The last tenants of the Cloverdale Mall are to vacate by the end of January.
Described by some as an eyesore, the mall is being torn down to make way for new residential and commercial development, starting with a new home for the Cloverdale Legion – phase one of a revitalization and development plan.
The aging mall was long past its prime, home to only a half-dozen remaining tenants when the Cloverdale Reporter ventured inside for a tour in October.
Most tenants were out by Oct. 31, but two groups were given three-month extensions to Jan. 31, 2011, the Cloverdale Sikh Society, which operates a temple that's at the focus of community life for as many as 300 to 400 people, and a church-run soup kitchen that's also used as an extreme weather shelter for Cloverdale's homeless.
In recent years, the mall was home to a variety of non-profit groups, including search and rescue, the Royal Canadian Theatre Company, and Cloverdale Christian Fellowship, along with several auction businesses and an insurance company.
On Jan. 18, the public gets its first chance to view redevelopment plans for the mall at an informal drop-in at the Cloverdale Legion from 4 to 7 p.m. The legion is located at 17567 57 Avenue.
Architects and developers will be on hand to answer questions. Comments and feedback is welcome.