> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Common threads in visions for mall - URL: https://www.smdp.com/common-threads-in-visions-for-mall/ - Published: 2005-06-07T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T07:13:58.000Z - Author: Ryan Hyatt - Tags: Community, Downtown, #archive-import *Skating rink, museum among mall suggestions* DOWNTOWN — Those boldly envisioning what Santa Monica Place might become are starting to get a dose of reality. A consultant issued a report last Thursday detailing the common themes that emerged from a series of four public workshops held in March intended for residents to “reimagine” what Santa Monica Place Mall might become. More than 300 residents took part in the gatherings to determine what should be done about the downtown indoor shopping mall between Broadway and Colorado Avenue, and Second and Fourth streets. The report said many wanted to see an extension of the Third Street Promenade continue to Main Street, a modest level of building height, and design schemes that incorporate cultural and open space — as well as providing a variety of commercial opportunities for the area. Workshop participants used scaled blocks and maps to generate ideas about what features any revitalization of Santa Monica Place should include. Their discussions were the basis for the June 2 report published by Moore Iacofono and Goltsman, Inc., the consultant firm hired by the city of Santa Monica to facilitate the design process. MIG has also received more than 2,000 comments from residents regarding the redevelopment of the mall from those who did not attend the workshops. These comments, along with some taken from a recent citywide survey, will be discussed in a future report. How to go about redeveloping Santa Monica Place is something that has been bandied about by city officials recently. Plans to build skyscraper luxury apartments, with commercial and retail buildings below, were scrapped ear-lier this year after being presented to the public and met with stiff resistance. A new proposal for Santa Monica Place is expected this fall. EXTENDING THIRD STREET PROMENADE The MIG report said that a large number of workshop participants wanted the Third Street Promenade to extend through the Santa Monica Place mall site and connect to Main Street and the larger surrounding “urban fabric.” There was also some discussion in the report whether this larger pedestrian street might be linear, diagonal or rounded. Participants also wanted a re-design scheme that would take into consideration the close proximity of the Santa Monica Pier and the beach. Many said that additional pedestrian streets could be integrated — perhaps running east and west — which could give the site a more urban and “European” feel. Still, others liked the fact that the current mall offers some “relief” from the Promenade, according to the report, and feel its enclosed space is an asset. GRAPPLING WITH HEIGHT, RETAIL SPACE Many workshop participants stated opposition to the 21-story residential towers prominently featured in The Macerich Company’s earlier withdrawn proposal. In discussing height, participants stated “existing views” and “sensitivity to community character” must be carefully considered. Most participants preferred the upper floors of the tallest buildings to be dedicated to residential use, while the lower floors might be used for office and retail space. The tallest buildings desired for residential use was 12 stories. Residents who took part in the workshops suggested as little as 75,000 square feet to as much as 400,000 square feet of retail space. Santa Monica Place mall currently has 260,000 square feet of retail space. Most groups said they wanted between 200,000 and 300,000 square feet, according to the report. Participants also wanted office space for the mall site. That amount varied between 20,000 to as much as 260,000 square feet. Most groups wanted Macy’s and Robinsons-May to remain more or less in place, although a few groups opted to relocate or reduce the size of the department stores. In addition, there was a desire to see a layer of residential units, office space, and even park space on top of the department stores, which was reflected in the report. Participants also want local-serving retail uses on the site, such as a grocery store, food court or a large discount store. PARKING AND PARK SPACE The report said every group wanted some green park areas that would include landscaping distinguishing it from any “public plaza” or “pedestrian street.” Most groups wanted between one and five acres of park areas, with the average being 1.5 acres of park space. In addition, many groups requested cultural uses for the site in their proposals, such as galleries, a museum or a performance area. Others wanted there to be family-oriented amusements available, such as an ice skating rink, IMAX movie theater or playground. Most also preferred below-ground parking structures in their proposals, which would offer between 2,000 and 3,000 spaces. One group sought to refurbish, rather than reconstruct the mall, and leave the above-ground parking structures in place. The two above-ground parking structures at Santa Monica Place offer less than 2,000 spaces. THE NEED FOR CHANGE Randy Brant, senior vice president of leasing and development for Macerich, which owns Santa Monica Place, said the mall needs to be redeveloped because it was built in the 1980s on an outdated suburban shopping mall model that doesn’t compete well with the Third Street Promenade in today’s market. Macerich scrapped a proposed development last year due to the controversy over the height of its high-rise buildings. The project would have involved demolishing the existing mall and erecting 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. Assistant City Manager Gordon Anderson said City Hall has been authorized by the City Council to spend between $150,000 and $250,000 to hire MIG, and another consulting firm, Keyser Marston Associates, to facilitate a proposal that falls within nine council-directed guidelines intended to better satisfy the public’s vision for the Santa Monica Place redevelopment. MIG representatives hosted the workshops, with city staff and Macerich representatives on hand to observe and answer questions. Keyser Marston Associates will do an economic feasibility study in tandem with city planners to determine the pros and cons of concepts for the Santa Monica Place site that originated from the public discussion. Project possibilities and economic requirements will be presented for public review and comment prior to review by planning commission and council. The Santa Monica City Council will be asked to provide direction for development agreement if both City Hall and Macerich seem to favor a project model, which would also be considered by plan-ning commission and city council during a public hearing before being approved. Those concepts will then be presented to the City Council and the public for final approval, which will likely be in September or October, Anderson said. Macerich will then reimburse City Hall for the costs of the consulting services. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 7, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060705.pdf?ref=smdp.com)