Sacramento, CA, civic and business leaders gathered at Westfield's Downtown Plaza to announce plans for a greater than $10 million renovation project designed to reinvigorate the downtown mall as part of creating a shopping and destination corridor stretching from the Sacramento Convention Center all the way to Old Sacramento, reports OBSNEWS.com.
Sacramento has long hoped to more fully develop the K Street mall and to make the downtown area a magnet for shoppers, diners, and nightlife. Recently the city has dealt with a number of difficult situations regarding developing this urban core. Sacramento's mayor, Heather Fargo, commented, "It's been a difficult road to fix, but we're making significant progress."
Westfield's Development Director for the Sacramento area, Keith Kaplan, mentioned that the company is looking to bring a large anchor retail tenant into the mall, to reposition the food court to overlook a renovated St. Rose of Lima Park, and to work with the existing theater in the mall to make significant enhancements. He also added that plans to "open up the center of the mall to allow end-to-end views" are in place.
Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said that city staff has worked very hard with Westfield in order to facilitate the expansion plans. "We're committed to be on track to start work by January 1 of next year," he said.
Downtown property owner, developer, and co-founder of the Downtown Partnership Moe Mohanna commented, "Westfield is a catalyst for the urban renewal of the K Street Mall. I am very happy to be here to witness Westfield's announcement that they are going to reposition and revitalize the Downtown Plaza."
