Following the 2015 exit of Target, and the closure of longtime anchor tenant Sears in late December of 2016, the 57-year-old Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre in suburban Edmonton is set for a major redevelopment. Given the size of the site and the fact that the new Valley Line LRT will stop right outside its doors, this has the potential to become a transformative project for the city.

Former Sears, Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, image courtesy of the Edmonton Journal

Located southeast of the city centre at the intersection of 83rd Street SW and 82nd Avenue NW, the project sits within the heart of the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood and thus on the planned path of the upcoming Valley Line LRT. The shopping centre takes up a massive nine hectares of prime suburban land, and the connection to transit is seen by many on City Council as a bonus for any potential redevelopment. The addition of high-density residential towers to the site is viewed as a must-have for all future proposals. 

Bonnie Doon Stop (centre), Valley Line LRT, image via the City of Edmonton

While the recent closure of Sears will take some time to adjust to, as the department store's exit left 56 employees scrambling for positions at other locations across the city, the impact upon the shopping centre will be considerable. Owner Morguard will likely begin going over its options as soon as possible. While only time will tell just what exactly will become of the Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, it is certain that its redevelopment will be watched by many, both on City Council and among the public. The massive site holds limitless potential for smart urban planning and city building measures that would help reinvent the mall as a 21st-century space. 

SkyriseEdmonton will be sure to return to this file as the story continues to develop.