Gladesville Shopping Village traders’ worry mounts

Gladesville Shopping Village traders are enduring a wait on the centre’s future while the State Government assesses plans to build 280 units at the site.

Concerned shopkeepers Genevieve Sloane and Janet Ng at Vie Vies in Gladesville Shopping Centre. Picture: Tim Pascoe

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Gladesville Shopping Village traders are enduring a wait on the centre’s future while the State Government assesses plans to build 280 units at the site.

The Planning Department will have the final say on plans to redevelop the site into a shopping and residential complex with towers up to 15 storeys.

But while the proposal is being discussed, shopkeepers’ concerns over the centre’s decline are mounting.

Vie Vies gift shop owner Genevieve Sloane wants better promotion of the centre, more toilets, increasing parking from two to three hours and increased signage on Victoria Rd.

Gladesville Shopping Village tenants are leaving the Victoria Rd site. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“They’ll say there’s a sign there but you only see the sign if you’re at the lights on Cowell St,’’ she said.

Genevieve Sloane and Janet Ng welcome Gladesville Shopping Village changes but on a small scale. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Mrs Sloane, who has run her shop for the past five years, said trade went downhill since De Costi Seafood shut in 2016, followed by retailers including Leonard’s chicken shop and Baker’s Delight.

“The biggest issue is promotion,’’ she said.

Many shops have been boarded up. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“People need to know what’s going on here and we need to fill the shops. My business has dropped dramatically … and in the last 12 months it’s got even worse.”

Traders want longer parking hours. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Mrs Sloane’s co-worker Janet Ng said traders and the community favoured a small redevelopment so the centre could retain its village feel.

“A lot of customers give us feedback, saying they don’t like big shopping centres,’’ she said.

“They don’t mind another level but not too big.”

Gladesville Shopping Village’s underground carpark.

Gladesville resident Hassna Lattouf usually shops at Top Ryde but returns to shop at Belinda’s Shoes.

“I haven’t been here a month and noticed most of the shops are closed,’’ she said.

“I would like to see more shops because this is our local one.”

Shopper Jason Humphries likes the village feel to the Gladesville shops.

Ryde resident Jason Humphries, 54, buys his morning coffee at the centre.

“It’s not the world’s greatest shopping centre but it’s our shopping centre,’’ he said.

He prefers a smaller redevelopment.

“If you mean redevelop in terms of shops, fine. If it means a five-storey monstrosity I’d rather leave it as it is.

“I like the village feel to it. There’s a fine line between fixing things and redeveloping.”

Hunters Hill Mayor Mark Bennett said the council continued to “chase up” the State Government on the proposal.

“We’ve talked to the owner. He says he’s trying to get it into the government and get on with it.”

Cr Bennett said he was disappointed with the shopping centre’s decline and was reviewing ways to make it viable while the government assessed plans.

Cr Zac Miles said the council was waiting to devise a site-specific development control plan and he was open to looking at parking solutions.

The council sold Gladesville Shopping Village carpark in 2015 but the council owns the eastern side of the Cowell St carpark.

“My priority is to make sure parking meters aren’t going to be installed.’’

Centre management did not respond to requests for comment.