The company which operates a high end regional mall built as a redevelopment project on the South Coast says its $20 million dollar privately funded renovation project is on track for completion this year. Santa Barbara’s Paseo Nuevo is getting new lighting, landscaping, fire pits, and new tile as a part of the effort. Plans call for the work to be done in time to celebrate the downtown Santa Barbara shopping, dining, and entertainment center’s 30th anniversary this summer.
The one big question remains the fate of a vacant 135,000 square foot store at State and Ortega Streets, which was once home to a Macy’s. The mall’s leaseholder, Pacific Retail, did a survey to see what the community wanted. Some type of entertainment use topped the list, followed by retail.
The company hopes to present a proposal for redeveloping the building to the city this spring.
