Palm Springs Residents To Sound Off Over Desert Fashion Plaza

Two executives for Wessman Development Company, whose negotiations with the city of Palm Springs to sell the Museum Market Plaza have hit a snag, will hold an open forum with local merchants today.

During the Main Street Palm Springs monthly meeting at 8:30 a.m., president John Wessman and vice president Michael Braun will field a half-hour question and answer session from downtown and uptown store owners.

Just last week, the city rebuffed the company’s offer to sell parts of the complex, which includes the Desert Fashion Plaza, a vacant mall, and the Town and County Center. The city wants to buy all 17 acres, not just portions.

Wessman had previously rejected an $18 million offer from the city for the property.

Main Street Palm Springs, a collection of business owners, wanted the opportunity to hear the company’s side of the negotiations from Wessman and Braun, his son-in-law.

“We just need to know a lot more,” said Joy Meredith, president of Main Street Palm Springs. “Those of us who actually work downtown, we need to look at this deeply and see where we stand on it.”

Meredith said about 25 business leaders recently met with Wessman and Braun privately, but this session allows all members of the community to give and receive feedback from them. Today’s meeting at the Hyatt Regency Suites Hotel is open to the public, she said.

Before the two speak, officials will give updates on the potential detention center to be built in Whitewater and the Palm Springs Police Department.