$70 million investment for Old Aylmer
Two towers going up at the former Canadian Tire
The plan is to demolish the former Canadian Tire to build a residential complex with 330 units and a supermarket on the ground floor.
“We hope to start the project, which involves three parties, this June,” announced Charles Masse, VP Development & Operations with the Heafey Group, which owns the Galeries Aylmer.
The three investors who will occupy the former Canadian Tire space are Le Groupe Maurice, Heafey Group, and Métro, which owns Super C.
Le Groupe Maurice is a major real estate company which owns and operates more than a dozen seniors’ residences across the province.
This will be the project’s residential component, with two towers of five and seven storeys. The seven-storey tower will run along Wilfrid-Lavigne Boulevard.
The Heafey Group will build the grocery store. “The new building will link with the mall. This is a new trend. Residents can stay inside and still do their shopping, errands, and socializing,” noted Masse.
The modern supermarket will have 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2). Today’s Super C in the mall is roughly 1,670 m2, while the Super C in the Plateau is over 4,600 m2.
The plan includes some re-greening along Wilfrid-Lavigne and rue Principale. “We will add a mini-park, possible because we will have underground parking for 211,” noted Masse. “Many residents will not have vehicles, so 211 spaces is reasonable for 330 units.” There will also be parking south of the building.
The project has already passed the planning advisory committee step and will head to city council in coming weeks. Decontamination work is still underway and, once complete, construction will start, probably in June with a two-year date. “The Super C might open earlier,” added Masse.
Galeries Aylmer renos
With Super C’s departure from inside the mall, retail space will open up in the Galeries Aylmer. “We will renew the mall. If we don’t, the mall will lack activities. Big malls these days are about entertainment. We have plans for the present Super C space,” said Masse.
The mall is already renewing itself with a new SAQ (liquor store) and the eventual arrival of Home Hardware.
Although the Home Hardware sign is no longer up, manager Guy Leblanc confirmed that the hardware store is still coming.
“The sign was removed for legal reasons. We may have made the announcement too quickly,” said Leblanc. “The SAQ must move out before the Home Hardware can begin. The goal remains to open the hardware store by August 2016.”
As for other vacant spaces in the mall, such as the former Carlton Cards which closed at the end of February, the mall’s administration keeps seeking new clients and services.
