Of course, it’s being reported everywhere, but I thought this blog aught to make mention of the new plans for Eastview Mall: 57 million dollars in renovations and “more shopping attractions,” which I guess means paying high-end companies to move here? I don’t know. So, could this mean Rochester’s first Nordstrom’s?
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this plan. Eastview is definitely the mall in town best positioned for more expansion, being that they occupy a lot of land currently sitting vacant and get a lot of business. But I worry about the environmental impact (I’m sure there must have been an environmental impact study done, but perhaps that’s in the future). Eastview sits astride some wetlands – at least partially as a result of the previous expansion – which are bearing fruit in the form of migratory birds and presumably fish, since I’ve seen a few blue heron down there.
I also wonder if now is the right time for them to be investing so heavily in more high-end retailers when I suspect the more likely retail bloom will be in the Walmart and Aldi’s category? All projects eventually reach their Peter Principle, I don’t think that the midst of a serious recession is the optimal time to find oneself staring down the barrel of their own incompetence.
Late Update: Rachel Barnhart of 13WHAM points out in her Twitter that there are in fact very few details as to how the money will be used. That makes my concerns about the environmental impact much less relevant that I first thought.
