The 340,000-square-foot outlet mall that the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR) and McArthurGlen Group plan to build on Sea Island is likely to move closer to the Canada Line’s Templeton Station than originally proposed.
The proposed new site for the mall would be east of the 2,500-spot parking lot, which is directly north of Templeton Station. One source close to the deal told Business in Vancouver that there is a 98% likelihood that this will be the new location for the outlet mall.
Site clearing for the mall has already started on the previous site just off Russ Baker Way on Sea Island, which is on federal government land that the airport authority leases. But that is not a problem, according to airport officials.
“Preparatory work that they’ve done on the Russ Baker Way site can be used for any future development on that site,” YVR spokeswoman Alana Lawrence explained to Business in Vancouver.
She stressed that no decision has yet been made to move the mall away from the Russ Baker Way site. The rationale for the potential move is that public input during the feasibility study phase indicated that people wanted the mall to be closer to public transit.
For the area south of Templeton Station, YVR executives are considering co-developing with the private sector a one-million-square foot business park.
YVR executives are expected in the next few months to announce the winning architectural vision for that business park. They are currently considering four shortlisted bids from architects.
YVR would then work with architects to develop a master plan for the park and determine whether to develop it alone or to take on a partner.
