Could this ageing hills suburb finally get a new shopping hub after three decades of inaction?
A NEW mall-style shopping hub will be built in the heart of Blackwood, the first major change in the ageing district in more than three decades.
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A NEW mall-style shopping hub will be built in the heart of Blackwood, the first major change in the ageing district in more than three decades.
Mitcham Council has bought a parcel of land, including a carpark and several shops to west of Foodland on Young St, to pave the way for the mini-mall.
Under its plan, the council would create an open-air mall lined with businesses between Young St and the carpark to the side of Foodland.
The 70m-long walkway would link to a redeveloped Blackwood Community Hub — combining Blackwood Library and Blackwood Community Centre — on the northern side of Young St.
Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear said it was high-time the Blackwood business district was reinvigorated.
“The critical thing is that council has undertaken more than 25 reviews, reports and consultation on Blackwood over the last few decades and nothing has come of it,” Mr Spear said.
“It’s resulted in a lot of ratepayers’ money being spent and reports going into the bottom drawer.
“The gist of what we’re doing is getting off our bums and actually doing something.”
He said the council would ultimately build the pathway and clear the way for private investors to develop shopfronts lining the site.
“Our long-term objective is not to hold the land, but we want to implement the necessary planning works,” he said.
“We want to cut through all the red tape for a future developer.”
He said shopping was currently “fragmented” in Blackwood and a continuous mall would allow people to park in one place and visit multiple shops.
“We hope our actions will activate the (wider) area,” he said.
“We don’t see this as the end solution, but we see it as a proactive start.”
The council would, in the future, create suggested architectural designs — that could include retail shops and restaurants — and seek interest from developers.
The designs would, however, be flexible depending on what would-be investors wanted.
Totally Locally Blackwood traders’ group head Heather Holmes-Ross said the development had the potential to enliven the area but its success would depend on the redevelopment of the community hub, a plan the council has been discussing for many years.
“The package is good, but on its own it’s not,” said Ms Holmes-Ross, whose Artisan Cafe is less than 100m from the proposed mall.
“It does hinge on the community hub.
“If you have that there, the proposed pedestrian access will be fantastic and you’d have people using that thoroughfare.
“It would be a very good start.”
The council would not reveal the purchase cost of the land or say how much it planned to spend developing the mall.
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