AUBURN — Economic conditions that helped developed the area around the Auburn Mall have changed, but there is still room for growth, according to Economic Development Director Roland Miller.

Miller briefed councilors Monday night on the history of development of the area between Turner Street, Center Street, Gracelawn Avenue and Mount Auburn Avenue. It’s important to keep that mind as they consider plans to build a dual-surface ice rink.

“The mall area is still going to be the concentrated area where we hope to attract retailing investment,” Miller said. “But we want to be able to be flexible so we can react whatever way is necessary and how the market directs us.”

The city’s Planning Board approved the ice rink facility site plan last week, and Miller said he’s currently working on the third draft of a lease deal with developer George Schott. He expects councilors will be able to vote on the lease in September.

Schott plans to put the facility and parking on 8.5 acres he owns on Turner Street, behind Shaw’s Supermarket. The proposed rink would have seats for 1,200 spectators in one rink, 200 in a second rink, 300 in a shared mezzanine and standing room for hundreds more. The new arena would also feature 14 locker rooms for teams, a pro shop and second-floor warm spectator area with concession stand.

Plans call for having the arena ready for operation in 2013.

The mall itself opened in 1979, and development around it has gone through spurts, most recently in the late 1990s and after 2000.

The city’s current mall area master plan was drawn up in 2000, long before Best Buy or the Residence Inn located there or Wal-Mart built its Auburn super center.

National retail trends have changed with the advent of long-distance e-commerce.

“It’s making a bigger impact, and there are new phrases being coined because of it,” Miller said. “They call it ‘shadow shopping,’ where people go out to the big box store and look at what they want, then they go back to their computer to find the cheapest price. So it’s important for us to keep these trends in mind and what they could mean for us.”

Miller said there is still room to build 347,000 square feet of space in the area.

“One example of changes is at the Auburn Mall and the main tenant on the end,” Miller said. “At one time it was Porteous, and today it’s TD Bank. It’s a change in use, but one thing is clear: the capacity is here, the infrastructure is here and the investments have been made are here.”

staylor@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link