By Claire Gunning
Staff Writer
RREEF, a property trust and real estate company that privately owns the Village Mall, has been working with the city of Manhattan Beach since Dec. to finalize its construction and renovation plans for the mall.
RREEF first proposed the construction in 2006. After 9 years of open-discussion meetings with the city, the project was approved in Dec. 2014 and a construction plan now has to be made. The construction plan dictates the exact renovations and additions to the mall and how they will be built.
“The renovation and expansion plans for the Manhattan Village Mall underwent numerous changes based on excellent public input from over 20 public hearings,” Manhattan Beach Mayor Wayne Powell said. “This will lead to an eventually beautiful mall with more shopping.”
The Village Mall currently generates over 3 mil dollars annually for Manhattan Beach. Along with improvements to the mall, RREEF will fund renovations of roadways surrounding the mall to decrease traffic. According to Powell, an independent expert prepared an Environmental Impact Report that states that the traffic impacts from the mall expansion will be mitigated and negligible.
“I believe the resulting Manhattan Village Mall design is appropriate for the location and will serve our community well when completed,” Powell said.
The proposed expansion of the Village Mall includes three phases that allow the company to expand the 44-acre mall another 706,226 square feet. Phase 1 will expand 50,000 sq. feet, phase 2 allows an additional 60,000 sq. feet, and a phase 3 will see the expansion of individual shops and restaurants. Along with more parking, retail, and restaurants, an outdoor plaza will be added to the mall.
“The renovation of the mall will provide our residents with additional shops and restaurants and a beautiful village-like mall,” Powell said.
The initial project plan was approved by the city in a 3-2 vote in December of 2014. The company now must draft a plan for construction to be approved by the city. If the plan is approved, construction of Phases 1-3 will begin. The renovations of the mall were necessary to retain shops including Macy’s and the Apple Store.
“The city has been working with RREEF for a really long time to complete this project,” Project manager Laurie Jester said.”The construction plan could take any amount of time to complete, and I am looking forward to the eventual construction plan and the new and improved mall for Manhattan Beach.”
RREEF will fund the project privately with its current budget of 110 mil dollars stemming from a private source.
“I plan to continue to shop at Manhattan Village and to help support our mall,” Powell said. “I look forward to a new and improved shopping mall and experience that will better serve our residents in Manhattan Beach.”
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