SAN DIEGO-Costa Mesa, CA-based Donahue Schriber has unveiled plans to renovate one of its flagship properties, the 20-year-old Del Mar Highlands Town Center in northern San Diego County’s Carmel Valley. The renovation will include physical changes that will “enhance the guest experience, add restaurants and retail and improve parking and traffic flow,”the company says.
Renovations will start late this summer on a phased time line, according to a prepared statement. Elizabeth Schreiber, vice president of Donahue Schriber and Del Mar Highlands’ general manager, has confirmed to GlobeSt.com that the costs of the renovation are approximately $20 million. Design work is currently under way with Long Beach, CA-based architectural firm Perkowitz and Ruth. Construction is expected be completed by July 2011.
“Working closely with our community, we have created a renovation plan that will re-imagine and upgrade the center, providing family-oriented amenities, intimate gathering spaces and improved pedestrian access,” says Schriber.
A recent consumer research study for the property indicated that shoppers’ preferences for improved gathering places, more sit-down and full service restaurants as well as additional parking and improved traffic flow were necessary, the company says. “Our leasing team is in negotiations with several new restaurants in an effort to bring the best of San Diego eateries to Carmel Valley,” adds Schreiber.
The existing cinema building will undergo a complete renovation to bring it to a luxury level, including new digital equipment and reserved seating. “We have studied what is happening with movie theaters in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We believe Del Mar Highlands is a perfect location to apply this new approach of larger, reserved seats, wider aisles along with better food and beverage service,” Schreiber says.
The community amphitheater will also see an upgrade. The existing concrete seating will be replaced with boutique stores and a pop-jet fountain. Covered escalators, a new staircase and clock tower will connect the lower level to the upper level patio. New amenities to the area will include a variety of restaurants, a fireplace, fountain and comfortable seating.
In addition, traffic flow will be improved through signage that encourages customer usage of four of six entrances and the addition of 100 parking stalls throughout the center. Pedestrian walkways will also be expanded between buildings.
Joining the list of Del Mar Highlands’ national and local retailers is Tilly’s, which will open a 7,000-square-foot space this summer. The current AT&T store has relocated within the center to a space that doubles its size to 2,900 square feet.
Originally developed by Donahue Schriber in 1989, the 273,298-square-foot Del Mar Highlands Town Center is located at the corner of Del Mar Heights Road and El Camino Real and is anchored by Ralphs Fresh Fare, Rite Aid, Ultra Star Cinemas, Barnes & Noble and Jimbo’s…Naturally.
Donahue Schriber has been involved in nearly 32 million square feet of retail properties within its 41-year history. Structured as a private REIT, the firm owns and/or operates a portfolio of 83 neighborhood, community, community lifestyle and power shopping centers encompassing 13 million square feet throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon.
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