Lakehead shopping developments get the nod.

• Author: Rapino, Robin

Planner cites the benefits of competition

Competition could be the medicine Thunder Bay needs to counter the ailment of cross-border shopping.

With two of three proposed shopping developments ready to begin construction, it will not be long before Thunder Bay offers a more rounded and competitive shopping experience.

The first project involves expanding Intercity Shopping Centre by 40 to 50 more stores and increasing the Sears store to 120,000 square feet.

Campeau Corp. had the expansion plans approved by the city before it sold the mall to Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd. in July.

"We'll be going ahead with the established Campeau plans in the next 18 months," says Cambridge developer Dave Lockwood. "Thunder Bay is a good, stable market, and we're excited about the expansion which will offer a new and better-rounded shopping environment."

The Intercity area will also become home to a Real Canadian Superstore. Construction is set for next year now than an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) objection has been withdrawn by the owner of McIntyre Mall.

Westfair Properties Ltd.'s future Superstore will be about three to four times the size of an average grocery store and will sell food, small electronic items, junior clothing and toys.

A third shopping centre proposed for the area has been delayed by several objections filed with the OMB. The owners of McIntyre Mall and Keskus Harbour Mall have filed objections to the development proposed by RGL Enterprises.

The OMB in Toronto says there is a backlog of appeals, meaning it could take a year for RGL's proposal to get a hearing.

The 300,000-square-foot RGL complex planned for Fort William Road and Central Avenue is to include a shopping centre with Woolco and K-Mart stores as anchors, a multi-screen cinema and an eight-storey suite motel. The original plan also included a 40,000-square-foot A&P grocery store, but competition from the Real Canadian Superstore forced A&P to pull out, making way for K-Mart.

RGL consultant Jeff Sommerville says his future tenants are still committed to the project.

"There's no risk of...