The City of Richmond will begin public consultations soon regarding the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, which will include 24 new towers.

The owner of the shopping centre, Vanprop Investments Ltd, would like to redevelop the existing 50 acre mall with 22 residential towers and 2 office towers, as well as a new retail space and 10 acre city park.

The plan is to concentrate the greatest density within 400 metres of the existing Lansdowne Canada Line station. The maximum height of the buildings will be 45 metres, as all building heights in Richmond are restricted due to the proximity to the Airport.

A new east to west road and the extenstion of Hazelbridge Way and Cooney Road through the site are also proposed to improve transportation. Hazelbridge Way is envisioned as a new retail 'high street' lined with shopping, restaurants and cafes.

A city owned amenity building, such as a community or recreation centre is planned for the corner of Lansdowne and No. 3 Rd and the city would like to see a plaza for large events and activities like Canada Day celebrations, outdoor movies and seasonal events.

However, don't expect the current mall to disappear anytime soon. We are probably looking at 10 years of development around the mall before touching the shopping centre.

The public consultation on the Lansdowne redevelopment plan will wrap up next spring, and the developer's plans should be available to the public to view in person at Lansdowne Centre in the new year.