A large development planned for Centennial Plaza, located on the east end of St. Paul near Sobeys and Canadian Tire, will offer more retail space and possibly more seniors housing by the expected completion date in 2012.
The focal point of the area is the new Wellness Centre, but there will also be about 70,000 square feet of additional space available for retail, medical and offices, said Ron Mosher, vice president of Camgill Enterprises Ltd., the managing and owning company of 3M Investments.
Camgill plans three additional buildings to the north of the Wellness Centre with side by side retail units ranging from 800 to 5,000 square feet.
A number of businesses have already expressed interest in leasing space including drug stores, fashion retail outlets, a liquor store, a dollar store, Fields and a number of small quick service restaurants, said Mosher.
“We are hoping to bring some new offerings to the St. Paul market," Mosher explained. “As opposed to drawing tenants from other areas of the town, most of our users will be new to the market."
Camgill expects to start construction of the medical centre this fall, the retail portion in the spring with projected tenant occupancy in the fall of 2012. Mosher predicted several retail businesses will open to the public in the fall of 2012 or the early months of 2013.
At one time they had hoped to bring a Walmart into the nine acre area directly east of the new École du Sommet, but Mosher said Walmart “retrenched" a couple of years ago and decided small markets are not a priority. Camgill is now planning to build low density seniors housing in the area.
“We are excited about it. We have good demand for it. We think there is a need for it in the town and the county," said Mosher. Developers are now looking for a partner to manage the complex, he added.
The plans are not finalized for the complex but they are considering some two and three story buildings with apartments, possibly some townhouse homes and assisted living rooms with medical space.
Camgill also owns the strip of land between the parking lots of Canadian Tire and Sobeys and Highway 28. Camgill is planning to build the pads for a couple of sit down restaurants in the area, Mosher said.
