By Jeremy Thomas POSTED: 03/13/2014 10:15:59 AM http://www.contracostatimes.com/
LIVERMORE -- Preparations are underway for the expansion of the Livermore Premium Outlets, a project that will add as many as 80 more stores to the upscale outdoor mall.
The Livermore City Council on March 10 approved a $2.3 million contract to DeSilva Gates Construction to move the existing Paragon Outlets Drive. The work was to begin further east on Tuesday. According to city officials, the realignment represents the first steps toward private construction of the mall's second phase of development, planned for 15 acres directly east of the mall.
Livermore's community development director Stephan Kiefer said the 200,000 square-foot expansion will bring in an additional 50 to 80 retail stores and potentially others in the surrounding zones.
"We expect not only will it be a success for the mall, but will result in additional development around the mall," Kiefer said. "As the the mall expands, that will just generate interest in the immediate area and bring more visitors. We're excited about it."
Kiefer said there are designs for 120,000 more square feet of retail space located south and east of the mall, including pads for several new restaurants.
The soon-to-be renamed Premium Outlets Drive has a June 10 completion date, with construction of the expansion starting immediately thereafter. The mall's second phase is scheduled for a July 2015 opening.
"We are looking forward to begin work on the long-anticipated expansion of Livermore Premium Outlets, which is sure to please our local shoppers as well as the many visitors the center receives," mall management said in a statement.
Formerly known as Paragon Outlets, the Livermore Premium Outlets has 544,000 square feet of retail space housing 130 stores, including Prada, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Coach, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors. Since opening in November 2012, according to the city, the mall has created 2,000 jobs and generates roughly $2 million in annual sales tax.
The Livermore Planning Commission approved the Phase II expansion in 2012. City officials have said the project could generate as many as 500 jobs.
The El Charro Specific Plan Infrastructure project will also widen Jack London Boulevard at points and lengthen the turn lane into the mall's main entrance. The cost of the project is $3.3 million.
At the March 10 meeting, the council also approved a lease amendment adding an acre of Livermore Municipal Airport land south of the mall's expansion area for 105 more overflow parking spaces. According to city documents, revenues from the rental of the land, estimated at $35,000 annually, will go to the airport's enterprise fund.
Livermore Premium Outlets currently has 2,400 on-site parking spaces, city planner Ben Murray said, with up to 1,500 more in gravel overflow lots. The expansion plans include 950 more on-site spaces, he said.
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