City Of Palm Springs Wants More Input On Desert Fashion Plaza
The Palm Springs City Council invited residents and stakeholders to attend the second of three visioning workshops to discuss the design and master plan of the Desert Fashion Plaza and surrounding properties in downtown Palm Springs.
The mostly-vacant shopping center occupies a large section of Palm Canyon Drive, and the City of Palm Springs has been trying for years to negotiate redevelopment or a sale of the property with its owner Wessman Development. The latest offer of $18 million, which city leaders came up with after appraisals, was rejected twice by Wessman.
The city moved on with its plan to change the face of that area, though.
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A website was created to brainstorm ideas for the future of the site.
The next workshop is slated for Thursday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Primrose Room at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Avenida Caballeros.
Berkeley-based consultant MIG, who is facilitating the workshops, will bring back the input gleaned from community members at the first workshop for more detailed discussion with the public, according to city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell. They want to talk about areas that most people agree on and those where there’s a deep rift. More than 200 members of the community attended the first workshop.
?It?s important for those who attended the first visioning workshop to come back,” said John Raymond, Director of Community and Economic Development. “We welcome those who didn?t make it to attend on Feb. 3. The City of Palm Springs is committed to ensuring that everyone?s voice is heard.?
A third and final workshop was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 9 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. That session will focus on the solutions the community came up with.
?I invite anyone with an interest in our City?s future to take part in these next two important visioning workshops for downtown Palm Springs,? said Mayor Steve Pougnet. ?These public participation workshops will define the community?s vision for this important piece of property in our downtown.?
