City Centre to be revitalized.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Brief Article

The new owners of Sudbury's largest downtown commercial property, the City Centre, are planning a $6-million facelift and intend to have new tenants in place by Christmas in an effort to lure shoppers back to the city's core.

Vista Hospitality, a Binghamton, New York-based developer intends to bring in some new-format shopping, upgrade the adjoining Ramada Inn and develop a convention centre, the first dedicated facility of its kind in the community.

As developers of commercial properties, resorts and hotels across North America and the Caribbean, this is Vista's first foray into mall redevelopment. The deal for the 700,000-square-foot mall/hotel facility, which was under receivership, was finalized June 15.

"We saw an opportunity to revitalize the downtown," says Ray Hirani, Vista's assistant property manager. "We specialize in rebuilding hotels that are in had shap, and that's where our interest started."

When the whole property, including the mall side went up for sale, it was an opportunity they could not pass up.

The developer is considering a number of different shopping formats like factory-direct outlets, big box retailers, mixed use and unique specialty stores, all depending upon the tenants they bring in.

"We have about three or four ideas we're playing with and we hope to finalize that in the next 30 to 60 days," Hirani says. "Our architects are coming in shortly to start looking at our preliminary renovation plan and get that underway."

Vista's Toronto-based architect is preparing plans to fix up he building's exterior and create some new entrances.

"The bulk of the work is going to...