Santa Maria Town Center redevelopment... (Orcutt: theatre, high school, closing)

[Homero]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

The SM mall is a perfect example of horrible planning. When they built it they were still using engineers to plan the city--so they built a massive parking garage that is perpetually empty--they lose money on its debt service every year.

Indeed. It's practically a text book case of overzealous development with little foresight into the future. Poor layout, poor infrastructure, especially since anything that somewhat resembles a downtown in located on Broadway (Highway 135) and Main (Highway 166 West) which means the municipality have little say over these thoroughfares. And with the economic meltdown on practically every level of government beating down on the city, the city's downtown redevelopment plan is more than likely, if not shot to ****, then it's dead.

[carp killer]

Since my post to this thread Gottschalks has gone to bankrupt. This is the anchor?

Gottschalks files for bankruptcy protection - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee (http://www.sacbee.com/288/story/1543493.html - broken link)

I don't know how long they can last, the economy has a ways to go before it can climb out of this hole.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Why build an indoor mall at the absolute center of a town with serene weather almost all year? It was a poor idea, and chasing money after it will be even poorer.

[the city]

so r their any plans to redevelop the mall?

[the city]

Originally Posted by Homero

Just out of curiosity, where are you getting your info from?

As much as I dislike that mall, the new owners have done a lot of work to it in terms of aesthetics. Many minor things here and there, such as the new paint inside and out, benches, cafe tables, over all cleanliness, have really began to add up.

It's doubtful that Gottschalks is going to be open air-- why bother doing that? There is nothing economically fesable about that. Where will that happen at? Its old space is torn up, unusable, due to that theater that many think should open up, but more than likely never will. It's also doubtful that any new stores will open in there, as malls over all are pretty much defunct. Malls were a fad that ended up biting a major chunk out of many cities asses.

i read an article from the santa maria times about it's redevelopment. and there arent taking out gottschalks or making it outdoor. next to gottschalks, they are going to build several buildings outside, most likely take out parking or something to add 3 larger stores and a resturaunt and an outdoor fountain. i think they will be adding borders, 24 hour fitness, and bed bath n beyond. or some stores along those lines. forever 21 is supposed to replace their mervyn's, and hopefully that theater will open up.

[the city]

I am guessing one solution to the mall's problem might be to demolish the west wing, where the theater and gottschalks are. Gottschalks is going bankrupt, and will most likely sell to Beall's Texas. and steve and barry's is already gone. Moving the laser tag arena and the stores still open to a better part of the mall might be the only option for making that mall survive.

[Clarks]

The downtown of Santa Maria has rotted out, and the government did it. Sad. There used to be good shopping, the theater, Bradley Hotel and the famous skid row, which mother warned us never to go near.

Now the city is taking farmland between Betteravia and Stowel road on the East side of the freeway to build more globopolis like on the west side. Santa Maria may be a place to have a house, but it is no place to live, yet it once was a fine little town.

[oilman2]

The mall is actually looking alot better, and if the current owners follow thru on alot of their promises, then it should come out really well. As for mervyns, that should be torn down, and more shops built along broadway to make it pedesrian friendly. Its too big of a building and stands out like a sore thumb. But that probably wont happen. We'll have to just wait and see.

[Axxlrod]

This mall is dying a very slow death. Once it finally closes (and it will) it will sit empty for a very long time.

[Just One of the Guys]

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

This mall is dying a very slow death. Once it finally closes (and it will) it will sit empty for a very long time.

They've been saying the Town Center Mall will close for years, but it's still open, and now it's under new ownership and undergoing a major renovation project. From what I've been hearing, the new ownership is driven to attract successful local business's into the mall once all the renovations are complete.