Vision: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are you planning for the Northgate shopping center?

2. Will the mall still be an enclosed shopping center?

3. When will the new project open?

4. How will you manage construction noise, access and safety, and still keep the mall open?

5. How are you approaching the retail mix for the new center?

6. When will you announce new stores for Northgate?

7. Are there new outdoor spaces?

8. Will the anchors also improve their buildings during this renovation?

9. What happens to current retailers?

10. What about teens?

11. What are you doing to be green?

12. What amenities are you planning?

13. How are you changing the landscaping?

1. What are you planning for the Northgate shopping center?
The exciting renovation of the 42-year-old shopping center includes a new, light-filled design; a landscaped, outdoor courtyard; new open-air features including an indoor food court with indoor and outdoor seating; and a range of new retail and restaurant offerings. We’re also creating one of the first segments of The Promenade, a community resource envisioned by the City of San Rafael, which will be a bike and pedestrian path connecting key destinations across the city.
Back to Top

2. Will the mall still be an enclosed shopping center?
After renovation, Northgate will continue to be the largest, enclosed regional mall in Marin County, but with new indoor/outdoor features. The renovated center will be 725,000 square feet of leasable area – much the same footprint as the mall today –with our current anchors: Macy’s, Sears, Century Theatres and the exciting addition of Kohl's, coming soon.
Back to Top

3. When will the new project open?
According to current plans, Northgate is slated for completion in fall 2009.
Back to Top

4. How will you manage construction noise, access and safety, and still keep the mall open?
We have organized our construction schedule around the needs of our shoppers and our neighbors, and we plan to do everything we can to minimize the impact of construction. Specifically, we will work on interior construction from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and focus on other project elements during the day, ending at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, so that we preserve a large window of "construction-free" time for our customers, from mid-afternoon through the evening. Our company and our contractors are extremely experienced in managing this kind of large-scale project. Safety is our number one priority.
Back to Top

5. How are you approaching the retail mix for the new center?
The renovation is a great opportunity to attract some fresh new retail concepts to this part of Marin County. The new Northgate shopping center will be a great home for first-to-market retailers, as well as some new flagship stores - but it will offer a balanced mix designed to appeal to a wide range of shoppers. Of course, we know this community will be very excited about some new fine dining and quick serve restaurant options, as well.
Back to Top

6. When will you announce new stores for Northgate?
There is a great deal of interest in the new project at Northgate among retailers and are excited to announce a few new retailers including Kohl’s, Roadside BBQ, Wetzel’s Pretzels and Vans slated to open in fall 2009. In addition, Northgate is proud to welcome back a few of its longtime retailers back to the new Northgate upon completion in the fall. Continue to utilize this site as a resource for updates on retailer announcements, project completion dates and more!
Back to Top

7. Are there new outdoor spaces?
Yes, we’re planning a new Oak Plaza between Kohl's and the current mall - a great gathering place and new restaurant location. The Oak Plaza will feature a beautiful live oak tree, one of the true emblems of Northern California.
Back to Top

8. Will the anchors also improve their buildings during this renovation?
Anchors own and control their own buildings at most shopping centers, including Northgate. Our anchors are very supportive of our new proposal, but we’re not aware of any plans on their part to change their buildings at this time. Perhaps once our new project comes to life, these anchors will take a fresh look at their presence at Northgate.
Back to Top

9. What happens to current retailers?
Northgate has been on a path toward renovation for several years, and our leasing strategies have included temporary leases to many up and coming retailers. They have used this opportunity to grow their businesses, but also did not expect to be part of the center for the long-term. Looking ahead, we expect to bring San Rafael and Marin County an updated merchandise mix that truly meets the needs of this community.
Back to Top

10. What about teens?
Our goal for the renovated Northgate shopping center is to appeal to entire families and people of every age. We hope people will look to the mall as a great place for dinner and movie or an afternoon shopping trip rather than as a hangout for any particular age group. We don’t plan to slant our merchandise mix toward the teen market, but teens will certainly be very welcome as they are at all of our centers.
Back to Top

11. What are you doing to be green?
Northgate will use sustainable building practices to target an accomplishment rare among shopping centers – LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Renovating Northgate as an adaptive reuse, rather than tearing down and rebuilding, is an important environmental step in itself. We know green building and sustainability are top priorities for this community and we intend to incorporate as many environmentally sound practices as feasible.
Back to Top

12. What amenities are you planning?
The new design itself - with its new courtyards and gathering spaces - will be a wonderful amenity for the community. In other words, there will be lots of new and engaging places to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a sunny day - and we think San Rafael residents will appreciate this. We’ll also be introducing The Promenade, the landscaped multi-modal pathway at the perimeter of Northgate, which will appeal to walkers, runners and bike riders. We’ll also have a new play area near the Century Theatres for the area’s young families, as well as a Community Room.
Back to Top

13. How are you changing the landscaping?
Our landscape architect, Manuela King of RHAA, is one of this area’s best known landscape designers, and she is creating a landscape palette that is in tune with the area’s native plants. A signature element will be a Live Oak for the new courtyard near Kohl's.
Back to Top