Crossiron Mills

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = CrossIron Mills


caption =
location = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
coordinates = coord|51.205|N|113.99|W|scale:10000
opening_date = 2009
developer= Ivanhoe Cambridge
manager = Ivanhoe Cambridge
owner = Ivanhoe Cambridge
number_of_stores = 206
number_of_anchors = 17
floor_area = m2 to ft2|109440|abbr=yes
parking = 6,000
floors = 1
website = [http://crossironmills.com/ CrossIronMills.com]

CrossIron Mills is a proposed enclosed shopping centre development located just outside the northern city limits of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and immediately east of the hamlet of Balzac in the Municipal District of Rocky View. It is being developed by Ivanhoe Cambridge, a major Canadian real estate company. Upon completion in August 2009 [ [http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/en-CA/HomePage/index.aspx#/en-CA/Development/DevelopmentProjects Ivanhoe Cambridge website] ] , the mall will be one of Western Canada's largest shopping centres containing approximately m2 to ft2|109440|abbr=yes of retail and entertainment space. It is the first phase of a major convert|674|acre|km2|1|sing=on development that will ultimately include an equine racetrack facility and casino (operated by the United Horsemen of Alberta) as well as hotel, restaurant, and additional retail uses. The name "CrossIron Mills" has not yet gained cachet in the Calgary region, and as such it is usually referred to in local media as a the "Balzac Mall" or "Balzac racetrack."

Location

CrossIron Mills will be located in the Municipal District of Rocky View, on the south east corner of Highway 2 (the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor) and Highway 566, (also known as the Balzac overpass [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=balzac,+ab&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=12&ll=51.194621,-114.00856&spn=0.147164,0.433617 Location on Google Maps] ] ). As of July 2007, this places it just outside the recently-expanded city limits of Calgary, as well as just outside the hamlet boundaries of Balzac. The southern city limits of Airdrie are only a few kilometres to the north.

Design

The mall will follow the Mills Corporation's off-price retail format that was popularized in the United States, and imported to Canada in 2004 at Vaughan Mills in Vaughan, Ontario. The concept combines off-price anchor stores and smaller retailers with major entertainment components.

The design will utilize a single level "race track" layout to maximize storefront exposure [ [http://www2.icleasing.ca/Properties/alberta_project/documents/ConceptPlan-render-08-30-06-FLT.pdf Site Plan] , [http://www2.icleasing.ca/Properties/alberta_project/documents/alberta_main_lrg.jpgSite View] , [http://www2.icleasing.ca/Properties/alberta_project/documents/alberta_mall_lrg.jpgMall View] , [http://www2.icleasing.ca/En/AlbertaPhotos.aspx More renders] .] , with 10-15 anchor stores bordering the centre. There will be approximately 180 retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment outlets.

Like all Mills shopping centres, this project will be divided into several architecturally themed ‘neighbourhoods’, making wayfinding easier and providing a more interesting visual experience. Themes will include resources, fashion, sport, and fossils. The centre will also include a themed food court.

Crossiron Mills is the first new fully-enclosed shopping centre to be constructed in the Calgary region since Calgary Eaton Centre opened in 1990; since the early 90s, traditional malls have been eschewed in favor of development of big box retail "power centres" (examples in Calgary include Deerfoot Meadows, Crowfoot Towne Centre, and Shawnessy Towne Centre). Despite this trend, virtually all of Calgary's existing enclosed shopping centres have undergone extensive renovation and expansion and, in several cases, reconstruction and rebranding, since the early 1990s (and one Calgary mall, Chinook Centre, launched construction of another major expansion in February 2008).

According to MapArt's 2009 edition of the "Calgary & Southern Alberta" map book, plans call for Metis Trail, a Calgary thoroughfare, to be extended northwards out of Calgary to link with CrossIron Mills; in addition, a proposed interchange is shown on Highway 2 in the southwest corner of the development, which when completed will provide an additional access route into CrossIron Mills for northbound traffic coming out of Calgary. [MapArt, "Calgary & Southern Alberta 2009 edition" (2008), p. 125]

Retailers

Instead of traditional department stores, CrossIron Mills will contain a variety of off-price anchors, each with between 20,000 to 50,000 square feet (5,000 m²). Anchors that are in the May 2008 lease plan include Bass Pro Shops, Holt Renfrew Last Call, H&M, Bed, Bath & Beyond, The Children's Place, Laura, Forever 21, Tommy Hilfiger, Winners, HomeSense, Urban Outfitters, and Old Navy [ [http://www2.icleasing.ca/Properties/alberta_project/documents/Lease_plan_May_2008.pdf] ] . Specialty retailers will be similar to those found at other super-regional malls, however, many at CrossIron Mills will be larger outlet stores.

It is also expected that 29 first-time retailers in Alberta are expected to be found. Some first-time retailers will include: Holt Renfrew Last Call, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lacoste Outlet, and the huge convert|150000|sqft|m2|sing=on Bass Pro Shops. Also, many retailers will have their largest store in Alberta featured in this mall. This will include; Toys R Us, La Senza, H&M, The Children's Place, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet, Laura Outlet and Forever 21. [ [http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=32b47db9-0c90-443d-815a-a282731c2561 Article from The Calgary Herald] ]

Entertainment

It is anticipated that Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and NASCAR Speedpark will be the major entertainment tenants, marking their second Canadian locations after Vaughan Mills. The centre will also include bowling and billiard facilities. An entertainment wing containing a theatre complex and themed restaurants is planned as a future expansion that would connect to the adjacent racing entertainment centre and casino.

Controversy

The Municipal District of Rocky View has submitted an application to Alberta Environment for a license to draw water from the Red Deer River for the site. This has sparked concerns in Red Deer, Alberta, who are concerned about protecting water resources for their own future growth rather than ex-urban developments for the City of Calgary. Water can not be drawn from the closer Bow River because the province is currently not accepting applications. Despite this uncertainty the site has been cleared and prep work has begun as of September 2007.

In late August 2007, Calgary's branch of Global Television reported that there is growing concern in the nearby city of Airdrie over possible effects the mall might have on local businesses (Airdrie's commercial core is physically closer to Crossiron Mills than the nearest commercial hub in Calgary).

ee also

* Vaughan Mills
* Canada's largest shopping malls

References

External links

* [http://www.crossironmills.com/ CrossIron Mills Official website]
* [http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/Company/index.asp?lang=fr/ Ivanhoe Cambridge Official Website]
* [http://www.eastbalzac.ca/index.php East Balzac Development - MD of Rockyview]