201904.25
0

Developer proposes replacing Laguna Hills Mall with 2,100 apartments, hotel and more

by in News

About 2,100 apartment units, a boutique hotel, a three-acre park, four office buildings and a movie theater are just a part of an updated proposal for replacing the Laguna Hills Mall.

Merlone Geier Partners unveiled its updated plan for the 68-acre Five Lagunas at a community open house inside the mall on Wednesday, April 24. Two anchor stores – Macy’s and J.C. Penney – going vacant last year freed up more areas for development, company officials said of the expanded plans.

  • Stephan Logan, Project Manager speaks to the nearly 300 people who showed up to a community forum Wednesday evening about the future of the Laguna Hills Mall. Representatives of the project owners spoke to residents about the new plan for the Five Lagunas project in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

  • Nearly 300 people showed up to a community forum Wednesday evening about the future of the Laguna Hills Mall. Representatives of the project owners spoke to residents about the new plan for the Five Lagunas project in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sound
    The gallery will resume inseconds

  • Nearly 300 people showed up to a community forum Wednesday evening about the future of the Laguna Hills Mall. Jnana Anderson, (cq) left, Judy Johnson, center, and Marcie Weig, right, talk while they wait for representatives of the project owners to speak to residents about the new plan for the Five Lagunas project in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

  • Nearly 300 people showed up to a community forum Wednesday evening about the future of the Laguna Hills Mall. David Geiser, Managing Director of Design and Construction for Merlone Geier Partners speaks to residents about the new plan for the Five Lagunas project in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

  • A woman takes a photo of the projected image of the artists concept of the future of the Laguna Hills Mall. Nearly 300 people showed up to a community forum Wednesday evening about the future of the mall. Representatives of the project owners spoke to residents about the new plan for the Five Lagunas project in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

of

Expand

In 2016, Merlone Geier Partners asked the city to build nearly 1,000 luxury apartments, less than half of what the company’s now proposing.

“Residential is the key to the viability of the site,” Vice President of Development Stephan Logan said.  Housing is needed to bring people both to the office and the retail spaces.

Logan said the company has yet to flesh out what mix of housing it will be requesting. Senior housing may be one of the options, he said.

Wednesday’s meeting will be the first of many to get community feedback, company officials said.

Meanwhile, the company plans to submit a proposal to the city by June 1, which will lead to a lengthy environmental review process.

If the company secures the necessary approvals, construction could start in 24 to 30 months, and would begin with retail space, Logan said.