The Simon Property Group resurrected its plan, albeit on a much smaller scale, to demolish the JCPenney department store building at Fashion Valley and add new restaurants, retail and 410 housing units in its place.
Representatives from Simon Property Group and architects for the residential and retail mixed-use development shared the company’s new vision for the western edge of Fashion Valley Mall with members of the Mission Valley Planning Group during a Wednesday meeting.
According to the plan, the country’s largest shopping mall owner would tear down the JCPenney store, the Firestone Tire building and a vacant strip mall just to the north of the department store to make room for a massive mixed-use development.
The shopping mall owner first proposed adding residential housing to the Fashion Valley Mall back in May 2024. Simon’s first iteration was much larger than the current proposal. Initially, the developer, teaming up with apartment landlord giant AMLI, looked to build 850 luxury units at the JCPenney site.
The current plans, now under review with the city of San Diego, call for replacing the JCPenney building with four smaller two-story buildings which would surround a large courtyard. The buildings, according to Simon Group representative Stephen Shea, will focus on bringing additional dining options to shoppers and community members.
Shea could not specify which restaurants have signed on, stating it was too early in the process, but did say that while quicker options such as sushi and cantinas could sign on, the company was looking at larger tenants and more sit-down dining options as well.
Retail and dining are only part of the project, Shea said during the planning group meeting,
Rendering of Fashion Valley proposal. (Photo by Dorian Hargrove/Times of San Diego)
To the northwest of the department store building and its sprawling parking lot, the developer proposes to build 410 housing units, a mixture of units from studios to three-bedroom units, which, if approved, would wrap around the Nordstrom parking garage.
The five-story housing structure would set aside 10% of units as affordable housing, as well as 1.5 parking spaces per unit.
The development is now under review with the city. The proposal requires a Neighborhood Development Permit, which means a public hearing will be held following the city’s preliminary review.
At the planning group, the board members and members of the public voiced some concerns about traffic around the mall and a lack of parking.
Shea from Simon Property Group said the residential units have sufficient parking spaces and the new retail and dining portion of the proposal does not strip away any parking from what is currently there.
