Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein will lead the group investigating what will be the best mix of businesses along the Third Street Promenade.
Members of a task force created by the city council to find the appropriate balance between retail shops and restaurants along the city’s busiest commercial core chose on Wednesday Feinstein to chair their discussions and meetings.
Merryl Ruddel, a part-owner of several Promenade buildings, was chosen as the task force’s vice-chair.
“We all seemed to be very open with our desires to create a good tenant mix on the Promenade,” said Bill Tucker, a Promenade landlord and task force member. “We all want to be cognizant of how our decisions will affect the surroundings and how the surrounding area affects the Promenade.”
Late last year the city council enacted a moratorium on converting any spaces now occupied by restaurants into retail stores. Elected officials fear the ambiance of the Promenade was being lost as restaurants began to disappear from the outdoor shopping mall.
The task force was created to determine why restaurants are leaving and to deliver a series of recommendations to the city council on how to curb future eateries from abandoning their locations.
The task force asked city planning director Suzanne Frick to find a consultant with a background in pedestrian orientated, outdoor malls — and who also has a background in urban planning.
The group also agreed to several public meetings that will likely be held at the Ken Edwards Center on June 6 at 4:15 p.m., June 24 at 3 p.m., July 25 at 3 p.m. and Aug. 8, at a time yet to be determined. More meetings will be announced in the future.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 24, 2002. Read the original PDF.