One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Carson Might Literally Build A 'High End' Outlet Mall On Top Of A Garbage Dump
What would future archeologists think about a mall built on top of a garbage dump? (Photo by Rich Greene via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Good news for those of you who are just so over driving all the way to Camarillo or Commerce for your premium outlet malls. The giant piece of vacant land in Carson that almost became an NFL stadium (not really) might instead become a large mall, filled with 150 "high end" factory outlet stores. As the Daily Breeze reports, the Carson City Council voted 5-0 in favor of spearheading work with the Macerich Real Estate company, in order to develop an outlet mall literally built on top of a garbage dump.
The 157-acre and 405 freeway adjacent property was at one point known as the Cal-Compact Landfill. The landfill closed during the 1960s, and has since been a bit of a headache for the city of Carson. The fact that the property is practically unusable because of "extensive underground hazardous wastes" was high on the list of reasons why the NFL passed on it as a stadium site. Each month, Carson spends roughly $450,000 to keep the toxins from leaking out, according to Curbed.
The Macerich company, however, believes that the property is ripe for 500,000 square-feet of commercial retail space. The cash strapped city of Carson has little objection, especially given the city expects roughly $4 million in annual sales-tax revenue once (if) the mall opens.
Of course, the mall would only take up roughly 1/5 of the total amount of land available to (supposedly) the land of the old garbage dump. As the Breeze continues, Carson officials hope the mall would prompt other development in the area. Exactly what else would be built, we (and probably they) have no idea.
Some Garbage Dump Lofts or Rubbish Heap Condominiums would fit right in.
There is no timeline for the mall. And, honestly, if Carson is paying $6 million annually to keep the toxic mess under the property under control it's hard to imagine anything particularly expedient. It's not hard to envision the project stalling a decades-long environmental review process.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
