In May, developers updated La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA) on La Plaza and redevelopment of the old Jack’s nightclub site. The merchant group’s executive director also clued the board in on progress being made creating a LaJollaopoly fundraising board game.
Jon Williams, CEO of Davlyn Investments, noted the timeline for the oft-delayed La Plaza, envisioning 16 or more new high-end retail boutique shops, is now sometime after the first of the year.
“The amount of infrastructure-type improvement we ran into was surprising,” Williams said, “which pushed us (timelines) back, causing construction delays.” He noted project execution is being done “delicately” in order to “develop a product that represents La Jolla well.”
Williams said revised plans call for La Plaza to ultimately have 16 to 18 tenants anchored by a rooftop restaurant offering prime views of the ocean and the Village.
“As of now,” Williams said, “we’re in various stages of commitment for half to two-thirds of the building.” He added that a restaurant will definitely anchor the complex, taking “the top corner space, a beautiful spot with a balcony, ocean views and a very light, bright, open and airy feel.”
Sheila Fortune, LJVMA executive director, said real estate spaces are now available to be bid on by local businesses on LaJollaopoly, a “localized” Monopoly-style game, to be used as a fundraiser.
“We wanted to produce our own game with all the little pieces that has been a success elsewhere,” Fortune said, “and we hope can be a moneymaker for us.” She added that the plan is to get a good broad cross-section of La Jolla businesses to participate.
“It’s really cool,” said Fortune, adding a lot of time’s been spent “trying to figure out the categories keeping the integrity of the game but making it fun” while establishing “a nice balance of every kind of business, with every income level, moms and pops as well as big corporations.”
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the deadline for businesses to purchase LaJollaopoly spots was extended to Friday, May 30. More information can be obtained at [email protected].