Council Delays Opening of New Mall, Orders Changes

The opening of a new shopping center built with a $15-million city subsidy is expected to be delayed after the City Council said that it does not meet the approved design and ordered developer Danny Bakewell to replace the stucco exterior.

Bakewell said the city staff knew of the change. Such a change, he said, would delay the opening of the Fair Oaks Renaissance Plaza, set for May 20. “For the City Council to put off the opening of the shopping center over this is ridiculous,” he said.

But some City Council members say Bakewell did not deliver the project as approved. They said he replaced a concrete block exterior with cheaper stucco finish and sought approval only after he had done much of the work.

“If we let Danny Bakewell get away with this we’ll be saying he’s above the law,” said Councilman Paul Little. “It would set a precedent that developers can ignore our codes and build what they like.”

The battle is the latest over the project at Orange Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue, which has escalated in cost amid repeated setbacks. The city sold the land, which it purchased for $15.1 million, to Bakewell for $1.5 million. The shopping center was to open in December 1996 but problems pushed that date to March 31, 1998. Bakewell is required to pay the city $11,000 for each month beyond that date. He has blamed bad weather for the delays and got staff to waive the penalty for the last month.