Desert Fashion Plaza Imbroglio - A way out?
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Desert Observer's Page Palm Springs, California. The Desert Fashion Plaza in downtown Palm Springs has existed as an empty shell for more than a decade. In recent years developer John Wessman and the City of Palm Springs have been locked in a take-no-prisoners struggle that has resulted in little more than paperwork, discarded plans, meetings, press conferences, lectures, surveys and, of course, broken promises. Local politicians have run on election platforms promising that development would occur and that progress was imminent. The number of local city council sessions devoted to plaza development - or non-development - would seem to qualify the subject for a permanent line on council meeting agendas. Yet despite all the activity there's been no agreement, no progress and most important of all, no tenants filling the empty spaces in the Desert Fashion Plaza project. |
Downtown businesses in Palm Springs need help. No one is denying that fact, but too many insist that all the development eggs be in one basket. Everyone is waiting for Wessman Development to play the role of business saviour by producing a plaza complex that will serve to draw hordes of shoppers into the area. Has anyone really looked at that concept? While other small communities have employed qualified Village Planning Consultants to bring parties together and produce winning designs and goals based on proven results elsewhere, the local community insists on a do-it-yourself approach that's produced a nothing-gets-done result. Desert Fashion Plaza is clearly part of the problem, and solution, but it's certainly not the entire picture. Many steps will be needed to make downtown Palm Springs a marketable village destination point for shoppers and tourists from areas outside the city. It's long past time to produce plans, goals and an implementation time table that includes but does not depend upon Wessman Development as the starting point and ultimate solution.
Sadly, no member of the Palm Springs City Council has evidenced the vision and leadership needed to put development of the downtown community into forward motion. The council continues to function in a reactive mode and no evidence of an initiative resulting in progress has surfaced. Finally, a breath of fresh air appears to have entered the arena for The Desert Sun's "Time for third party to shape fashion plaza" editorial may be that bit of vision and leadership that's been missing. The editorial says "it's time to bring in a third party - a mediator whose primary job is to provide the city's merchants and residents with a project that they can be proud of and that will generate money for the project's tenants and city's coffers".
Let's all hope that city council members, Wessman Development and downtown business leaders read the editorial and prove their sincerity by acting upon the paper's recommendations. And, since two city council member seats are up for election this year, perhaps candidates will promise (again) to do whatever it takes in terms of compromises in order to achieve a genuine solution.
Posted by Desert Observer at 4/5/2009 9:28 AM 
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs Desert Observer The Desert Sun Wessman Development Desert Fashion Plaza John Wessman
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs Desert Observer The Desert Sun Wessman Development Desert Fashion Plaza John Wessman
It's an utter disgrace that this decaying eyesore has been a hideous anchor dragging down the city with it for over 10 years now. Palm Springs City Council have been worse than hopeless in their attempts to deal with the problem. Wessman Development has been no better. They apparently want to build 300 condos on the site. This in a city littered with half empty condo projects built in the last few years, now either slashed in price or on the auction block. Where on earth is the logic in that? Downtown Palm Springs should be the jewel of the desert, not the blighted, crumbling mess that it currently is.
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Thanks for the information
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Thanks for great info....
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I agree with Erica, shame to Palm Springs City Council.
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Thanks for the information you shared that's so useful and quite informative and i have taken those into consideration....
Max Sullivan,
Women's Beauty Portal
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