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Horton Plaza (shopping mall)

January 01, 1970

For the adjacent park and historic town square, see Horton Plaza Park.

Horton Plaza was a five-level outdoor shopping mall in downtown San Diego. It was designed by Jon Jerde and was known for its bright colors, architectural tricks, and odd spatial rhythms, occupying 6.5 city blocks adjacent to the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter. Opening in 1985, it was the first successful downtown retail center since the rise of suburban shopping centers decades earlier.[2]

Horton Plaza
Westfield Horton Plaza (as it was then called) in 2008.
LocationSan Diego, California, United States
Address324 Horton Plaza
Opening dateAugust 9, 1985; 38 years ago (1985-08-09)
Closing dateMay 2020 (2020-05)
DeveloperThe Hahn Company
OwnerStockdale Capital Partners
No. of stores and services0[1]
No. of anchor tenants0
Total retail floor area758,003 sq ft (70,420.8 m2)[1]
No. of floors5
Parking2,189[1]
Public transit accessCivic Center station

In August 2018, the property was sold to developer Stockdale Capital Partners, which plans to convert it into an office-retail complex. RDC is the architect of record.[3] Nordstrom closed in 2016, leaving a vacant anchor store, and the other major anchor, Macy's, closed in spring 2020. Contrary to some reports the mall was not demolished. Massive renovations of the mall began in June 2020.

Design edit

 
Aerial view facing west from 1,000 feet (300 m) (2011)

Site edit

The mall site is approximately rectangular, bounded by E Street / Broadway Circle (to the north), Fourth (on the east), G (south), and First (west).

The three-level central courtyard, which Jerde called an "armature" for pedestrians,[4]: 226  runs diagonally between the southwest and northeast corners. The main parking garages are within the southeast corner of the complex, accessible from both G Street and Fourth Avenue. There were four anchor tenants when the mall opened in 1985:[5]

  1. The Broadway (later Macy's), in the central northern end of the complex until 2020
  2. Mervyn's was an original anchor on the western end of the complex until 2005; the space was later divided with Jimbo's Naturally as the main tenant
  3. Nordstrom was one of the original anchor tenants, operating a store at the southwest corner of the complex until 2016
  4. J. W. Robinson's department store was in a detached building just north of the northeast corner of the main shopping center; that building was demolished in 2012 to expand Horton Plaza Park

The northeast corner is occupied by the historic Balboa Theatre (completed in 1924); Horton Plaza Park lies north of the mall and Balboa Theatre, between Fourth Avenue and Broadway Circle, facing the U.S. Grant Hotel. The mall's northwest corner adjoins the 450-room Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel, completed in 1987 as the Omni San Diego, subsequently acquired by DoubleTree in 1992[6] and later renamed to the Westin Horton Plaza in 1997 after the property was acquired by Starwood; it was rebranded in 2008 to its current name.[7] The southeast corner of the site is occupied by the Golden West Hotel, which has been converted to single room occupancy apartments, walled off from the mall by the two parking garages; the hotel was built in 1913 by John D. Spreckels and designed by John Lloyd Wright.[8]

The main pedestrian entrance was near Broadway Circle next to the Macy's store, leading into the northeast end of the central courtyard / armature through a pastel colonnade.[9] The underground Lyceum Theatre is marked by an obelisk next to the main entrance at Broadway Circle, next to a statue of mall developer Ernest W. Hahn. Approximately halfway along the central courtyard, a triangular black-and-white striped loggia named the Palazzo Building[10] housed escalators extending the height of the mall,[11] likened to the Siena Cathedral in 1986 by The New York Times.[12]

  •  
    View southwest towards Nordstrom anchor (2015)
  •  
    Balconies connecting north and south sides of courtyard (2009)
  •  
    View southwest near Palazzo Building, approximately mid-way along central courtyard (2015)
  •  
    View southwest towards main entrance (red-orange colonnade in center), from Broadway Circle (2016)
  •  
    Statue of Ernest W. Hahn and Lyceum Theatre obelisk, near main entrance (2016)

Architecture edit

It was a risky and radical departure from the standard paradigm of mall design. The building's postmodern design featured mismatched levels, long one-way ramps, sudden drop-offs, dramatic parapets, shadowy colonnades, cul-de-sacs, and brightly painted facades constructed around a central courtyard.[13]

An initial design for the Horton Plaza Redevelopment Project, featuring mainly public park space with a small retail section, was commissioned by the city of San Diego and completed in 1973 by Rockrise, Odermatt, Mountjoy and Amis.[14]: 16  In his 1974 bid, Hahn commissioned a design by Archisystems, reworked by Frank Hope III into an enclosed mall over a parking structure after Hahn won the development rights; San Diego's redevelopment agency, CCDC, panned the revised design by Hope as too conservative.[14]: 19, 21–22 

Jerde was hired by Hahn in 1977 to modify the Hope design; the first proposal from Jerde, submitted by the end of that year, retained much of Hope's design, and similarly was rejected by CCDC.[14]: 23, 79  By 1981, Jerde began developing a more unconventional, vertically-oriented design, driven in part by Hahn signing five anchor tenants and his directive to "take the lid off", implemented literally by removing the roof in the final open-air design.[14]: 81–83  The painted cardboard model debuted in a theatrical "happening";[14]: 91–92  the model has since been preserved and exhibited at the San Diego History Center.[15]

Jerde's project was based on Ray Bradbury's essay "The Aesthetics of Lostness".[16] In it he extolled the virtues of getting "safely lost" as adults inspired by side streets of Paris, London, or New York.[17] At the time that Horton Plaza was being designed, Jerde was meeting weekly with Bradbury and others to brainstorm architectural designs.[14]: 87  Jerde called the central courtyard an "armature", functioning as a three-storey pedestrian street with entrances aligned with the city blocks outside, featuring two shallow arcs designed to encourage meandering.[4]: 226 

History edit

 
Horton Plaza Redevelopment Area, view facing north-northeast (c.1940s) with mall (1985) overlaid; U.S. Grant Hotel and Golden West Hotel labeled

Origins and construction (1972–1982) edit

The original proposal for the shopping center and a redevelopment district arose out of plans to "refurbish San Diego's historic town plaza", Horton Plaza, named for Alonzo Horton, who was largely responsible for the location of downtown San Diego. The proposal, which included office buildings and the federal courthouse complex, was adopted by the San Diego City Council in 1972.[6]

Local developer Ernest Hahn signed an exclusive negotiating contract in 1974 and purchased the land for US$1 million in 1978, conditioned on building parking garages.[6] Hahn also specified numerous improvements required in downtown San Diego before he could start construction, including the completion of the San Diego Trolley, the approval of the San Diego Convention Center, and the establishment of the Centre City Development Corporation.[18] In August 1979, the city council approved Hahn's plans to proceed with the construction of Horton Plaza, starting with the relocation of many businesses and the demolition of several historic structures, including the Lyceum, Cabrillo, and Plaza Theatres[a] and the Horton Grand Hotel;[18] several buildings that were on the National Register of Historic Places were removed and/or relocated to make way for the planned retail center.[b][24] Due to numerous setbacks and resistance from preservation groups, construction did not begin until 1982.[25]

Hahn Company (1985–1998) edit

 
Palazzo Building (2004)

Horton Plaza was the $140 million centerpiece of a downtown redevelopment project run by The Hahn Company; architect Jon Jerde opened his practice, the Jerde Partnership, after Hahn awarded the commission to him in 1977. It was the first example of his so-called "experience architecture",[26] opening on August 9, 1985,[27] and led to numerous similar commissions.[28]

Horton Plaza was an instant financial success[27] and while some credited it for revitalizing downtown San Diego, others said the revitalization benefitted the mall.[2] A gala held the night before the opening drew 7,000, who each paid US$50 per ticket; the opening ceremonies, attended by a crowd estimated at 35,000, included a show by Philippe Petit.[26]

 
Jessop's Clock in Horton Plaza (2009)

When it opened, the center housed the historic Jessop's Clock, built in 1907, which formerly stood on a sidewalk in front of the Jessop and Sons jewelry store in Downtown San Diego.[29]

Weeks after the mall's opening in 1985, a man died by suicide after jumping from a third-story walkway[30] in what was the first of five suicides to occur over the mall's history.[26]

In its first year of operation, 25–30 million people visited the shopping center,[28] compared to 10 million contemporaneous visitors to Disneyland.[31] By 1988, it was the third-most visited destination in San Diego, after the Zoo and SeaWorld.[32] However, as early as 1987, continued retail success was being questioned by consultants, who noted that by becoming known primarily as a tourist attraction, foot traffic seemed to be tourists and "people with cameras are not shoppers. They may stop and buy lunch, but they're not going to buy a suit." Food and entertainment accounted for 30% of sales, compared with 10% at typical malls.[5]

In 1994, Sam Goody and Planet Hollywood announced they would be opening stores in the former J. W. Robinson's site in 1995. In 1995, United Artists Theatres announced they would be doubling the existing 7-screen cinema to 14 in 1996.

In 1997, FAO Schwarz opened on the 5th floor of the mall.

Westfield (1998–2018) edit

In 1998, the owners of the mall sold it to the Westfield Group, which renamed the mall Westfield Horton Plaza. In 2014, Westfield split into two companies, Scentre Group for Australia and New Zealand malls, and Westfield Corporation for American and European malls. In 2018, Westfield Corporation was acquired by Unibail-Rodamco, and it was rebranded as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.[33]

Planet Hollywood closed in 2001.

In 2003, FAO Schwarz closed. It was replaced by Samba Grille, a Brazilian steakhouse in early 2006. Samba Grille closed in fall 2007 and it since then replaced with an antique furniture gallery/store in 2008.

In 2006, Mervyn's announced they would be closing early that year. Express was replaced with Steve & Barry’s sportswear which operated until 2009. The upper level of the former Mervyn's was replaced with a variety of stores such as Forever 21 and Express in 2007.

The Musicland Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2006, and in February it announced the closing of 226 Sam Goody and 115 Suncoast Motion Picture Company stores and all Media Play locations.

Demolition of Robinson's at Horton Plaza
 
2012
 
2013
viewed west from Fourth and E; Balboa Theatre on left

On January 11, 2011, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a plan to raze the former Robinsons-May building on the north side of the mall to make way for a 37,000 square feet (3,400 m2) urban park, effectively enlarging the adjacent, historic Horton Plaza and Broadway Fountain.[34] Westfield partnered with the city to renovate and restore the area into an urban park and public gathering place called Horton Plaza Park. Westfield agreed to operate the park and schedule events, which could include concerts, movie screenings, and celebrations. Horton Plaza Park will have a 53,000 square-foot venue, a Cabrillo Theater, an interactive pop-jet fountain, and 23-foot-tall color-changing statues.[35] The new Horton Plaza Park had its grand opening on May 4, 2016.[36]

In 2012, FYE announced it would be closing its Sam Goody flagship store at Horton Plaza on October 31. That year, Regal Entertainment Group announced would be downsizing from 14 screens to 8.

In 2012, Westfield said it would not renew the lease on the Jessop's Clock and gave its owners (descendants of the clock's builder, Joseph Jessop) six months to find a new location for it.[37] However, the heirs had trouble finding an appropriate location, and in 2019 the clock was placed in storage.[38]

In 2013, armed police descended on the mall after receiving a tip that fugitive Christopher Dorner was spotted in the mall. One man was arrested by police, though it later was revealed to be a case of mistaken identity.[39]

 
This diner-themed restaurant space was occupied originally by a Marie Callender's[40] and then a McDonald's; it was vacant by 2015.

On June 24, 2016, Nordstrom announced it would close on August 26, 2016, leaving one anchor left in the mall.[41]

On November 22, 2016, a local woman who had previously been reported as suicidal shot herself in the middle of the crowded mall after leading police on a chase.[42]

In July 2017, a shooting occurred at the mall in which an active-duty Navy personnel was killed and his cousin wounded after getting into a confrontation with another man.[43][44] Just three days after this incident, another man died by suicide after jumping from the plaza's balcony in an unrelated incident.[45]

Stockdale Capital Partners (2018–present) edit

In August 2018, the complex was sold to Stockdale Capital Partners for US$175 million, which planned to develop it into The Campus at Horton, an office and retail complex, at an estimated cost of US$275 M.[46] They proposed an "innovation hub" focusing on technology and biotechnology companies, while retaining some retail, food and beverage, and entertainment offerings. They hoped to begin construction in 2019 with a completion date of fall 2020.[47] The proposed redevelopment came under fire from architecture preservationists, who worked to corral votes to persuade city leaders to declare Horton Plaza a historic building.[48]

Most of the center was closed; the few remaining retailers included Banana Republic and Victoria's Secret.[49] The Regal cinemas in the complex, which opened in 1985, closed in February 2019.[50] In April 2019, Jessop's Clock was dismantled and moved into temporary storage while it awaited a lease to be signed for its new location.[51] The San Diego City Council approved a land use exemption unanimously on May 20, 2019, which allowed Stockdale to proceed with its plan by reducing the required amount of retail space at the site.[46] By the summer of 2019, almost all of the stores in the mall were closed leaving only Macy's and 24 Hour Fitness still operating; Macy's filed a lawsuit against Stockdale in October 2019, seeking to delay or halt the demolition, claiming those plans violated its lease agreement.[52]

 
Former Nordstrom anchor at First and G, gutted for rebuilding (2021)

In January 2020, Stockdale Capital Partners announced it had reached an agreement with Macy's to close their store as part of a plan to close 125 stores nationwide, allowing redevelopment of the mall to move forward.[53] Stockdale secured a US$330 million loan to fund the first phase of the conversion in March 2020.[54] Macy's closed in April 2020.[53] Despite news reports in 2020 that Horton Plaza was "fenced off and began demolition",[55] in fact an adaptive reuse project had begun to transform the site into "The Campus at Horton", retaining approximately 60% of the original building materials and structural steel, and adding more modern insulation and mechanical systems.[56] When complete, The Campus will have 772,000 sq ft (71,700 m2) of office space and 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) of ground-level retail space, compared to approximately 600,000 sq ft (56,000 m2) of retail space with its original configuration as a shopping center.[57] A representative for Stockdale noted the property would be "reconnected to downtown. When you go from a fortress-like retail center ... and you remove all of those bridges and barriers that actually separated it from the community, ... this property returns to being part of downtown."[58]

Phase 1 completion is expected in late 2023.[59] Preliminary work included removal of the pathways and bridges connecting the two sides of Jerde's diagonal "armature", leaving a clear view from end to end.[60] This phase renovates and expands the former Nordstrom and Mervyn's buildings on the southwest and west ends, respectively. The former Nordstrom, now known as Building A, will have 389,000 sq ft (36,100 m2) of space for life science tenants on 10 floors, expanded from five floors as originally completed. The former Mervyn's will have 205,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) of office space and 51,000 sq ft (4,700 m2) of retail space. Phase 2 will be completed at an undetermined date, and encompasses the former Macy's and cinema spaces.[61]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Cabrillo (built 1915) and Plaza (built 1913) were in neighboring buildings south of the town square (Horton Plaza), facing the fountain.[19][20]
  2. ^ These included:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c . Westfield Group. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Crawford, Richard (1995). "Horton Plaza Redevelopment Project". The Journal of San Diego History. 41 (3). San Diego Historical Society.
  3. ^ Marketing (2022-12-14). "San Diego Business Journal | Sean Slater Feature | by Ray Huard". rdc. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  4. ^ a b Graham, Wade (2016). "[6] Malls: Victor Gruen, Jon Jerde, and the Shopping City". Dream Cities: Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World. HarperCollins. pp. 193–242. ISBN 978-0-06-219631-6. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Greg (April 7, 1987). "Tourists Love Horton Plaza, but What About Shoppers?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Showley, Roger; Monteagudo, Merrie (January 20, 2017). "Horton Plaza since 1972". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Westin Downtown San Diego Changes Name" (Press release). Hotel Executive. April 16, 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Golden West Hotel". John and Jane Adams Postcard Collection. SDSUnbound: University Library. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Horton Plaza". The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  10. ^ Showley, Roger (August 8, 2010). "Secrets told at Horton Plaza". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  11. ^ Walker, Alissa (June 5, 2019). "Will this PoMo wonderland in San Diego be saved?". Curbed. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  12. ^ Goldberger, Paul (March 19, 1986). "In Downtown San Diego, a Freewheeling Fantasy". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  13. ^ Cavanaugh, Maureen; Burke, Megan (December 19, 2018). "Horton Plaza's Role in San Diego History". KPBS. San Diego State University. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Adkisson, Kevin (Spring 2020). Jon Jerde's Horton Plaza Mall: contextual commercialism in the tradition of Charles W. Moore (Master of Arts in American Material Culture thesis). University of Delaware.
  15. ^ Schulte, Richard (April 22, 2023). "Horton Plaza model at San Diego History Center". Cool San Diego Sights!. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  16. ^ Bradbury, Ray (January 29, 2015). "The Pomegranate Architect". Paris Review. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Weller, Sam (2006). Ray Bradbury Chronicles. Harper Collins. p. 292. ISBN 9780060545840.
  18. ^ a b Potter, Matt (June 27, 2018). "The fall of Horton Plaza". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Cabrillo Theater". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Plaza Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  21. ^ "National Register Information System – Grand-Horton Hotel (#80000842)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  22. ^ "National Register Information System – Pythias Lodge Building (#81000171)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  23. ^ "National Register Information System – Robert E. Lee Hotel (#80000844)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  24. ^ Sutro, Dirk (March 26, 1992). "Architect Honored for Preservation : Award: Wayne Donaldson, hailed for work in Gaslamp, is named fellow of American Institute of Architects". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  25. ^ Eddy, Lucinda (Summer 1995). . The Journal of San Diego History. 40 (3). Archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
  26. ^ a b c Rowe, Peter (January 20, 2017). "Horton Plaza: from remarkable vision to troubled reality". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  27. ^ a b Acuna, Armando (November 18, 1985). "Business Report From Horton Plaza: Good and Getting Better". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  28. ^ a b Fulcher, Merlin (13 February 2015). "Obiturary: Jon Jerde (1940 – 2015)". Architect's Journal. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  29. ^ Jessop, Joseph E. (Winter 1987). "The Jessop Street Clock: A San Diego landmark". Journal of San Diego History.
  30. ^ "Man Jumps to Death from Horton Plaza". Los Angeles Times. November 2, 1985. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  31. ^ "Jon Jerde, 1940-2015". The Architect's Newspaper. May 22, 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  32. ^ Lickona, Matthew (August 30, 2017). "Horton Plaza has gone to seed". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  33. ^ "TrizecHahn to Sell 20 Shopping Centers to REITs: Horton Plaza, Fox Hills Are Included in Deal". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 1998.
  34. ^ . SanDiego.com. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012.
  35. ^ "The History & Future of Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego". Buy Sell Rent San Diego. April 1, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  36. ^ "4 May Grand Opening for Horton Plaza Park". Fox 5 San Diego. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  37. ^ Bell, Diane (June 27, 2012). "Historic Jessop's clock must find a new home". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  38. ^ "Time's up: Horton Plaza says goodbye to iconic Jessop's Clock". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  39. ^ "Man Cuffed in Horton Plaza Dorner Sighting". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  40. ^ Johnson, Greg (May 12, 1987). "New Restaurants Return to an Old Theme : Marie Callender Chain Testing Market With Cafeteria-Style Diners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  41. ^ McVicker, Laura & Bob, Consumer (June 24, 2016). "Horton Plaza Nordstrom Announces Store Closure: The store has been open in downtown San Diego since 1985". KNSD.
  42. ^ "Woman Dies After Shooting Self at Horton Plaza Mall". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  43. ^ "1 Dead, 1 Wounded in Horton Plaza Homicide: PD". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  44. ^ Hessedal, Brandon Lewis, Kelly. "Man killed in weekend shooting at Horton Plaza identified". Retrieved October 20, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Repard, Pauline. "Man leaps from Horton Plaza shopping mall". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  46. ^ a b Hilburg, Jonathan (May 23, 2019). "Total conversion of San Diego's postmodern Horton Plaza sails to approval". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  47. ^ Huard, Ray (August 26, 2018). "Horton Plaza Sold". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  48. ^ Van Grove, Jennifer (December 16, 2018). "Should Horton Plaza be preserved?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  49. ^ "Horton Plaza movie theater closes after 33-year run in downtown San Diego; more closures coming". 21 February 2019.
  50. ^ "As other Horton Plaza stops hang on, Regal movie theater closes its doors". 21 February 2019.
  51. ^ Saunders, Mark, Mecija, Melissa (April 2, 2019). "Time's up: Horton Plaza says goodbye to iconic Jessop's Clock". ABC 10 News San Diego. Retrieved May 16, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. ^ Reiner-Roth, Shane (October 29, 2019). "Macy's is filing suit against the Horton Plaza Mall demolition". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  53. ^ a b Jennewein, Chris (17 January 2020). "Macy's to Close Downtown Store, Paving Way for Horton Plaza Redevelopment". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  54. ^ Van Grove, Jennifer (March 10, 2020). "With $330 million in the bank, Horton Plaza owner ready to overhaul empty mall". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  55. ^ Little, Joe (June 17, 2020). "Demolition Underway to Transform Horton Plaza Into Tech Hub". NBC San Diego. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  56. ^ Donoho, Ron (August 15, 2023). "Behind the Scenes of The New Horton's Green Design Innovations". San Diego Sun. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  57. ^ Reiner-Roth, Shane (March 13, 2020). "Horton Plaza Mall conversion moves forward with $330 million construction loan". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  58. ^ Van Grove, Jennifer (December 16, 2022). "Still a year away, here's what's happening with Horton Plaza's reincarnation as an office campus". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  59. ^ "Horton official website". Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  60. ^ Donoho, Ron (July 28, 2023). "What's Happening At Horton? Come Along On A Walk-Through Tour". The San Diego Sun. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  61. ^ Ponce, Ryan (November 9, 2022). "The Campus At Horton is Progressing Quickly!". Living the San Diego Life. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westfield Horton Plaza.
  • Horton website
  • Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA
  • "Introducing the new Horton (Coming Soon)" (PDF). Flocke & Avoyer.

32°42′49″N 117°9′45″W / 32.71361°N 117.16250°W / 32.71361; -117.16250

January 01, 1970
horton, plaza, shopping, mall, adjacent, park, historic, town, square, horton, plaza, park, horton, plaza, five, level, outdoor, shopping, mall, downtown, diego, designed, jerde, known, bright, colors, architectural, tricks, spatial, rhythms, occupying, city, . For the adjacent park and historic town square see Horton Plaza Park Horton Plaza was a five level outdoor shopping mall in downtown San Diego It was designed by Jon Jerde and was known for its bright colors architectural tricks and odd spatial rhythms occupying 6 5 city blocks adjacent to the city s historic Gaslamp Quarter Opening in 1985 it was the first successful downtown retail center since the rise of suburban shopping centers decades earlier 2 Horton PlazaWestfield Horton Plaza as it was then called in 2008 LocationSan Diego California United StatesAddress324 Horton PlazaOpening dateAugust 9 1985 38 years ago 1985 08 09 Closing dateMay 2020 2020 05 DeveloperThe Hahn CompanyOwnerStockdale Capital PartnersNo of stores and services0 1 No of anchor tenants0Total retail floor area758 003 sq ft 70 420 8 m2 1 No of floors5Parking2 189 1 Public transit accessCivic Center station In August 2018 the property was sold to developer Stockdale Capital Partners which plans to convert it into an office retail complex RDC is the architect of record 3 Nordstrom closed in 2016 leaving a vacant anchor store and the other major anchor Macy s closed in spring 2020 Contrary to some reports the mall was not demolished Massive renovations of the mall began in June 2020 Contents 1 Design 1 1 Site 1 2 Architecture 2 History 2 1 Origins and construction 1972 1982 2 2 Hahn Company 1985 1998 2 3 Westfield 1998 2018 2 4 Stockdale Capital Partners 2018 present 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDesign edit nbsp Aerial view facing west from 1 000 feet 300 m 2011 Site edit The mall site is approximately rectangular bounded by E Street Broadway Circle to the north Fourth on the east G south and First west The three level central courtyard which Jerde called an armature for pedestrians 4 226 runs diagonally between the southwest and northeast corners The main parking garages are within the southeast corner of the complex accessible from both G Street and Fourth Avenue There were four anchor tenants when the mall opened in 1985 5 The Broadway later Macy s in the central northern end of the complex until 2020 Mervyn s was an original anchor on the western end of the complex until 2005 the space was later divided with Jimbo s Naturally as the main tenant Nordstrom was one of the original anchor tenants operating a store at the southwest corner of the complex until 2016 J W Robinson s department store was in a detached building just north of the northeast corner of the main shopping center that building was demolished in 2012 to expand Horton Plaza Park The northeast corner is occupied by the historic Balboa Theatre completed in 1924 Horton Plaza Park lies north of the mall and Balboa Theatre between Fourth Avenue and Broadway Circle facing the U S Grant Hotel The mall s northwest corner adjoins the 450 room Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel completed in 1987 as the Omni San Diego subsequently acquired by DoubleTree in 1992 6 and later renamed to the Westin Horton Plaza in 1997 after the property was acquired by Starwood it was rebranded in 2008 to its current name 7 The southeast corner of the site is occupied by the Golden West Hotel which has been converted to single room occupancy apartments walled off from the mall by the two parking garages the hotel was built in 1913 by John D Spreckels and designed by John Lloyd Wright 8 The main pedestrian entrance was near Broadway Circle next to the Macy s store leading into the northeast end of the central courtyard armature through a pastel colonnade 9 The underground Lyceum Theatre is marked by an obelisk next to the main entrance at Broadway Circle next to a statue of mall developer Ernest W Hahn Approximately halfway along the central courtyard a triangular black and white striped loggia named the Palazzo Building 10 housed escalators extending the height of the mall 11 likened to the Siena Cathedral in 1986 by The New York Times 12 nbsp View southwest towards Nordstrom anchor 2015 nbsp Balconies connecting north and south sides of courtyard 2009 nbsp View southwest near Palazzo Building approximately mid way along central courtyard 2015 nbsp View southwest towards main entrance red orange colonnade in center from Broadway Circle 2016 nbsp Statue of Ernest W Hahn and Lyceum Theatre obelisk near main entrance 2016 Architecture edit It was a risky and radical departure from the standard paradigm of mall design The building s postmodern design featured mismatched levels long one way ramps sudden drop offs dramatic parapets shadowy colonnades cul de sacs and brightly painted facades constructed around a central courtyard 13 An initial design for the Horton Plaza Redevelopment Project featuring mainly public park space with a small retail section was commissioned by the city of San Diego and completed in 1973 by Rockrise Odermatt Mountjoy and Amis 14 16 In his 1974 bid Hahn commissioned a design by Archisystems reworked by Frank Hope III into an enclosed mall over a parking structure after Hahn won the development rights San Diego s redevelopment agency CCDC panned the revised design by Hope as too conservative 14 19 21 22 Jerde was hired by Hahn in 1977 to modify the Hope design the first proposal from Jerde submitted by the end of that year retained much of Hope s design and similarly was rejected by CCDC 14 23 79 By 1981 Jerde began developing a more unconventional vertically oriented design driven in part by Hahn signing five anchor tenants and his directive to take the lid off implemented literally by removing the roof in the final open air design 14 81 83 The painted cardboard model debuted in a theatrical happening 14 91 92 the model has since been preserved and exhibited at the San Diego History Center 15 Jerde s project was based on Ray Bradbury s essay The Aesthetics of Lostness 16 In it he extolled the virtues of getting safely lost as adults inspired by side streets of Paris London or New York 17 At the time that Horton Plaza was being designed Jerde was meeting weekly with Bradbury and others to brainstorm architectural designs 14 87 Jerde called the central courtyard an armature functioning as a three storey pedestrian street with entrances aligned with the city blocks outside featuring two shallow arcs designed to encourage meandering 4 226 History edit nbsp Horton Plaza Redevelopment Area view facing north northeast c 1940s with mall 1985 overlaid U S Grant Hotel and Golden West Hotel labeled Origins and construction 1972 1982 edit The original proposal for the shopping center and a redevelopment district arose out of plans to refurbish San Diego s historic town plaza Horton Plaza named for Alonzo Horton who was largely responsible for the location of downtown San Diego The proposal which included office buildings and the federal courthouse complex was adopted by the San Diego City Council in 1972 6 Local developer Ernest Hahn signed an exclusive negotiating contract in 1974 and purchased the land for US 1 million in 1978 conditioned on building parking garages 6 Hahn also specified numerous improvements required in downtown San Diego before he could start construction including the completion of the San Diego Trolley the approval of the San Diego Convention Center and the establishment of the Centre City Development Corporation 18 In August 1979 the city council approved Hahn s plans to proceed with the construction of Horton Plaza starting with the relocation of many businesses and the demolition of several historic structures including the Lyceum Cabrillo and Plaza Theatres a and the Horton Grand Hotel 18 several buildings that were on the National Register of Historic Places were removed and or relocated to make way for the planned retail center b 24 Due to numerous setbacks and resistance from preservation groups construction did not begin until 1982 25 Hahn Company 1985 1998 edit nbsp Palazzo Building 2004 Horton Plaza was the 140 million centerpiece of a downtown redevelopment project run by The Hahn Company architect Jon Jerde opened his practice the Jerde Partnership after Hahn awarded the commission to him in 1977 It was the first example of his so called experience architecture 26 opening on August 9 1985 27 and led to numerous similar commissions 28 Horton Plaza was an instant financial success 27 and while some credited it for revitalizing downtown San Diego others said the revitalization benefitted the mall 2 A gala held the night before the opening drew 7 000 who each paid US 50 per ticket the opening ceremonies attended by a crowd estimated at 35 000 included a show by Philippe Petit 26 nbsp Jessop s Clock in Horton Plaza 2009 When it opened the center housed the historic Jessop s Clock built in 1907 which formerly stood on a sidewalk in front of the Jessop and Sons jewelry store in Downtown San Diego 29 Weeks after the mall s opening in 1985 a man died by suicide after jumping from a third story walkway 30 in what was the first of five suicides to occur over the mall s history 26 In its first year of operation 25 30 million people visited the shopping center 28 compared to 10 million contemporaneous visitors to Disneyland 31 By 1988 it was the third most visited destination in San Diego after the Zoo and SeaWorld 32 However as early as 1987 continued retail success was being questioned by consultants who noted that by becoming known primarily as a tourist attraction foot traffic seemed to be tourists and people with cameras are not shoppers They may stop and buy lunch but they re not going to buy a suit Food and entertainment accounted for 30 of sales compared with 10 at typical malls 5 In 1994 Sam Goody and Planet Hollywood announced they would be opening stores in the former J W Robinson s site in 1995 In 1995 United Artists Theatres announced they would be doubling the existing 7 screen cinema to 14 in 1996 In 1997 FAO Schwarz opened on the 5th floor of the mall Westfield 1998 2018 edit In 1998 the owners of the mall sold it to the Westfield Group which renamed the mall Westfield Horton Plaza In 2014 Westfield split into two companies Scentre Group for Australia and New Zealand malls and Westfield Corporation for American and European malls In 2018 Westfield Corporation was acquired by Unibail Rodamco and it was rebranded as Unibail Rodamco Westfield 33 Planet Hollywood closed in 2001 In 2003 FAO Schwarz closed It was replaced by Samba Grille a Brazilian steakhouse in early 2006 Samba Grille closed in fall 2007 and it since then replaced with an antique furniture gallery store in 2008 In 2006 Mervyn s announced they would be closing early that year Express was replaced with Steve amp Barry s sportswear which operated until 2009 The upper level of the former Mervyn s was replaced with a variety of stores such as Forever 21 and Express in 2007 The Musicland Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2006 and in February it announced the closing of 226 Sam Goody and 115 Suncoast Motion Picture Company stores and all Media Play locations Demolition of Robinson s at Horton Plaza nbsp 2012 nbsp 2013viewed west from Fourth and E Balboa Theatre on left On January 11 2011 the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a plan to raze the former Robinsons May building on the north side of the mall to make way for a 37 000 square feet 3 400 m2 urban park effectively enlarging the adjacent historic Horton Plaza and Broadway Fountain 34 Westfield partnered with the city to renovate and restore the area into an urban park and public gathering place called Horton Plaza Park Westfield agreed to operate the park and schedule events which could include concerts movie screenings and celebrations Horton Plaza Park will have a 53 000 square foot venue a Cabrillo Theater an interactive pop jet fountain and 23 foot tall color changing statues 35 The new Horton Plaza Park had its grand opening on May 4 2016 36 In 2012 FYE announced it would be closing its Sam Goody flagship store at Horton Plaza on October 31 That year Regal Entertainment Group announced would be downsizing from 14 screens to 8 In 2012 Westfield said it would not renew the lease on the Jessop s Clock and gave its owners descendants of the clock s builder Joseph Jessop six months to find a new location for it 37 However the heirs had trouble finding an appropriate location and in 2019 the clock was placed in storage 38 In 2013 armed police descended on the mall after receiving a tip that fugitive Christopher Dorner was spotted in the mall One man was arrested by police though it later was revealed to be a case of mistaken identity 39 nbsp This diner themed restaurant space was occupied originally by a Marie Callender s 40 and then a McDonald s it was vacant by 2015 On June 24 2016 Nordstrom announced it would close on August 26 2016 leaving one anchor left in the mall 41 On November 22 2016 a local woman who had previously been reported as suicidal shot herself in the middle of the crowded mall after leading police on a chase 42 In July 2017 a shooting occurred at the mall in which an active duty Navy personnel was killed and his cousin wounded after getting into a confrontation with another man 43 44 Just three days after this incident another man died by suicide after jumping from the plaza s balcony in an unrelated incident 45 Stockdale Capital Partners 2018 present edit In August 2018 the complex was sold to Stockdale Capital Partners for US 175 million which planned to develop it into The Campus at Horton an office and retail complex at an estimated cost of US 275 M 46 They proposed an innovation hub focusing on technology and biotechnology companies while retaining some retail food and beverage and entertainment offerings They hoped to begin construction in 2019 with a completion date of fall 2020 47 The proposed redevelopment came under fire from architecture preservationists who worked to corral votes to persuade city leaders to declare Horton Plaza a historic building 48 Most of the center was closed the few remaining retailers included Banana Republic and Victoria s Secret 49 The Regal cinemas in the complex which opened in 1985 closed in February 2019 50 In April 2019 Jessop s Clock was dismantled and moved into temporary storage while it awaited a lease to be signed for its new location 51 The San Diego City Council approved a land use exemption unanimously on May 20 2019 which allowed Stockdale to proceed with its plan by reducing the required amount of retail space at the site 46 By the summer of 2019 almost all of the stores in the mall were closed leaving only Macy s and 24 Hour Fitness still operating Macy s filed a lawsuit against Stockdale in October 2019 seeking to delay or halt the demolition claiming those plans violated its lease agreement 52 nbsp Former Nordstrom anchor at First and G gutted for rebuilding 2021 In January 2020 Stockdale Capital Partners announced it had reached an agreement with Macy s to close their store as part of a plan to close 125 stores nationwide allowing redevelopment of the mall to move forward 53 Stockdale secured a US 330 million loan to fund the first phase of the conversion in March 2020 54 Macy s closed in April 2020 53 Despite news reports in 2020 that Horton Plaza was fenced off and began demolition 55 in fact an adaptive reuse project had begun to transform the site into The Campus at Horton retaining approximately 60 of the original building materials and structural steel and adding more modern insulation and mechanical systems 56 When complete The Campus will have 772 000 sq ft 71 700 m2 of office space and 300 000 sq ft 28 000 m2 of ground level retail space compared to approximately 600 000 sq ft 56 000 m2 of retail space with its original configuration as a shopping center 57 A representative for Stockdale noted the property would be reconnected to downtown When you go from a fortress like retail center and you remove all of those bridges and barriers that actually separated it from the community this property returns to being part of downtown 58 Phase 1 completion is expected in late 2023 59 Preliminary work included removal of the pathways and bridges connecting the two sides of Jerde s diagonal armature leaving a clear view from end to end 60 This phase renovates and expands the former Nordstrom and Mervyn s buildings on the southwest and west ends respectively The former Nordstrom now known as Building A will have 389 000 sq ft 36 100 m2 of space for life science tenants on 10 floors expanded from five floors as originally completed The former Mervyn s will have 205 000 sq ft 19 000 m2 of office space and 51 000 sq ft 4 700 m2 of retail space Phase 2 will be completed at an undetermined date and encompasses the former Macy s and cinema spaces 61 Notes edit The Cabrillo built 1915 and Plaza built 1913 were in neighboring buildings south of the town square Horton Plaza facing the fountain 19 20 These included Grand Horton Hotel at F and 4th 21 Pythias Lodge Building at E and 3rd 22 Robert E Lee Hotel Lyceum Theatre at F and 3rd 23 References edit a b c Westfield Horton Plaza Westfield Group Archived from the original on August 2 2008 Retrieved February 9 2011 a b Crawford Richard 1995 Horton Plaza Redevelopment Project The Journal of San Diego History 41 3 San Diego Historical Society Marketing 2022 12 14 San Diego Business Journal Sean Slater Feature by Ray Huard rdc Retrieved 2023 01 02 a b Graham Wade 2016 6 Malls Victor Gruen Jon Jerde and the Shopping City Dream Cities Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World HarperCollins pp 193 242 ISBN 978 0 06 219631 6 Retrieved 7 November 2023 a b Johnson Greg April 7 1987 Tourists Love Horton Plaza but What About Shoppers Los Angeles Times Retrieved 9 November 2023 a b c Showley Roger Monteagudo Merrie January 20 2017 Horton Plaza since 1972 The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 6 November 2023 Westin Downtown San Diego Changes Name Press release Hotel Executive April 16 2008 Retrieved 6 November 2023 Golden West Hotel John and Jane Adams Postcard Collection SDSUnbound University Library Retrieved 7 November 2023 Horton Plaza The Cultural Landscape Foundation Retrieved 3 November 2023 Showley Roger August 8 2010 Secrets told at Horton Plaza The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 9 November 2023 Walker Alissa June 5 2019 Will this PoMo wonderland in San Diego be saved Curbed Retrieved 6 November 2023 Goldberger Paul March 19 1986 In Downtown San Diego a Freewheeling Fantasy The New York Times Retrieved 6 November 2023 Cavanaugh Maureen Burke Megan December 19 2018 Horton Plaza s Role in San Diego History KPBS San Diego State University Retrieved May 16 2019 a b c d e f Adkisson Kevin Spring 2020 Jon Jerde s Horton Plaza Mall contextual commercialism in the tradition of Charles W Moore Master of Arts in American Material Culture thesis University of Delaware Schulte Richard April 22 2023 Horton Plaza model at San Diego History Center Cool San Diego Sights Retrieved 7 November 2023 Bradbury Ray January 29 2015 The Pomegranate Architect Paris Review Retrieved March 26 2016 Weller Sam 2006 Ray Bradbury Chronicles Harper Collins p 292 ISBN 9780060545840 a b Potter Matt June 27 2018 The fall of Horton Plaza San Diego Reader Retrieved 7 November 2023 Cabrillo Theater Cinema Treasures Retrieved 7 November 2023 Plaza Theatre Cinema Treasures Retrieved 7 November 2023 National Register Information System Grand Horton Hotel 80000842 National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 Retrieved 7 November 2023 National Register Information System Pythias Lodge Building 81000171 National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 Retrieved 7 November 2023 National Register Information System Robert E Lee Hotel 80000844 National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 Retrieved 7 November 2023 Sutro Dirk March 26 1992 Architect Honored for Preservation Award Wayne Donaldson hailed for work in Gaslamp is named fellow of American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Times Retrieved 7 November 2023 Eddy Lucinda Summer 1995 Visions of Paradise The Selling of San Diego The Journal of San Diego History 40 3 Archived from the original on October 14 2012 a b c Rowe Peter January 20 2017 Horton Plaza from remarkable vision to troubled reality San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved October 20 2017 a b Acuna Armando November 18 1985 Business Report From Horton Plaza Good and Getting Better Los Angeles Times Retrieved 9 November 2023 a b Fulcher Merlin 13 February 2015 Obiturary Jon Jerde 1940 2015 Architect s Journal Retrieved 9 November 2023 Jessop Joseph E Winter 1987 The Jessop Street Clock A San Diego landmark Journal of San Diego History Man Jumps to Death from Horton Plaza Los Angeles Times November 2 1985 ISSN 0458 3035 Retrieved October 20 2017 Jon Jerde 1940 2015 The Architect s Newspaper May 22 2015 Retrieved 9 November 2023 Lickona Matthew August 30 2017 Horton Plaza has gone to seed San Diego Reader Retrieved 9 November 2023 TrizecHahn to Sell 20 Shopping Centers to REITs Horton Plaza Fox Hills Are Included in Deal Los Angeles Times April 7 1998 Horton Plaza Park Approved By City Council SanDiego com January 11 2011 Archived from the original on March 29 2012 The History amp Future of Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego Buy Sell Rent San Diego April 1 2016 Retrieved May 4 2016 4 May Grand Opening for Horton Plaza Park Fox 5 San Diego May 4 2016 Retrieved May 4 2016 Bell Diane June 27 2012 Historic Jessop s clock must find a new home San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved February 20 2014 Time s up Horton Plaza says goodbye to iconic Jessop s Clock ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV 2 April 2019 Retrieved 11 March 2023 Man Cuffed in Horton Plaza Dorner Sighting NBC 7 San Diego Retrieved October 20 2017 Johnson Greg May 12 1987 New Restaurants Return to an Old Theme Marie Callender Chain Testing Market With Cafeteria Style Diners Los Angeles Times Retrieved 9 November 2023 McVicker Laura amp Bob Consumer June 24 2016 Horton Plaza Nordstrom Announces Store Closure The store has been open in downtown San Diego since 1985 KNSD Woman Dies After Shooting Self at Horton Plaza Mall NBC 7 San Diego Retrieved October 20 2017 1 Dead 1 Wounded in Horton Plaza Homicide PD NBC 7 San Diego Retrieved October 20 2017 Hessedal Brandon Lewis Kelly Man killed in weekend shooting at Horton Plaza identified Retrieved October 20 2017 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Repard Pauline Man leaps from Horton Plaza shopping mall sandiegouniontribune com Retrieved October 20 2017 a b Hilburg Jonathan May 23 2019 Total conversion of San Diego s postmodern Horton Plaza sails to approval The Architect s Newspaper Retrieved 9 November 2023 Huard Ray August 26 2018 Horton Plaza Sold San Diego Business Journal Retrieved August 27 2018 Van Grove Jennifer December 16 2018 Should Horton Plaza be preserved The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved May 16 2019 Horton Plaza movie theater closes after 33 year run in downtown San Diego more closures coming 21 February 2019 As other Horton Plaza stops hang on Regal movie theater closes its doors 21 February 2019 Saunders Mark Mecija Melissa April 2 2019 Time s up Horton Plaza says goodbye to iconic Jessop s Clock ABC 10 News San Diego Retrieved May 16 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Reiner Roth Shane October 29 2019 Macy s is filing suit against the Horton Plaza Mall demolition The Architect s Newspaper Retrieved 9 November 2023 a b Jennewein Chris 17 January 2020 Macy s to Close Downtown Store Paving Way for Horton Plaza Redevelopment Times of San Diego Retrieved 7 February 2020 Van Grove Jennifer March 10 2020 With 330 million in the bank Horton Plaza owner ready to overhaul empty mall The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 9 November 2023 Little Joe June 17 2020 Demolition Underway to Transform Horton Plaza Into Tech Hub NBC San Diego Retrieved 19 September 2020 Donoho Ron August 15 2023 Behind the Scenes of The New Horton s Green Design Innovations San Diego Sun Retrieved 8 November 2023 Reiner Roth Shane March 13 2020 Horton Plaza Mall conversion moves forward with 330 million construction loan The Architect s Newspaper Retrieved 8 November 2023 Van Grove Jennifer December 16 2022 Still a year away here s what s happening with Horton Plaza s reincarnation as an office campus The San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 9 November 2023 Horton official website Retrieved October 10 2023 Donoho Ron July 28 2023 What s Happening At Horton Come Along On A Walk Through Tour The San Diego Sun Retrieved 8 November 2023 Ponce Ryan November 9 2022 The Campus At Horton is Progressing Quickly Living the San Diego Life Retrieved 8 November 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westfield Horton Plaza nbsp Architecture portal nbsp California portal Horton website Remarks of Senator John F Kennedy Horton Plaza San Diego CA Evolution of shopping centers with pictures of Horton Plaza Introducing the new Horton Coming Soon PDF Flocke amp Avoyer 32 42 49 N 117 9 45 W 32 71361 N 117 16250 W 32 71361 117 16250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horton Plaza shopping mall amp oldid 1218371285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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