Winds of change in Pacific Palisades

Rick Caruso, the prominent developer known for such showy shopping centers as The Grove and the Commons at Calabasas, is poised to take over much of the Palisades’ nearly moribund commercial center. What he should do with the choice sector has been the topic of heated debate, with some residents lobbying for serious growth and others clamoring to maintain the “Mayberry with money” ambience. “They want to keep the scale of a small village but have the amenities of a big city,” said Randy Young, a lifelong resident and local historian. “Caruso has a big job. I wouldn’t want to be in his Guccis.”