Papamoa continues to grow

Papamoa Plaza is cementing its position as the hub of the rapidly expanding Papamoa community with a $20 million redevelopment of the shopping centre over the next couple of years.

Work is commencing on stage two of the shopping centre project that paused in December, with the beginning of the new façade and entrance way.


Perspectives of the Palm Beach Plaza redevelopment.

The Robert Harris coffee shop is relocating and there are significant upgrades planned for NZ Post and Paper Plus.

Redevelopment of The Warehouse storage will carry on from April 1 with the completion of the new façade, plus an additional 1500m2 of retail space, says centre manager David Hill.

Depending on sizes, it is expected to house around 20 extra shops, including a food court, kiosk and two new toilet blocks.

'It's very cool,” says David. 'We're right on the cusp of something huge - a town of 22,000 people and there's no focal point, no hub if you like.

'That's what we are trying to make Papamoa Plaza - the hub of the community.

'We're trying to create an experience for all of Papamoa so it's not just an experience for retail, it's not just a leisure pursuit, it's an integral part of the community.

'It's so diverse, and there's so many arms and legs with which we can engage with the community, forming links with everything from Papamoa Support Centre through to Papamoa Progressive, Papamoa College and pretty much everything in between.

'That's the good fun bit. It's a fantastic community. Some of the other places I have been have not been quite so readily accepting of the need for a central hub, but Papamoa's just taken it on board with gusto.

'It's making it so much easier to get things done here because it is such a fabulous community.”

Included in the next round of work is lifting all of the shop fronts so the whole floor can be re-tiled, says David.

The contractors will also be covering over an extra 1500m2 retail out into the car park.

He adds” 'We lose probably 80 car parks, but we will pick them up out on the grassed area when we fill in some of that.

'The reason the owners bought this place is there is a lot of room to develop and we have more interest than we have got space to fill, so it's a matter of getting the right tenancy mix.

'There's a significant amount of work to happen this year and then it will roll into 2016 as well.”

Nelson-based Tinline Properties bought the former Palm Beach Plaza two years ago. Tinline owns the Richmond Mall, where David was also manager.

'This is my fourth shopping centre redevelopment, so we are quite practiced at it,” he says.

There will be some 'churn” of retailers as some decide they don't want to be part of the ride, while other tenants will take the opportunity to reinvent themselves, says David. There is also increasing interest from national retailers who want to open at the Plaza.

David says: 'The main thing is it generates is an enormous amount of interest in retail for the locals here, as well as national retailers, so it's just a matter of how we slot them in with existing retailers and local retailers as well.”

Meanwhile, the Tauranga Eastern Link is scheduled to begin carrying traffic later this year, making access to Papamoa easier from the east. Another 2500 houses are also expected to be built in Papamoa within the next three years.

'There will be a larger population to draw upon, so it's all good news,” adds David.

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4 comments

Papamoa Plaza

Posted on 13-02-2015 14:15 | By michael

Hopefully the redevelopment plan will include replacement of the archaic ATMs in the lobby.They offer no security to users and are past their sell by date


designers

Posted on 13-02-2015 22:41 | By Wonkytonk

I visited the old plaza for the first time last month and thought it was just awful, lets hope this new one is worth the proposed cost of 20 million


Cant believe

Posted on 14-02-2015 08:40 | By Angel74

They are doing what they are to the plaza when fashion island across the road never took off and some shops are vacant..................


Not wanted

Posted on 14-02-2015 15:35 | By Beans

sad to see Stars and Stripes closing....local icon. They were never included in the new plans....


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