Lakewood Officials Plan Public Plaza on Empty Land

An empty lot south of Lakewood City Hall is set to receive a new life as a public plaza.

The parcel at 4900 Clark Avenue, south of City Hall and the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library, has been envisioned by city officials as a new 4.3-acre space with a playground, performance area, landscaping, parking and restrooms, Urbanize Los Angeles reported, citing a new environmental study on file with the city.

The new plaza would be used for community events such as farmers markets and other events currently hosted elsewhere such as concerts, Lakewood’s 4th of July block party and the annual Christmas tree lighting. Parking for an undisclosed number of vehicles would be available in a surface lot at the northern side of the parcel.

A theme marquee sign is expected to be placed on the site. Digital signage replacing an existing mid-century monument sign is also slated for the plaza. Officials plan to install public art as well. Dahlin and Nuvis Landscape Architecture are designing the project.

If the proposal secures the necessary approvals, construction of the plaza would start toward the end of this year and be completed in approximately nine months, according to Urbanize.

The public park would be a new gathering space in the heart of Lakewood near Lakewood Center mall, lacross Clark Avenue from the future public plaza.

In August, the Lakewood Center mall sold to a joint venture of three developers and investors, potentially setting the stage for a transformation of the 150-acre property into a mixed-use development. Retail landlord Macerich sold the 2-million-square-foot shopping center to Pacific Retail Capital Partners, Lyon Living and Silverpeak for $332.1 million, or $160 per square foot. The nine-figure sales price made it the most expensive retail sale in Los Angeles County last year. Macerich bought the mall in 1975 for $160.1 million. — Chris Malone Méndez