EYESORE?—The monument sign for the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall, like the rest of the enterprise, was described as “tired and hideous” during a City Council meeting in late November. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers The Thousand Oaks City Council voted unanimously to increase parking spaces and create an ad hoc committee to take a look at revitalizing the exterior of what was once called the world’s largest Auto Mall.

The Thousand Oaks Auto Mall has 600 parking spaces available on city streets. In 2008, before the economic downturn hit the vehicle sales industry, there were 1,200 employees at the mall.

The 54-acre area including and surrounding Auto Mall Drive was described during the Nov. 17 City Council meeting as dated, tired and “hideous,” with worn-out landscaping and signs.

It was also said the 22 parcels owned by nine property owners aren’t pedestrian-friendly.

Many of the dealers have updated and built new facilities, but the shared areas haven’t been revitalized. The mall began with two dealerships along the 101 Freeway in the 1960s.

Being pedestrian-friendly was deemed important because 29 brands of automobiles are sold there and patrons should be able to walk around the mall to compare what’s available.

The city set aside $2 million of redevelopment agency capital improvement money in June for Auto Mall street improvements. The Auto Mall Association has agreed to pay half of the design engineering costs, estimated to be $655,000.

“I believe it’s our responsibility to do whatever we can to assist this phenomenal resource we have,” Councilmember Dennis Gillette said.

The Auto Mall generates 25 percent of the city’s general fund sales tax revenue—the largest single source of city sales tax.

“The Auto Mall is in large part responsible for the quality of life we have here in Thousand Oaks,” Councilmember Jacqui Irwin said.

The recommended parking improvement plan will cost $8.5 million and provide 364 more parking spaces. It will require the widening of public streets and add angled parking and speed bumps to slow traffic. The work will be done in phases, with Phase I costing $5 million and creating 190 new parking spaces.

Employees, front footage and acreage determine how much each dealership will pay, said city Financial Director John Adams.

The ad hoc committee will look into pedestrian amenities, landscaping upgrades, new directional signs and a new monument sign to be displayed beside the 101 Freeway.

A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12 for the formation of the facilities district so the Auto Mall dealers can tax themselves to help pay for the improvements.

The city is expected to approve the district’s formation, then the auto dealers plan to form a community facilities district in January 2011 to tax themselves in order to pay for their share of the project’s construction costs. The special property tax assessments will not be finalized until the project is designed, competitive bids received and financial costs are determined.

Construction bids are to be taken this month. The goal is to award the construction contract in February 2011. Construction of Phase I is planned from April to December 2011.