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# Macerich Drops Plans for Three 21-Story Towers at Santa Monica Place
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/123105-story-20051231-3/
- Published: 2005-12-31T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:28:22.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Real Estate & Housing, Downtown, #archive-import

SKYSCRAPER PLANS AT SANTA MONICA PLACE MALL SCRAPPED With grand plans unveiled in late 2004 to build three 21-story skyscrapers where Santa Monica Place sits in downtown Santa Monica, the mall’s owner Macerich Inc., took its proposal off the table in 2005\. Beyond the public outcry over the height of the buildings, Macerich officials put the project on hold until an agreement is made allowing mall planners to incorporate the closure of Robinsons-May into the design scheme.

The news followed a July announcement that Federated Department Stores, Co., a national retailer which owns Macy’s, will sell 68 “duplicate” stores in malls occupied by both Macy’s and Robinsons-May as the result of a merger. Federated representatives said the local Robinsons-May store will likely be sold off in 2006.

Santa Monica Place, located between Second and Fourth streets and Broadway and Colorado Avenue, is anchored by dual department stores Macy’s and Robinsons- May, the latter occupying 137,000 square feet of retail space.

The question of what kind of development should replace Santa Monica Place is one the city has been grappling with in recent years.

The City Council scrapped a proposed development to replace Santa Monica Place last year due to controversy about the height of the high-rise buildings. The project would have demolished the existing mall and erected three 21-story residential towers, an eight-story office building and an eight-story apartment building. Those buildings were to be built on top of a new outdoor mall, which developers described as a natural extension of the Third Street Promenade.

Macerich has culled public comment from community workshops, surveys and other outreach in order for consultants to come up with proposals to help re-configure Santa Monica Place. A new development proposal is expected as early as next year.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/123105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)