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# SM Place to have its day in the sun
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/sm-place-to-have-its-day-in-the-sun/
- Published: 2006-12-19T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:24:22.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Business, Downtown, #archive-import

*Macerich’s scaled-back plans for mall move forward*

DOWNTOWN — The owners of Santa Monica Place have taken the first step towards revitalizing the aging indoor mall, submitting preliminary plans that call for the roof to be removed along the “central spine” of the building to create an open-air, multilevel complex that better connects with the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Pier and Civic Center.

Santa Monica-based Macerich Co., one of the nation’s largest retail real estate investment trusts with 73 regional shopping centers in its portfolio, submitted a “pre-application” last Friday to city staff, who will review the initial draft concept and make comments prior to a formal submission set for early 2007, said Robyn Young, senior manager of development relations for Macerich.

“This is really just the nuts and the bolts of the project plan,” Young said. “We have our most talented people working on this project because this is such a special place, being in our corporate backyard and located so close to the promenade and the pier. We want it to be special and, at the same time, fit in with the surroundings.”

The application comes almost one year after the City Council asked Macerich to abandon its plan to demolish the mall and replace it with three, 21-story office towers that would have included space for offices, retail and housing.

Residents balked at the idea because the towers and massive development would have been out of character for the neighborhood and likely bring more traffic to the downtown area.

Admitting they made a mistake, Macerich officials this summer met with community members in a series of 14 meetings and used the input to craft a dramatically different concept that incorporates six key requirements identified by residents.

These elements are: Build something of reasonable scale, in line with Santa Monica’s aesthetic sensibilities: Create a better connection with the promenade; Include open-air views and street-retail elements; Develop an environmentally sound project; Make retail the primary use at the mall; Pay attention to traffic and parking. “Our goal is to retain the current scale by working within the same general footprint and height limits, featuring just three stories,” the Macerich application states. “In fact, the center will have slightly less retail space than currently exists.”

The project currently calls for a third level, open-air dining deck “that includes ample open space to heighten visitors’ enjoyment of ocean views and outdoor breezes.”

Young said that Macerich will be looking to attract a broad base of quality retail stores and restaurants to provide shoppers with options.

The parking structures will remain, but be enhanced aesthetically, and impact on traffic and parking is expected to be limited during the course of construction, Young said.

“We’d love to have an opening by 2009, but at this point in time, it is still very preliminary,” Young said. “This project is in our backyard and something we take a lot of pride in.

“We are definitely putting special attention to try to make it a premier shopping destination.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/121906-04_01.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/121906-04_02.jpg)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 19, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)