Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

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.

News

New Owners of Santa Anita Park and Rick Caruso May Revive High-End Retail Development

parking-lot-santa-anita.jpg
Will the parking lot of the racetrack at Santa Anita become an upscale mall? (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist)

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.

It's once more into the starting gates for retail development mogul Rick Caruso, who will enter into talks today with the new owners of the Santa Anita Park, reports the Pasadena Star-News. They may opt to revive a plan for an upscale retail project in the racetrack's parking lot which had been voided five years ago when the proposal was found to not be in the best financial interest for the racetrack itself.

The group involved, MI Developments, are behind a successful Florida venture that pairs retail and racetrack. "They both have to be simpatico, in harmony," explains CEO Dennis Mills.

In addition to how to best serve the track on the recently-sold property, concerns remain about parking as well as how to launch and sustain a retail project in the midst of a stagnant economy. The meeting will take place in Las Vegas today.

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.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today