The La Mesa City Council has approved the first phase of a widespread redevelopment project of Grossmont Center, the city’s 925,000 square foot outdoor shopping center.
The first phase, which was approved in a unanimous vote at the July 8 council meeting, will include renovations to the storefronts between Target and Walmart, updated landscaping, and a new main entrance canopy. The updated look follows contemporary design trends.
The project will add 2,634 square feet of new landscaping, including a new central plaza with a fountain and flexible event space. The updated center will also include trellises to add shade in hope of attracting more people to gather.
“We’re flattening out the terrain so that it’s more conducive to large events,” said Stuart MacDonald, Vice President for Federal Realty Investment Trust, which represented Grossmont Center for the project. “There’s a small stage area that’s being set up, and that would be for tree lighting types of events; maybe a gazebo for the Easter Bunny, and things like that. (We’re) looking at ways to revitalize the center and bring back some of those fun things that are a more historic part of a shopping center.”
Council members were amenable to the updates, and said they hoped the mall could attract more community events in years to come.
“I’m really excited about this,” said Councilmember Lauren Cazeres. “I hope that we can bring back some of the vibrance that I feel that, in the last ten years, we’ve started to lose.”
More information on the redevelopment project is available on the city’s website.
