Melissa Fittro | Scottsdale Independent
While retail stores and shopping malls throughout the nation struggle to survive and remain relevant, the owners of Scottsdale Fashion Square are seeking approval for changes they say will ensure the popular mall’s future remains strong and vital.
Lauded by many as one of the most popular shopping destinations in the country, Scottsdale Fashion Square is home to hundreds of retail shops from Forever 21 and Dick’s Sporting Goods, to Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton.
Most important to city officials: The mall is one of the highest sales tax generators in the city of Scottsdale.
Macerich, a California-based developer of retail commercial space, is seeking approval from municipal leaders to expand the mall’s brick-and-mortar footprint along Hyland Avenue in downtown Scottsdale.
During its June 28 meeting, the Scottsdale Planning Commission recommended approval of the pursued expansion of Fashion Square. The vote was unanimous, although two commission members — Ali Fakih and Prescott Smith — were forced to recuse themselves due to a conflict of interest, records show.
Macerich is represented by prominent Zoning Attorney John Berry of Berry & Riddell LLC. The proposal is expected to go before Scottsdale City Council Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Sitting on the northwest corner of Camelback and Scottsdale roads and surrounded by several other retail shops, office buildings and restaurants is the shopping mecca community leaders say generates over $10 million a year — about 7 percent — of total city sales tax remits.
