VENTURA : Expansion of Mall Discussed at Forum
About 60 residents attended a public meeting this week to give their opinions about the proposed expansion of the Buenaventura Mall.
No definite decisions were made about the project Thursday evening, but developers are thinking about making some modifications based on residents’ suggestions, said Lori Gatto, vice president of Santa Monica-based MaceRich Co., which owns the mall.
“Let me assure you that this is not a forum to placate people,” Gatto told the audience.
Residents were concerned about the parking, traffic and pollution problems that would result from the expansion. The proposal is to expand the mall to nearly twice its size, making it the largest retail shopping center in Ventura County.
Three more department stores would be added to the mall, which is bordered by Main Street, Mills Road and Telegraph Road. It is anchored now by a J.C. Penney store on the north and a Broadway store to the south.
Two multilevel parking structures and a second level would also be added.
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