Renovation of the Brea Mall

As a frequent shopper at the Brea Mall, I was interested in your story (Nov. 20) on its planned $80-million renovation.

In perspective, the Houston Galleria, Rockefeller Center in New York, and other fine, outstanding shopping centers have had a skate rink as a point of beauty, interest and public recreation. But the Brea Mall took theirs out to put in more stores. It was always treated like a stepchild, anyway. The skaters are gone along with the rink.

The big conglomerates that run the shopping mall industry in Southern California are so crass and commercial that I am sure that they consider a bench or public toilet as wonderful public amenities. The Anaheim Mall doesn’t even have the toilet, so perhaps Brea already is an upscale development, as real estate people are wont to call these giant emporia.

Every square inch has to pay its way and there is little quarter for any “wasted” space, such as a skating rink, toward any beauty spot that would cause the weary shopper to stop, find solace, peace and retirement from the incessant commercialism that permeates these places.

Let’s see what $80 million will buy when it comes to something really classy in the renovated Brea Mall.

PATRICK FLYNN

Yorba Linda