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Community Corner

Imagining a Future for the Mall That Wasn't

Elk Grove's abandoned mall may be an eyesore, but the area around it is ripe for economic development.

Editor's note: The author is chairperson of Elk Grove Coalition Advocating Proper Planning.

What’s to become of Elk Grove’s mall?  Most don’t even call it by the name it was given by now-bankrupt developer General Growth Properties, "The Elk Grove Promenade."  Most still refer to it as “Lent Ranch Mall” for Bob Lent’s famous nearby barn where many an event is held. 

With Governor Jerry Brown wanting to put an end to redevelopment agencies, and Elk Grove City Councilmember Sophia Scherman stating emphatically at the council’s January 26 meeting, “I don’t want to hear another thing about the mall,” we are left to wonder if our mall is dead even before it lived.

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As one exits off the beautiful Grant Line Interchange, the site of the mall is extremely depressing.  So what do we do?  Can we even imagine a mall there in the future?  Louis Bucksbaum, former vice president of development for General Growth, is no longer with the company, so we can’t go back and ask him to make good on the promises he made standing at the podium for two hours the night the council approved the mall’s design.

Other cities have malls that are dying because of the economy. So what are they doing?  The New York Times recently ran an article entitled, “New Lives for Dead Suburban Malls.”  This is just one excerpt:

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“Failed malls offer an unparalleled opportunity to bring services to suburban neighborhoods,” [professor of architecture at Georgia Institute of Technology] Ellen Dunham-Jones says.  “The idea is to demolish a dead mall and build the downtown area a suburb never had,” she said. “Three or four stories of apartments above the retail on the ground floor, providing an option where people can walk to most of their daily needs. And they have more opportunities for social interaction. They get a more urban lifestyle, but in a familiar place.”

Many a citizen has approached the city council at public comment with the same idea.  We really have some visionaries in our city that pay attention and bravely come forward with their suggestions for the council to consider.

What we do know is that the land around the mall is earmarked for a big-box mecca.  Will those developers actually deliver now that the mall sits like an albatross?  Would it be a big gamble on their part?  Let’s hope the city council can make the developers realize that we need those stores along with a high- tech business park.

Industry will be changing drastically over the next decade.  The mall area is also ripe for a state-of-the-art, master planned industrial business park. This way we can attract diverse business and industrial users.

But first, we need to get on with the big box stores slated for that area: a Wal-Mart Supercenter, maybe a Costco, a Sam’s Club, some outlet stores and restaurants.

Elk Grove must become an ideal place for business, industry and commerce. But before we can do that, they must have a place to go.  Elk Grove has a highly skilled workforce and we owe it to all of us to get started now.  We cannot wait for the big debate over whether or not the city should expand its Sphere of Influence or annex more land.

We can’t forget about the mall.  We cannot "let it be."  It is there, and something needs to be done.  Our leaders are reminded every day and most assuredly, they need to hear your ideas. 

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