By Kathryn Cross
Staff Writer
The nearly certain tax revenues and personal benefits of upgrading the Manhattan Village Mall certify that even with the destruction of some antiquated stores, the construction of a new mall should be approved.
Since 2006, the Manhattan Village Mall management and the city of Manhattan Beach have been working on a plan to expand the Manhattan Village Mall. As recently as May 20, there have been negotiations and a Manhattan Beach City Council meeting regarding the Manhattan Village Mall’s expansion by 110,000 square feet in order to incorporate a new outdoor promenade, two-level parking structure and more space for businesses.
Residents have expressed concerns that the expansion could possibly instigate petty crime and increase traffic on Sepulveda Boulevard. Although these issues are negligible, they will be addressed at the June 17 City Council meeting. The new mall plans, regardless of improbable possibilities, should be endorsed and approved by the city.
Those against the expansion have made numerous complaints, and 1,191 petitioners have signed against the update. These petitioners, along with other voices of the community, are concerned about the possible congestion of Sepulveda, even though the current plans for renovation address this worry and improve upon existing traffic infrastructure.
Accordingly, the City Council, environmental impact reports, and clear traffic engineering plans diminished the opposition against the renovations. These measures have assuaged the opposition by providing quantified reports and figures to the public and are an indication of the promise the newly-expanded mall has for Manhattan Beach.
One of these reassuring measures included the California Environmental Quality Act, an environmental impact analysis that was presented to City Council on April 29, which demonstrated that few additional consumer and delivery automobile trips would be generated by the redevelopment. As a result, it would not affect traffic significantly. Regulations could be put in place for those restaurants and stores to appease the residents’ worries about increased traffic on Sepulveda. The City Council is aware of the precautions that are necessary for the mall renovation and has taken the necessary measures to ensure that the expansion is successful.
Regarding possible crime, with 0.35% of Redondo Beach’s population being victims of violent crime, the city’s South Bay Galleria mall has experienced its fair share of criminal activity, including the 2012 stabbing of two 13-year-olds.
Thus, it is a valid concern that perpetrators may search to commit crimes in a new mall of similar size to the Galleria. However, with only 0.13% of Manhattan Beach’s population being victims of violent crimes, Manhattan Beach is a statistically safer city for shoppers. It will be protected by 24-hour Manhattan Village security and Manhattan Beach Police Department, further illuminating the soundness of the proposed plans for the mall.
In the interest of a fair compromise, a proposition at the Jan. 14 City Council meeting featured a reduced action plan of an 80,000 square foot expansion, which would be less invasive than the previous plan. This new plan would provide more opportunities for Manhattan Beach and its constituents, while also maintaining its small-town charm.
Petty crime and traffic would not be a problem for the well-secured and developed community, and the newly modernized buildings would provide new sources of relaxation and proceeds. The redevelopment of the Manhattan Village Mall is a plan that is beneficial for the entire city.
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