Upon first look, a mega-mall on the east side of Gilroy seems to
make perfect sense
Imagine that. Westfield Corporation Inc., the
800-pound gorilla in global shopping center development, is interested in staking a claim in Gilroy.
To borrow an old commercial jingo, “We’ve come a long way, baby.”
If there was any doubt about Gilroy’s attractiveness as a retail mecca, Westfield’s interest removes it. And, frankly, if all the hurdles can be worked out – most notably getting the proposal through the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara County – this center would solidify Gilroy’s retail stranglehold on the region. It would mean millions in retail sales tax dollars flowing into City Hall’s coffers for years to come, protect against any drop-off from the outlet centers and turn the eastern flank of Gilroy into a one-two-three shopping knockout punch: outlets, Super Wal-Mart, etc. and a mega-mall.
Westfield Corporation Inc. is a serious player with access to voluminous market research. Shoppers will recognize the company from its local centers that include a recently refurbished Oakridge Center on Blossom Hill in San Jose, Valley Fair Center on Stevens Creek in San Jose and the multi-storied San Francisco Centre on Market Street.
Besides bringing higher-end department stores to town like Macy’s and Nordstrom’s, a Westfield center would likely include multiple entertainment-oriented attractions like movie theaters and cafes.
The company understands that malls have become social gathering spots and employs strategies – making the centers wi-fi hubs, for example – that build on that concept.
Preliminary plans call for a 119-acre center between Leavesley and Gilman roads off Arroyo Circle that could encompass the former Wal-Mart building, school district offices and farmland immediately to the east of those buildings.
Given the city’s longstanding plan to build a direct eastern thoroughfare between the outlet mall and the new shopping centers off Highway 152, a mega-mall addition seems to make perfect sense. Local shoppers could access the area via Sixth Street, and an extended Camino Arroyo would bridge Llagas Creek and tie all three shopping areas together.
At this point, the City Council, which interestingly had been left in the dark for months regarding this proposal, should begin to consider items such as:
– Infrastructure, what roads improvements are necessary
– Community benefits, how can downtown and the auto dealers benefit?
– Plans for additional sales tax dollars – perhaps create a downtown improvement fund.
The devil is in the details of this proposal, but on first blush a mega-mall with its mega dollars certainly makes sense for Gilroy.
