[PRO] Westfield Marion

[pushbutton]

Good point Steveadl but the plans for all 3 SA Westfields have been "out there" for several years already now so there has definitely been a longer than usual delay before anything happens, and as I said I know that is because of the Global economic crises.

In fact, according the their website, there is only ONE Westfield in Australia being redeveloped at the moment, and that is Westfield Sydney.

[AtD]

There's Westfield Belconnen going. I'm sure there's more.

[steveadl]

True Pushbutton.

It also comes down to what will give them the best return on their development capital. ie. Sydney centre as it's a major project will give them a better return on completion than joining up Tea Tree Plaza & Tea Tree Plus, so Sydney comes first. Now whilst TTP expansion may have been in the wings for years already, if they decide that Belconnen for example is a better return for them, TTP will be pushed back yet again etc. This has been especially prevalent in recent times as you mentioned when the capital available for investment has been more limited.

Will be interesting once they do finally push ahead with the Marion plans, to see the sort of premium stores that Adelaide hasn't experienced before. Saw these types of stores last year at Ala Moana and they were quite impressive.

[pushbutton]

True Pushbutton.

It also comes down to what will give them the best return on their development capital. ie. Sydney centre as it's a major project will give them a better return on completion than joining up Tea Tree Plaza & Tea Tree Plus, so Sydney comes first. Now whilst TTP expansion may have been in the wings for years already, if they decide that Belconnen for example is a better return for them, TTP will be pushed back yet again etc. This has been especially prevalent in recent times as you mentioned when the capital available for investment has been more limited.

Will be interesting once they do finally push ahead with the Marion plans, to see the sort of premium stores that Adelaide hasn't experienced before. Saw these types of stores last year at Ala Moana and they were quite impressive.

I know what you mean and I've seen it at Westfield Bondi Junction, and of course at various high quality shopping centres overseas. However if Marion is to support stores of that quality it will need not just an extension but a full internal upgrade too as it is looking quite dull now (especially the flooring). I'm not sure how much of an internal upgrade is planned, if any.

[Omicron]

I don't know; Marion doesn't look that bad. It doesn't have a serious case of the '90s, thank goodness, aside from that strangely-forgotten section directly beneath the office tower/food court. On a strictly revenue basis, Marion is the fourth-highest-grossing Westfield centre in the country (behind Bondi Junction, Chermside and Southland), so no panic button just yet.

[Mpol]

I think it hasa BIG case of the 90's where the cinemas are. The surrounding stores in the open part (National Geo, Live, Pants Co, JR Surf) looks dated and gimmickish. They havegalvainsed signage, the reed sinage of Nationa Geo, the dark colours for the cinemas... they all scream dated (and even look dated for the time of when they were built.) They clash with the rest of the mall which despite needing a a little bit of love, looks rather okay.

I love Robbina Shooping centre on the GC. It is so new now that it has been done up (for the 28032730929302th time). Black and white as a theme, very modern, sleek, without too much in the way of frills.

[pushbutton]

I don't know; Marion doesn't look that bad. It doesn't have a serious case of the '90s, thank goodness, aside from that strangely-forgotten section directly beneath the office tower/food court. On a strictly revenue basis, Marion is the fourth-highest-grossing Westfield centre in the country (behind Bondi Junction, Chermside and Southland), so no panic button just yet.

Yes it doesn't look that BAD, but what I was saying is in order for those sort of premium retailers to be attracted to it it would need to look a lot better than not bad!

Presumably as part of the upgrade, whenever that happens, there will hopefully be at least some degree of internal upgrade done.

[Crooked]

I know that in late April Target will be starting a complete refit to their newest layout which includes their wall ambience project, tiling to replace the vinyl aisleways, wooden floors to replace the carpet, plasma TV's over the Entertainment Counter. Target initially was to move into the new part of the Westfield development but they have been told it has been postponed indefinitely so made the decision to redevelop their current store, especially after Big W's recent upgrade.
Interestingly, Target wanted to develop their existing store earlier but Westfield would not allow them to as their store runs underneath Event Cinemas and approximately 15 screens and Westfield/Event Cinemas felt any development involving flooring etc will be too noisy for cinema patrons. Target then baulked at a refit as it meant all work would have to be completed between 1:30 - 8:30am but have now bitten the bullet after Big W's upgrade.
AFAIK Target have signed with Westfield to be a tenant at West Lakes in their new upgrade and has also assigned West Lakes a Store Number into their systems.

[pushbutton]

I know that in late April Target will be starting a complete refit to their newest layout which includes their wall ambience project, tiling to replace the vinyl aisleways, wooden floors to replace the carpet, plasma TV's over the Entertainment Counter. Target initially was to move into the new part of the Westfield development but they have been told it has been postponed indefinitely so made the decision to redevelop their current store, especially after Big W's recent upgrade.
Interestingly, Target wanted to develop their existing store earlier but Westfield would not allow them to as their store runs underneath Event Cinemas and approximately 15 screens and Westfield/Event Cinemas felt any development involving flooring etc will be too noisy for cinema patrons. Target then baulked at a refit as it meant all work would have to be completed between 1:30 - 8:30am but have now bitten the bullet after Big W's upgrade.
AFAIK Target have signed with Westfield to be a tenant at West Lakes in their new upgrade and has also assigned West Lakes a Store Number into their systems.

That sounds like some good interesting info there so thanks.

Incidentally the new Target at West Lakes will be on the carpark between Harris Scarfe and David Jones, with a new fashion mall in front of Target connecting the current Harris Scarfe mall entry to one of the existing entrances to David Jones. I'd have much preferred it to have been a Big W myself, but there you go.

Above all this will be new rooftop parking to make up for the loss of the existing ground level parking.

Westfield are still hoping to get approval for a controlled parking system with boom gates at all entrances which they say will prevent people parking there and catching a bus to the city for work, and thereby free up parking spaces for shoppers. There is more info on how this will work on Westfields site in the West Lakes section.

[russo92]

Incidentally the new Target at West Lakes will be on the carpark between Harris Scarfe and David Jones, with a new fashion mall in front of Target connecting the current Harris Scarfe mall entry to one of the existing entrances to David Jones. I'd have much preferred it to have been a Big W myself, but there you go.

Above all this will be new rooftop parking to make up for the loss of the existing ground level parking.

Westfield are still hoping to get approval for a controlled parking system with boom gates at all entrances which they say will prevent people parking there and catching a bus to the city for work, and thereby free up parking spaces for shoppers. There is more info on how this will work on Westfields site in the West Lakes section.

I would have preferred a Big W as well, and my mum's been complaining that there's no BW there so she has to go to Arndale, she wont be happy. Any idea when this development will commence?

[pushbutton]

Sorry to have taken this off-topic but just to answer the previous question about the West Lakes development, the latest estimate is for it to commence about September this year (which probably means about March 2015)

[Mpol]

I work in the West Lakes centre and a couple of weeks ago my boss had a meeting with all other managers in the centre. She was told the West Lakes extension WAS due to start in October but has since been posponed, though it will happen.

Have plans since changed?

[JamesXander]

Westfield Marion are starting a series of shuffles within Marion that will see retailers put into section type areas.

I guess now they have a bit of time before the redevelopement they want to get the existing tenants into order.

[Ben]

In Westfields latest Report 26/03/2010 they mentioned in 2010 they would commence $300m worth of redevelopment in Australia including Fountain Gate (Vic) and continuing with Sydney City.

Looks like nothing else will happen this year.

I'd put my money on mid 2011.

[pushbutton]

Sounds to me like they have probably decided not to start any other new developments this year. I think probably there are 2 reasons for this.
1. The economy is still settling down after the effects of the global economic crises and they want to just let it settle and see how interest rates and lending conditions go.

2. The Sydney developmentis a massively complex one and an extremely expensive one and my guess is they just want to let all their design and construction people focus mainly on that for now, which I can understand.

What the reports didn't mention is that Pacific Fair in Queensland (which is not branded as a Westfield but is actually managed by them and partly owned by them) is scheduled for a major development, which as far as I can gather is still going to start this year.

Nothing happening in SA though as far as I know.