$20 Million Makeover for Paseo Nuevo Mall
Owners Pledge to Install Fire Pits, Bocce Ball Court
At a time when much of Santa Barbara is trying to reimagine what a post-Amazon.com downtown looks like, City Hall has been quietly negotiating a new lease with the owners of the Paseo Nuevo mall, which if brought to fruition will require them to invest $20 million in the city’s retail anchor over the next four years. In exchange, the mall owners — Paseo Nuevo Owners (PNO) — will get a 28-year extension on a lease that would otherwise expire in 2065.
PNO has pledged to install new paving, paint, landscapes, lighting, fire pits, and a bocce court. Not included in the lease, however, are the spaces currently occupied by Nordstrom and, until a year ago, by Macy’s. The fate of Macy’s remains very much the unanswered $64 million question.
Since Paseo Nuevo was built in the early 1990s, it’s gone through a succession of owners, including, briefly, Rick Caruso, L.A.’s high-glam retail developer and owner of the Miramar. Under the new deal, the current owners will pay no additional rent — just $1 a year — but will commit to the $20 million face-lift; its representatives indicated the work would be done within the year. PNO will also assume $360,000 in annual costs currently born by City Hall for parking and trash. In addition, PNO will make a one-time payment of $200,000 to help provide homeless services.
Representatives of Downtown Santa Barbara praised the deal and PNO as a collaborative partner. Mayor Cathy Murillo did likewise. “We’re close to Valentine’s Day, and I’m glad to be in a relationship with you,” she told representatives of PNO. The prospect of a major face-lift today in exchange for a lease extension down the road proved irresistible to most councilmembers. The details of the negotiations were hashed out behind closed doors; they now will be referred to the Planning Commission for comment and approval, and then back to the council for final action.
