is fully built out, it will be another threat to this area.


I've been temporarily working in this area and find that I have to leave it to do any grocery shopping, most errands, pretty much everything. Hate it.

And I was surprised to see that the Future shop is closed - and completely vacant now for months. That should be a sign that the area is in decline.

[DHLawrence]

I'd blame that more on their lot; there was no room for expansion next to an on-ramp. Not to mention parking was ridiculous there.

[neonjoe]

The new location of Future Shop in the Sunrise Shopping Centre seems a bit smaller than the old one.

There also appears to be work going on in the old location. The trim has been painted a beige and brown colour and a few of the rear garage doors have been bricked up.
I'll put a random wild guess out there that this may be a Valu Village as I saw a notice that they were hiring for a new Kitchener Store.

[UrbanWaterloo]

You're right, the old Future Shop is being converted into a Value Village. Here's the building permits...

THIS PERMIT IS FOR A CANOPY OVER THE DONATION DROP OFF FOR A VALUE VILLAGE.
Permit No 11109271
Site Address 50 GATEWAY PARK DR
Status Under Review
Permit Category Non-Residential Alteration
Permit Type Commercial
Application Date March 06, 2011
Issued By
Issue Date
Work Proposed Canopy
Contractor HUGHES THOMPSON ARCHITECTURE
Contractor Contact Info 1430 PEACHTREE ST NW ATLANTA GE phone 404-601-4000 phone2 404-601-3980

PERMIT IS FOR AN INTERIOR FINISHES FOR A VALUE VILLAGE. INCLUDES MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL.
Permit No 11106180
Site Address 50 GATEWAY PARK DR
Status Issued
Permit Category Non-Residential Alteration
Permit Type Commercial
Application Date February 01, 2011
Issued By ANGELAD
Issue Date March 08, 2011
Work Proposed Interior Finish
Construction Value $500,000
Contractor HUGHES THOMPSON ARCHITECTURE

THIS PERMIT IS FOR A CANOPY OVER THE LOADING DOCKS FOR A VALUE VILLAGE.
Permit No 11114004
Site Address 50 GATEWAY PARK DR
Status Issued
Permit Category Non-Residential Alteration
Permit Type Commercial
Application Date May 03, 2011
Issued By JULIET
Issue Date May 04, 2011
Work Proposed Canopy

PERMIT IS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF STORAGE RACKING - VALUE VILLAGE
Permit No 11112711
Site Address 50 GATEWAY PARK DR
Status Issued
Permit Category Non-Residential Alteration
Permit Type Commercial
Application Date April 13, 2011
Issued By DIANNEC
Issue Date May 15, 2011
Work Proposed Interior Finish
Construction Value $250,000

[BuildingScout]

And I was surprised to see that the Future shop is closed - and completely vacant now for months. That should be a sign that the area is in decline.

The only thing that could save this plaza is if a ton of highrise construction was approved on the other side of King street. This would bring enough people to create critical mass to sustain the local shops and since this is very close to the 401 my guess is that the units would move really fast.

But of course this couldn't be done, since the area is currently zoned for "commercial wasteland" and trying to make it livable would go against what council's idea of what the city ought to look like.

[Brando_T]

Seems like an odd place for a Value Village.

[KevinL]

Seems like an odd place for a Value Village.

And it shows how much the area is suffering; this is low-tier redevelopment, when just across the street they're trying (and not succeeding well) with new development.

It's curious how much has happened in the two decades since the Hwy 8 Bypass went in; at first development was great, as the traffic problems were out of the way but there were still lots of visitors. But now, it seems, everyone just drives past...

[panamaniac]

My recollection is that when the Bypass was built, there was an expectation that old route would become a dead zone. I tend to feel that reports of its death have been exagerated.

[Brando_T]

Value Village signs are up.

[astronomino]

Value Village opens in the former Future Shop location on July 21st (http://www.valuevillage.com/Find-A-Store.aspx).

470

[RangersFan]

I finally made it to Borealis this past weekend and I was very impressed, the food was great, service was great, and decent pricing. The majority of the food is local, and they carry only craft beer. The interior is also very nice. Strongly recommend.