Shopping Mall in Simi Valley

The desire for a local shopping mall has been expressed by Simi Valley residents for many years. Responding to this goal, the City Council designated the property between the Mervyn’s center and the Farmers Insurance Group building as a “subregional center” during the last general plan update. This designation was for the explicit purpose of locating a department store and related mall shops. A tie-in to the existing Mervyn’s center was contemplated, thus creating a reasonably sized shopping center.

More recently, the City Council re-emphasized our commitment to a shopping mall by creating a deputy city manager position to work full time on attracting a subregional center. A study will be conducted of all potential development.

However, in the meantime, a development has been proposed for the existing subregional commercial site. The development calls for a free-standing Target store and some smaller shops. Tie-in to the Mervyn’s center is limited to automobile circulation.

The question has been raised as to how this development meets the requirements for a subregional center. To answer this, Councilwoman Ann Rock and I have had scheduled a public hearing by the City Council on this project. What I am interested in, and what I think the whole council is interested in, is whether the citizens of Simi Valley think that the proposed Target center satisfies our need for a department store and mall.

GREG STRATTON

Simi Valley