Friday, February 19, 2010

FSO--Town Plaza

I've been hearing bells.

And its been distracting me.

So this post is a complete cheat. Not only is it a repeat of something I posted in 2009 but its a video, not photographs.

Although I hope to add some photos to this later in the day. But it is about our town plaza and it is short and kind of fun to watch.



September 27, 2008 saw the end of 3 years of uncertainty, demolition and frantic construction on the site of the old Morningside Mall in the heart of West Hill.

Neglected and in severe decline for many years, the Mall was finally purchased by First Capital who announced plans for the complete demolition of the Mall and the construction of a modern shopping centre in its place.

Today the dream of a completely new and modern shopping experience was unveiled. As Dori Segal, President and CEO of First Capitol Reality declared the new Shopping Centre open steel drums were playing, kiddies were enjoying a carnival atmosphere and parents were heading for the new stores.

On hand to welcome the new facility to West Hill, on behalf of the City, were Councillor's Ron Moeser from Ward 44 and Paul Ainslie from nearby Ward 43.

The new Centre meets the stringent LEED environmental standard making it the Greater Toronto Area's first Green Shopping Centre. A milestone commemorated by a plaque unveiled on the site.

90% of the old Mall was reused on the site; the Centre uses 25% less energy and 30% less indoor water consumption. A 500 cubic metre storage tank is buried under the main parking lot to store captured rainwater from the roofs of the buildings to be used for on-site irrigation. Parking lot lighting is all focused down where its needed and not up into the night sky blocking the view of the stars.

But it wasn't the Centre's environmental friendliness, the rides, the free gifts, the food or the band that was exciting the thousands who came out to celebrate this newly reinvigorated centre of the West Hill area, it was the new shopping experience and the beautiful new stores.

6 comments:

  1. hey, your ears are still ringing?
    I wondered if we would get a 'shopping plaza'
    aren't you in CANADA? - that video sure sounded Jamaican to me.
    I'll check back for more photos

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  2. We're a very multi-cultural country Ginger!

    I was going to photograph the Scarborough Civic Center, Ginger but my mother's health problems made that impossible.

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  3. That was nicely energetic, and I like the sound of the...what are those...calypso drums? The metal drums that sound a bit like bells? Anyway, it was very fitting with the bell theme :-)

    Everyone deserves a week off, Barry and heaven knows you earned it. I hope very soon you are feeling truly well.

    I think that's another reason this video is fitting. Something that hadn't been doing well, brought back to vibrant life. Very thematic and symbolic!

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  4. I really like the approach of a video sharing your FSO this week, Barry. I enjoyed watching :)

    Oh...you should have seen my little man (almost 5 yrs old) when I stepped up and grabbed my bell yesterday...began ringing it loudly. His first expression was that I might have lost my mind :)

    Take a peek over to see my bell, if you get the chance. The interesting thing about it is that it holds the letter L and a larger letter B on it - you'll see :)

    You can find it HERE

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  5. Due to land constraint most of our malls are very big and goes underground and a few floors above! sometimes one can get lost in it! I love to see malls like this, looks so welcoming!

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  6. Those steel drums make me want to be on a beach somewhere tropical!

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