Mall Offers Space for Science Center

Backers of a long-awaited plan to build a children’s science museum in Thousand Oaks have received an encouraging proposal to locate the $30-million museum at The Oaks mall, a move that could improve fundraising.

The Discovery Center for Science and Technology was initially set to be built on two acres of city-owned property east of the Civic Arts Plaza, but supporters say a scaled-down restaurant and retail project under construction next door may not generate enough visitors to make the science center a success. Now, Santa Monica-based Macerich Co., owner of The Oaks, has offered to make room for the museum as part of a $100-million expansion of its shopping center.

“It’s a very generous offer,” said Michael D. Bradbury, the Discovery Center’s president and chief executive. “This could provide more visibility and a big boost in terms of financing the project.”

After nearly a decade of planning, the Discovery Center still needs significant financing before construction can begin on the 70,000-square-foot facility that would include five exhibit areas. Less than $1 million is available for construction.

But moving the center to the mall could help fundraising and trim several million dollars from development costs through a construction deal brokered with The Oaks, Bradbury and other Discovery Center officials said.

“It’s good to be wanted.... We’ll go with the best opportunity and the best offer,” said Wayne Davey, the project’s treasurer.

Randy Brant, a Macerich senior vice president, said the company was willing to help build the shell of a Discovery Center building, with backers responsible for developing the interior. Macerich would provide a rent subsidy, he said, and possibly coordinate public exhibits in the mall’s common area.

Placing the Discovery Center at the mall could also speed up environmental, construction and other project approvals, which could mean opening as early as 2008, officials said.

The first phase of The Oaks expansion would add 250,000 square feet of retail space, including Ventura County’s first Nordstrom department store, by late 2007. The science center would be in a similar-sized second phase on 12 acres east of the mall that would include home-furnishing retailers, restaurants and movie theaters.

“In our quest to create a town center for Thousand Oaks, we feel projects that are important to the community, like Discovery Center, add synergy to a project,” Brant said. “It would work equally well [next to City Hall] or at our proposed Phase II. Macerich is just trying to help them find a home.”

Mayor Bob Wilson Sr. said that while space existed for the science center near City Hall, the important thing was for the project to move forward.

“I would be thrilled to death if Macerich puts this together,” Wilson said. “It was going to be a hard road to put it next to the Civic Arts Plaza. It’s a nice dream, but I didn’t see it happening. I could see this happening.”

Bradbury said his board was expected to decide on a science center location within 90 days. “We’re not discounting any possibility. Macerich appears at this point to be the most attractive option, but we’ll keep an open mind about the Civic Arts Plaza,” he said.

Councilman Dennis Gillette said it was unfortunate the council over several years significantly reduced developer Rick Caruso’s retail and restaurant project next to City Hall to 48,000 square feet -- a size that isn’t expected to create enough foot traffic to help the science center.

“If The Oaks is now a more viable location for the Discovery Center, then that’s that,” he said. “There are things the private sector can do much more quickly than the public sector.”

Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Pena, who voted against final approval of Caruso’s The Lakes at Thousand Oaks development, questioned whether Macerich wanted to secure the Discovery Center to help the firm win city approval for its own growth plans.

A recent survey of nearly 3,200 residents indicates 75% want The Oaks to expand and modernize, even if that means two parking structures would be visible from the Ventura Freeway. But Bill-de la Pena said the Macerich plans still required scrutiny.

“We cannot entertain the idea of the science center moving to The Oaks mall until expansion of the shopping center itself has been fully evaluated and the residents have had a chance to review the mall design and environmental impact reports,” she said.