FLOWER HILL PROMENADE
A Lifestyle Center for an Upscale Community
Flower Hill
Mall rose in 1977 on the site of former flower fields that were a
fragrant part of North County’s rich agricultural history. Always a
friendly place with a small-town feel, the mall served the needs of
fresh neighborhoods in the burgeoning communities of Del Mar, Solana
Beach and Rancho Santa Fe.
Over the years, Flower Hill Mall
became a favorite for locals who cherished its one-of-a-kind retail
stores, often owned by community members, from the varied restaurant
choices of the Pannikin Coffee and Tea, Milton's Deli, Paradise Grille
and Taste of Thai to the high-quality retail offerings. Retailers
including The Book Works, Mitschke’s Custom Framing and Papachino’s
Ristorante have been a part of the Center for the past 30 years.
Now, the shopping center will be reborn as Flower Hill Promenade,
retaining the village atmosphere that makes it unique but expanding and
enhancing it into a true multi-use neighborhood destination, a concept
that makes perfect sense in an area that has seen significant population
growth since the shopping center was first built.
“We will
transform Flower Hill into a modern, upscale lifestyle center that
enhances the community and provides the kind of amenities which
residents and visitors want most,” says Jeffrey Essakow, president of
Protea Properties, which owns the 14-acre center.
“At the same
time, it is our desire to retain much of the entrepreneurial, small-shop
atmosphere that has made Flower Hill so popular.”
The current
plan, subject to city approval, calls for the renovation and addition of
retail, commercial and boutique office space and the addition of a
parking structure to double the amount of available parking spaces. All
of this will be accomplished on the original 14-acre site, without the
need to expand the property’s footprint. The resulting project will come
in at significantly less than the square footage allowed by municipal
code.
“What we will end up with,“ Essakow concludes, “is a showcase
center that gives residents and visitors a broader range of products and
services in a setting that will make the community proud.”
Protea
purchased Flower Hill Promenade from the Fletcher family in 2002 with
the idea of converting it into a modern shopping destination catering to
the needs of the community. Planning since then has focused on the
mixed use concept while ensuring that environmental, traffic, view and
parking concerns are addressed. The company will continue to communicate
its plans and seek input through a number of community meetings.
According
to Promenade Property Manager M. Rose Jabin, the community’s retail
experience at the new mall will combine the familiar local retailers
they have enjoyed with the product offerings of selected national chains
that complement existing shops.
“One of the highlights for both
our shop owners and their customers will be the significant increase in
parking space,” Jabin says. Realignment of the main entrance, including
widening from four to six lanes, will improve traffic flow into and out
of the shopping center.
Pending community input and city
approval, the Flower Hill Promenade renovation project anticipates the
start of construction in 2008 in phases, concluding in 2010.
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Renovation Update
