The proposed 161,000 sq. ft. Costco warehouse and 32-pump retail fuel facility will be located on an approx. 10.8-acre site at the southern portion of NewPark Mall previously occupied by JC Penny and Burlington Coat Factory. An approx. 84,000 sq. ft. portion of the existing mall will also be removed to accommodate the new Costco warehouse. The warehouse will include a bakery, pharmacy, optical center, hearing aid testing center, food court, photo center, tire sales and installation center, and a 10,340 sq. ft. open air canopy. The retail fuel facility will include four covered fueling bays, each with four gas dispensers that fuel two cars each for a total fueling capacity for 32 pumps. The fueling station will also have eight stacking lanes, which will provide capacity for 32 vehicles waiting for open pumps in addition to the 32 vehicles at the pumps. In addition, a new mall entrance and with opportunities for new retail or restaurant space will be constructed at the upper level near the existing Macy’s entrance.

• Project Plans

The  residential/retail mixed-use project is proposed at the northern portion of NewPark Mall in the vicinity of the former Sears Auto Center, the existing NewPark Mall ring-road, and Alpenrose Court (the main entrance to the Mall from Mowry Ave). The project will include a total of 319 dwelling units (29 of which would be affordable units available to very low, low, and moderate-income levels), approx. 3,700 sq. ft. of ground floor retail, approx. 12,900 sq. ft. of amenities (such as a bike shop, clubroom, co-work space, game room, fitness room, etc.), a pool courtyard, and enclosed parking including 506 parking stalls. The proposed building will be six stories with five residential stories situated over ground floor retail and amenities along Alpenrose Ct. The remaining portion of the building will be five stories with six and a half levels of enclosed parking. The building footprint will follow the street with minimal setback to concentrate urban activity on the street. Open space is provided within the residential courtyard for various outdoor activities.

• Project Plans

The replacement of two residential blocks with the proposed Costco parcel. A portion of existing retail was replaced at the new Food and Beverage Retail Street adjacent to the existing mall building, which replaced the parking lot/event space in the 2018 Specific Plan. Residential blocks were adjusted in size to accommodate parking structures, retail, and residential active ground floor areas. The area near the existing AMC Theater was designated for potential future hotel and office uses.

New requirements for the preparation of a detailed Retail Sub Plan to guide retail planning and development. In addition to the retail changes described above, retail was organized into five zones including lifestyle, experiential, work and wellness, reimagined retail, and people places. New retail and event spaces are provided at the former Sears building, which would be redeveloped with ground floor retail and second floor office space. New branding and marketing of the center would provide a refreshed identity of a new and vibrant place.

New requirements for the preparation of a detailed Open Space Sub Plan to accommodate changes with the addition of Costco and enlargement of the residential blocks. In addition to the new retail and event spaces described above, the Open Space Sub Plan will include a new pedestrian paseo that would connect the new Food and Beverage Retail Street with Shirley Sisk Grove, thereby enhancing pedestrian connection between these two areas. Improvements to Shirley Sisk Grove would continue be required during the second phase of residential development.

Revised street sections to reflect the width of existing, privately-owned used for roadways that are narrower than what was assumed in the 2018 Specific Plan. The new street sections retain the compete streets objectives for walkways and bike lanes, but in some areas may not achieve these improvements on both sides of the street. Bicycle transportation is enhanced with new bike lanes and parking locations. Transit is enhanced with improvements to the existing bus facility as well as a process for additional future facilities and routes.

The 2018 Specific Plan retained the existing parking structure at the former JC Penney’s building and added two new structures near Macy’s and AMC Theatre to support the existing retail and replace the surface parking fields. The two new free-standing parking structures are eliminated in favor of ground floor parking levels in Blocks B2 and C, which will be operationally separated from the residential parking.  Circulation will be enhanced with the creation of the new Street A, and improvements to the Mowry Ave/Alpenrose Ct entry on the north end of the center and the Balentine Dr entry at the south end. Lane modifications and signals will be installed per the Circulation Sub plan.