Westfield UTC, at the corner of Genesee and La Jolla Village Drive, is taking on a new look as a creative renovation takes place. Several University City community leaders joined District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner in the office of Ryan Perry, general manager of Westfield UTC, for a hardhat tour of the shopping center at the end of January. Developer Greg Fitchitt welcomed the guests with early morning coffee along with head of construction Tony Santo and Perry. University Towne Center was built in 1977 and renovated in 1984. Westfield purchased the shopping center in 1998. In 2001, Westfield wanted to upgrade and expand the center, and after seven years of seeking City Council approval for an expansion with 750,000 square feet of stores and 300 housing units, the council gave its approval in 2008 — just when the economy came to a screeching halt, putting the expansion plans on hold. Fast forward to 2012, and Phase 1 of an expansion is fully engaged. Robinson-May was victim to the wrecking ball, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. ArcLight Cinema will be atop a building housing 24-Hour Fitness and its expanded 145,000 square feet, including a pool and a basketball court. ArcLight promises all reserved seating with no late entries, a greeter to introduce the films, a cafe and a bar. Both mainstream movies and independent films will be shown on the 14 screens. The famous food court will be renamed “Dining Terrace” and have a new design and new restaurants. All of the stores will have an open feeling with revamped entries. The ice skating rink will be enclosed in glass, saving on energy and keeping noise down. The storefronts are being redone to lift the entries in an attractive, open way. Fitchitt pointed out the streetscape experience. The design team promises a park-like setting, blending the outdoors with retail. The family is the center of this experience, and additional amenities will include family areas with family restrooms and a children’s play area near Macy’s. Other treats will include a native garden near Sears — where San Diego Botanical Gardens’ docents will provide information about the garden — and events put on by Birch Aquarium. The executive putting green is bringing in a lot of business types, and former U.S. Open winner Scott Simpson will be running a golf clinic. Two fire pits in the center courtyard will be sure to attract the shoppers. The touring group reacted happily to the idea of heated umbrellas. Fitchitt and Perry see the center as more than a shopping experience. The center will also be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Fitchitt said the center has a LEED-approved plan for neighborhood development (LEED-ND) at the Gold level, but it cannot be certified until further development happens. “Everything in our Phase 1 project is designed and being constructed to be consistent with the LEED-ND Gold Level-approved plan we have,” he said. “When we do add enough additional development in the future to meet the thresholds required for Gold certification, we will be eligible to do so.” Tony Santo, who oversees construction, is proud of the work being done, including the solar-powered roof of the ice rink and the reclaimed water system. “Over 65 percent of the waste — probably nearer to 80 percent — is recycled,” he said. There is a feeling of excitement as you walk through Westfield UTC these days. While construction is going on, the stores seem busy. The Dining Terrace should be done in May and Tender Greens, a popular restaurant in Liberty Station, will open adjacent to the terrace in May or June. Hopefully, the renovation will be finished in the late autumn when those heated umbrellas will come in handy. In the meantime, take a walk around Westfield UTC — it is alive with activity and some great stores ready to greet you. — Sandy Lippe is a 36-year resident of University City and the former president of the University City Community Association.
