Wessman To Discuss Future Of Palm Springs’ Desert Fashion Plaza

Now that he and the city of Palm Springs have reached an agreement to work together, John Wessman today will address residents on the status of the Desert Fashion Plaza renovation project.

Wessman will make a presentation to residents and stakeholders during the 6 p.m. study session at the Palm Springs convention center, city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell said.

“John Wessman will present to the community the incorporation of input gleaned through a series of three successful visioning workshops regarding the future of the long vacant Desert Fashion Plaza,” Blaisdell said.

Wessman is the president of Wessman Development and, last month, agreed to come to terms on a pact with the city by Aug. 1 for redeveloping the vacant mall.

Such a working relationship appeared in doubt just a few weeks prior, when Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet rejected the company’s plans to sell off only parcels of the 17-acre piece of land. Earlier, the company rebuffed the city’s offer of $18 million for the property.

There are still plenty of hurdles to clear before the project takes off.

Wessman said last month during a Main Street Palm Springs meeting that he would need the city’s financial assistance for his plan to come to fruition. The City Council previously has estimated such support to be $50 million, which would come from a voter-approved tax.

Wessman has owned the property for more than a decade, but was unable to get it off the ground for various reasons. The city tried to purchase the parcel of land in order to begin the renovations, discussions that eventually led to the agreement to work together.

Today’s session will take place in the Primrose Room of the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros.

The meeting will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Thursday on Palm Springs Community Television Channel 17 and Time Warner Cable 121 and can also be viewed online at the city’s website, Blaisdell said.