Hazelton Lanes is about to undergo a $10 million upgrade. The plan is an inner piazza consisting of a second-storey balustrade that looks down onto an upscale community seating area.“We wanted to create a space where people could meet up, bring their children and have a coffee without having to pay for it,” said Edward Liu, vice-president of Hazelton Lanes Inc.
“It will not only serve as a focal point for the shopping centre, but as a landmark.”
The 5,000-square-foot space, which at one time operated as an ice rink and more recently as a café, will also include a raised platform for fashion shows, community events and celebrity mall appearances.
Liu said the idea resulted from the residential growth in the area and the realization that Yorkville didn’t have an indoor community area. The money for the renovations comes from Hazelton Lanes Inc., as well as Whole Foods and TNT — both the grocery store and fashion store recently expanded in the mall.
According to Briar de Lange, general manager of the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area (BIA), the renovation is very much in line with the BIA’s vision. “Any place that attracts people and allows people to gather is important to us,” she said.
The renovation completion is set for this fall.