VENTURA : Mall Owners to Skip Expansion Session

The owners of the Buenaventura Mall say they will not attend Wednesday’s scheduled public work session on the mall’s expansion plans, prompting Ventura officials to wonder whether the company plans to back out of the project.

Without the participation of MaceRich Co., council members say they will probably cancel the workshop. They say, however, they are beginning to question the firm’s resolve to proceed with any mall expansion plans, a project that some council members say is key to the city’s economic revitalization efforts.

“(MaceRich’s) message has suddenly shifted big time as to how interested they might be,” Councilman Gary Tuttle said. “The way they’ve been responding to our questions, it’s almost like they want a way out.”

MaceRich officials could not be reached for comment.

Initially, MaceRich proposed doubling the mall’s size, adding three department stores to the two already on the site, and constructing a second level. The 28-year-old mall would be renovated and two multilevel parking structures would be built.

But Ventura officials say the company has talked recently of scaling those plans back due to financial constraints. The revised design was to have been presented at the Wednesday workshop.