Beville Group Launches $390M Retail Makeover

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-Hoping to take advantage of a robust retail sector, the Beville Group is moving ahead on a $390-million redevelopment of its decrepit Top Ryde shopping center in the city’s northwest district. The firm has retained Bovis Lend Lease to oversee construction of the ambitious project, one that will expand the retail footprint from 215,000 sf to 850,000 sf.

“The new Top Ryde will offer shoppers an outstanding retail experience and a level of convenience almost unheard of for a center of its size,” says Beville Group Managing Director John Beville in announcing the renovation strategy. The effort, he predicts, will put the mall “back on the map” after struggling to compete with fresher shopping options that have recently appeared in the region. Top Ryde was one of the first malls ever built in Australia, and Beville says he believes the location will prove timeless to consumers once the real estate is restored. The initial stage of the Top Ryde overhaul is slated for completion in October 2009, followed by a grand opening of the final stage by mid-2010.