“We are headed for real positive changes,” said Dickerson.
“We understand the impact high traffic malls have on our local environment and hope to minimize that to the best of our ability.”
That means the energy consumed by the mall on an annual basis will be equal to the energy created on the site.
We are considering everything that will serve the community and bring people to the mall.” A 4D movie theater is also being considered.Ī potential wider vision of the mall property and surrounding area includes a park and hotel.Īs a sustainable contractor, Dickerson is ensuring the building plans are drafted using a net-zero approach. We want to have fashion shows, concerts, plays, auto shows. We are exploring more complimentary uses to make the mall a dynamic place. We have plans to build a 2,000 seat covered indoor-outdoor amphitheater at the back-end, south side of the existing mall property. “It will be a gathering place for locals, college students and festival attendees. “Indio is the City of Festivals and we want to reflect that energy,” said Dickerson. He and his wife raised their two daughters in the CV.ĭickerson is a sustainable general engineering contractor who owns commercial property in Indio one block from the site and is President of a 501(c)3 he started, called “River of Hope,” whose mission is to “Visit the fatherless, widows and those less fortunate in their affliction.” He is energetic and a visionary which is likely why Reo has given him the hands-on responsibility to bring new life to the mall. “This is a very exciting project for the local community,” said Dickerson.
Reo is an ambitious Chinese company with a plan to create a new gathering place, jobs and interestingly, a pathway to citizenship. Reo Group Properties bought the Indio Mall property in 2010. In 2004, Sears left for Westfield’s larger space and in 2009 Gottschalks, once Harris, closed its doors for good. Sold in 2003, a new owner changed the name to Fiesta Mall hoping to draw the Hispanic clientele and rebuild a family environment but nothing came to fruition. As the valley’s population grew and area demographics changed, the mall failed to expand and keep up with the competition. It did a thriving business with Sears and Harris at its ends, serving as anchors to national retailers like Miller’s Outpost, Foot Locker and GNC. Liddell confirmed that an anticipated $40 million will ultimately be spent to convert the mall into an exciting destination.Ī brief recap of the mall’s past: The Indio Fashion Mall was built in 1974. The money may be in the bank, but he eagerly waits its release from Reo owners.Īccording to Dickerson, for phase one, the budget is $2,900,000 - a fraction of what will be spent to revitalize and expand the mall if all goes as planned. And the building of a new food court, a construction design center and convenience store hopefully will open this fall.” Dickerson is an enthusiastic and confident guy who clearly loves a challenge. A 4,000 square foot space will be renovated and updated for an incoming tenant who plans to sell cosmetics opening in June. “Structural engineers are working on the plans for the new façade and new entrances to submit to the city for approval. “The initial funding for the façade and cleanup work is in the bank,” assured Kenny Dickerson, Design, Pre-leasing and Construction Consultant for the project. They patiently wait to see if any change or action will actually take place. But for tenants, the financing is something you only hear about. We’ll start the process this week,” said Liddell. “We are getting ready for the face lift to the interior and exterior. Velocity has partnered with the mall’s owner, Reo Group Properties, LLC, to finance the transformation. Even the delivery of the dumpsters for demo was put off by a week,” said John Liddell, Chief Operating Officer of Velocity Regional Center. Nothing happened on site over the last week. The anticipation of any change and construction for mall tenants is tangible and desperate. With only nine businesses still open and no anchors, no national retailers or popular chain stores, its resurrection may be just in the nick of time to save those dedicated occupants barely hanging on. Last week, phase one was to begin on the rapidly declining Indio Fashion Mall, also known as Fiesta Mall. Palm Springs’ Desert Fashion Plaza has been reduced to rubble and will soon rise anew the languishing Palm Springs Mall is on its way to becoming College of the Desert’s West Campus and Palm Desert’s Westfield Mall has finally filled its large empty spaces with a new entrance and shops. This is the year for Coachella Valley malls.