Fairfield’s Neeta City: Big W’s closure paves the way for $5m plans
Fairfield’s largest shopping centre will be losing an anchor tenant this month when a favourite store shuts up shop, paving the way for new developments.
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The Big W in Neeta City could be converted into a carpark, a day care centre and a variety of kiosk stores after its closure later this month, plans reveal.
Neeta City, a 1980s shopping mall acquired by Elanor Investor Group last year for $85.3 million, is the largest of three malls in Fairfield. It has two big-name tenants, Woolworths and Big W.
However, Big W will be closing its store down on January 31, leaving a 5775sq m site vacant.
Plans submitted by Elanor Investment Group reveals most of the site will be converted into 148 undercover parking spaces, and that a legacy loading ramp would be used as an express entrance to the rooftop carpark.
The $5 million move would make it easier for shoppers to find parking — Neeta City’s parking spaces would increase to 1234 all up — and streamline traffic flow, Elanor Investment Group claims in its development application.
“The purpose of Big W’s store review is to build a strong, profitable and more sustainable store and distribution centre network,” a Big W spokesman said.
“We are pleased to confirm that the majority of our 60 team members in our Fairfield store have been redeployed within the Woolworths Group.”
The carpark would take up the bulk of the space, but there are plans for “multiple” kiosk stores, toilets and a childcare centre as well, to be detailed in a separate development application.
Elanor Investment Group estimates construction could start in March and be finished by the by the end of July this year.
A Neeta City spokesman could not immediately respond to requests for comment. The application is currently being exhibited for public feedback by Fairfield Council until January 9.