If not Caruso ---- then who?

Westfield is clearly annoyed (or frightened?) by the proposal that they should have a competitor next door. I am not sure why  they think they should have the monopoly on retail business in Arcadia – a little arrogant perhaps?

However it should be clear that something/someone  is going to develop the blacktop space at the race track.

This area was commercially zoned by the city several years ago and it is private land, so something WILL be built there. We cannot pretend this is not going to happen. The question is: Who and what?

Clearly it has to be revenue-generating for the race track to offset the costs of development. OK, so let's have an amusement park, or a container depot, or a casino or a big-box complex or a live animal market, or an equine auction, to name but a few. These may all be viable options but may not be so attractive to all. The same issues of traffic and parking will still need to be addressed and they offer nothing very much in addition to increased revenue to the city and the race track.

We must not make light of the fact that the Caruso development will bring Arcadia FREE school district offices - thus freeing up space at the Arcadia High School for alternative use; a performing arts theatre FREE – something that has been desired for many years; an attractive traffic-free town center or plaza for the community to share – this currently does not exist; outside dining to take advantage of our Southern Californian weather in a traffic-free peaceful historic atmosphere – again which currently does not exist ; and, of course, upscale shopping opportunities which are different to Westfield – to retain sales dollars which are currently being spent elsewhere.

What other alternatives for the blacktop are there out there which can bring us all these extras?

If there are any – we would like to hear them!

Nicky Hunter
founding member, Arcadia Wins!