Construction on a R850-million, 52 000 m2 regional mall in Springs, Ekurhuleni, kicked off this week after developers and joint venture owners Flanagan & Gerard, Blue Crane Mall and the Giuricich Brothers turned soil on the project, which was expected to boost the local economy by R1.2-billion.
The Springs Mall at Blue Crane Eco Park was set to open in 2016 and was expected to create an “enduring legacy” of positive social and economic impacts in the city and the region, shopping centre development and investment company Flanagan & Gerard executive director and founder Patrick Flanagan explained.
The project would draw the R300-million to R500-million retail revenue currently being spent elsewhere as the region remained underserved.
The project was also expected to create valuable employment opportunities, with the developers “working hard” to ensure the Springs community benefitted from the mall’s construction and the operation of its retailers, Springs resident and Blue Crane Mall businessperson Franco D’Arrigo said.
Between 500 and 700 jobs would be created during the construction phase of the two-level shopping centre, with a further 1 200 to 1 500 sustainable jobs to be created upon opening.
The mall was expected to offer a “complete shopping experience” and had two national supermarket chains as anchor tenants, complemented by two large national fashion retailers.