COMMENT: Montreal's Dix-30 a template for retail in Ottawa

Here's an e-mail from a reader about a Shops at Don Mills type development in Montreal called Dix-30. I've never been but the pictures look nice. He also says a development in Gatineau appears to be going in the same direction on a much smaller scale. Because there are gaps in the Ottawa shopping experience Gatineau could really capitalize on its proximity to Ottawa by providing a completely different shopping experience like an open air mall. One can only dream.

Here's the e-mail from Jimmy J:

Hey Kevin,

I could not agree with you more. I moved here from suburbs of Montreal, and wished there were more places like Dix-30 in Ottawa. I find the big box centres, from Innes Rd to Kanata Centrum to Strandherd Place, have failed and lost out on a chance to set themselves as community environments within Ottawa.

Thought I would pass this along, though it is small scale, it looks like the Plateau Grives in Gatineau is starting to follow the same trend as Dix-30 and The Shops at Don Mills. Here is a premilimnary layout plan for the new centre:

http://www.firstcapitalrealty.ca/images/Sitemaps/lay201.pdf

Hope they go through with it!

Jimmy J.