By Jorge Casuso

December 15 – The Macerich Company submitted a new plan to the City Friday to redesign Santa Monica Place that makes large portions of the indoor mall open air and offers a better connection to the Third Street Promenade.

Based on extensive community input, the preliminary plan removes the roof along the central spine of the building “to create an open-air, multi-level streetscape that better connects this property with the city’s vibrant urban landscape,” Macerich officials said in a statement released Friday.

The proposed open air dining deck (Renderings courtesy of Macerich Company and Jerde Partnership)

The plan also expands the center court and relocates the ground-floor food court to a third-level, open-air dining deck that includes “ample public open space to heighten visitors’ enjoyment of ocean views and outdoor breezes,” company officials said.

“Rethinking the current center as an open-air destination is in itself a positive environmental step forward for Santa Monica Place,” the statement said. “Our goal is to retain the current scale… In fact, the center will have slightly less retail space than currently exists.”

The pre-application documents submitted Friday give City officials a chance to review the initial draft concept and make comments before plans are formally submitted early next year, officials said.

“We’re moving forward, and this is the preliminary stage,” said Robyn Young, senior manager for Development Marketing. “This gives the planners the nuts and bolts of the project.”

The plans -- which Macerich officials say could change during the review process -- are based on input gathered at 14 community meetings, where renderings of the redesign were well received, Young said.

“We were really delighted with the response we got,” she said. “We really paid a lot of attention… But it doesn’t mean we don’t welcome more dialogue. We’re more than willing to do that.”

The submittal incorporates six key requests made by community members, Young said.

Based on community input, the redesigned mall should be of “reasonable scale,” with better connections to the Promenade, and should include open-air, views and street-retail elements, Macerich officials said.

The center court would be an open-air gathering place.

The project should also be environmentally sound, have retail as its the primary use and should pay attention to traffic and parking.

The documents submitted Friday – which are mainly cross-sections, elevations and aerial views – do not show many of the features showcased by the redesign, Young said.

“When you have the final plan, you’ll see more windows, more doors,” she said. “It will be more pedestrian friendly.”

The new proposal comes nearly one year after the City Council asked Macerich to scrap an ambitious plan to rebuild Santa Monica Place that included three 21-story towers, an office building, an apartment building and a rooftop park.

Macerich has hired a consultant to help determine the kinds of stores that are in demand and will be looking for retail that complements what’s already on the Promenade, company officials said.

“We will work diligently to attract a broad, quality-focused retail and restaurant mix that serves currently unmet needs of Santa Monica residents in a convenient setting,” company officials said in the statement released Friday.

“We’re moving forward, and this is the preliminary stage.” Robyn Young