Victoriaville Mall fate to cost millions one way or another

THUNDER BAY – Should Victoriaville Mall stay or should it go?

Either answer will cost the city millions of dollars. 

Thunder Bay City Council has ordered its administration to conduct an assessment of the mall, analyzing whether it’s serving its purpose as an economic engine for the South Core. The assessment will also determine the cost of maintaining as well as demolishing the structure.

“A decision by council to demolish would obviously be a big decision and so we plan in gathering this information to present to council as a first report,” said city manager of realty services Joel DePeuter.

“If council has any appetite to further consider demolishing Victoriaville, we’d then provide a more refined estimate of the costs, look at design, timing, financial planning and report back to council in a greater amount of detail.”

The mall was built over Victoria Avenue in 1978. It’s operating at a $500,000 annual deficit and its infrastructure is aging.  

DePeuter estimated demolishing Victoriaville would be a multi-million-dollar undertaking but replacing the decaying ceiling and skylights alone would cost well over a million dollars.

“When there’s an investment like that required, it’s time to look at the whole centre and see how we’re going to plan for the future,” he said.

The review will examine the mall’s stagnant high vacancy rate. Its impact on surrounding property values and their commercial vacancies will also be called into question.

DePeuter sees similarities between Victoriaville’s situation and similar failed efforts in other municipalities to maintain downtown cores over the last four decades.    

“In the ‘70s when shopping began to leave the downtown and go toward suburban shopping areas, the reaction of many councils was to build downtown centres like this. Ultimately, that wasn’t the shoppers’ preference in comparison to options like suburban shopping centres,” he said.

“This is an experience that’s common in other municipalities and a lot of these malls are being utilized for other purposes.”

An open house will be held at Victoriaville on June 29 at 6 p.m. to engage the public regarding the mall’s future and alternatives, should Victoria Avenue be converted back into a commercial street.

Administration expects the review will be presented to council in either late summer or early fall.