Something old, something new in works for 2005
FOR HIGH-RISE TOWERS An ultimate question mark had been lingering for years about what was going to become of the archaic Santa Monica Place, which has experienced falling sales numbers, and thus, sales tax revenue for City Hall.
The owner of the mall, the Macerich Co., had kept its plans under wraps for more than a year, much to the dismay of civic leaders, particularly the Bayside District Corp., which manages downtown Santa Monica in conjunction with City Hall.
But as the campaign for November election geared up, Macerich slowly and quietly rolled out its plans in private meetings with then-current City Council members and some candidates to gauge their reactions.
While those privy to the unveiling before the plans went public were tight-lipped about what they saw, community members have been fairly vocal about the idea to build high-rise towers, three of them standing 21 stories tall in downtown Santa Monica.
Macerich in November finally unveiled the plan to raze the 24-year-old mall and extend the Third Street Promenade another block to the south. On top of the buildings would be four acres of parks and five high-rise towers, three reaching 300 feet skyward. Below the buildings would be four levels of parking.
The proposal includes 560,000 square feet of retail and restaurant spaces spread out over two stories of shops along an outdoor walkway. Above the shops would stand three 21-story towers with a total of 300 condominiums, and two seven-to eight-story buildings. One of the smaller towers would house 150 apartments. In the other would be 70,000 square feet of leasable office space.
Also above the shops would be four acres of park space. On the east side of the Third Street extension would be a private two-acre park and swimming pool exclusively for residents living in the new project. On the west side would be another two-acre park.
Before mall officials can begin the estimated 30-month construction process, they’ll have to get approval from City Hall and the Coastal Commission, which governs all development near California’s coast. Macerich already has applied for what’s called a development agreement with the city. If granted, the agreement would allow developers to skirt city codes governing building heights, among other things.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2004. Read the original PDF.