ANAHEIM : Mall Conversion Wins Officials’ OK
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Plans to rejuvenate the failing Anaheim Plaza mall by converting it to a discount shopping center were approved Tuesday by the city’s Redevelopment Agency.
Agency officials said the plaza’s owner, the California State Teachers Retirement System, has committed to drawing additional “value-oriented” tenants to a proposed open-air center.
The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, gave unanimous approval to the concept and reserved judgment on design and financing plans until final proposals are brought to the agency in July.
“I think what we’re going to get is 1,000% better than what we have now,” Councilman William D. Ehrle said of the deteriorating central city mall.
Confronted with an exodus of tenants, including the departure of a Robinson’s Department Store, the mall has failed to generate interest among local shoppers or needed sales tax revenue for the city.
“This is not a final commitment of what is going in there,” Councilman Irv Pickler said. “Somehow, this is something that we have to move ahead with.”
The owners have proposed spending up to $32 million to renovate the site, now anchored by Mervyn’s.
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