A Man for All Seasons

By Jorge Casuso

October 14 -- Michael Guerin thrives on challenges. The new Bayside District Board member has been a stockbroker, action and horror film actor, karate expert and the owner of his own gym.

As senior manager in property management and leasing representative for the Macerich Co., Guerin is in charge of both an outdoor mall in Santa Barbara – La Cumbre Plaza – and a two-story, one million-square-foot indoor mall in Ventura – Pacific View.

It's a résumé he hopes will serve him well after his September 28 appointment to the board that oversees Santa Monica's Downtown, including the Third Street Promenade.

"What's more interesting than selling or leasing real estate is creating a mix," Guerin said. "I enjoy the whole idea of studying retail as a shopper. You can come back to a place four years later and say, 'I did that lease. Look at all the people there.'"

Bringing people Downtown and keeping them coming back is one of the goals Guerin hopes to pursue as the Bayside's newest board member. Like his colleagues on the board, he wants to see more restaurants, new movie houses and an eclectic mix of stores. Specifically, he'd like to see more "mom-with-strollers type of stores."

But equally important, Guerin believes, is making sure people can easily get Downtown and find a parking space when they do; otherwise, there are plenty of competitors eager to snatch up the shoppers who currently flock to Santa Monica.

"Let's look at the overall view of Santa Monica and the health of this community," Guerin said. "We have to address the traffic and the parking. Eventually, (shoppers) won't come west because they can't get off the freeway and find a parking space."

When Guerin comes on board this month, he will be serving under a new Bayside chair. Bill Tucker, a property owner on the Promenade, was tapped last month to head the board as well as serve on the parking task force.