Westfield Southcenter

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For other uses, see Southcentre Mall.
Westfield Southcenter
File:Westfield Southcenter Atrium Entrance.jpg
The glass façade of the atrium entrance towers 90 feet (27 m) above the ground.
Location Tukwila, Washington, USA
Opening date July 31, 1968
Developer Allied Stores
Management Westfield Group
Owner Westfield Group
No. of stores and services 218
No. of anchor tenants 4
Total retail floor area 1,700,000 sq ft (160,000 m2)
No. of floors 1-3
Parking 7,143
Website Official Website

Westfield Southcenter, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is a shopping mall located in Tukwila, Washington, USA and owned by the Westfield Group. As of 2008 it was the largest shopping center in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.[1]

History

Early history and construction: 1956 - 1968

In early 1956, three officials from Northgate Shopping Center, James Douglas, president of Northgate Co., Wells McCurdy, Douglas' assistant, and Rex Allison, the vice president of Allied Department Stores formed the Southcenter Corporation as a subsidiary of Allied. Their goal was to eventually build a large shopping center south of downtown Seattle that would match the success of their own Northgate and began searching for a site, preferably with at least 100 acres.[2] The site chosen was part of what was known as the Andover Tract, an 800-acre (3.2 km2) area of former pasture land being developed by the Port of Seattle for industrial use. In anticipation of the developments, the entire area (947 acres) was annexed by the city of Tukwila in November 1957.[3] Southcenter Corp. purchased 160 acres (0.65 km2) strategically at what would eventually be the intersection of two major freeways, The Seattle - Tacoma Freeway (I-5) and I-405. The construction schedule of the mall would depend on the construction of the freeways.[4]

Construction at the site began in early 1967 and work on the $30 million shopping center began in the summer of 1967. John Graham & Company, a Seattle firm that also designed the original Northgate and Tacoma Malls, was announced as the architect for the project. Even with four labor strikes slowing work down, construction was largely completed on the structure by May 1968. Work on the interior continued until the day before opening on July 31.[5] In total, 25 main contractors and 50 subcontractors helped build the mall.[5] The concrete terrazzo floors of the mall were said to be the largest in area (85,000 square feet) in all of Puget Sound and were a last minute addition to the mall. Needed to make the cement like mixture for the floors were 500 cubic yards of sand, 3,000 100-pound sacks of gray cement, 3,000 100-pound sacks of white cement and 5,000 100-pound sacks of brown marble chips. 30,000 feet (9,100 m) of zinc divider strips were used for the floors.[6]

The grand opening was held on July 31, 1968 at 11 A.M. with Washington State Governor Dan Evans as the key speaker. At 1,400,000 square feet (130,000 m2) with 92 stores employing 3,600 people, it was the largest shopping mall in the region.[5]

Westfield: 2002 - 2008

In early 2002, the mall was purchased by the Westfield Group.[7] At that time it was renamed "Westfield Shoppingtown Southcenter".

File:Westfield Southcenter Atrium.jpg
A view inside the atrium, looking down from the 3rd floor. Patrons eating at the dining terrace can be seen at top center.

On May 11, 2006, Westfield broke ground on a $240 million expansion.[8] that was to add 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2)

November 2008 shooting

On November 22, 2008, one person was killed and one person was injured during an apparent gang-related shooting inside the mall's first floor.[9] The shooting occurred after two groups of people got into a fist fight. In the hours after the shooting, the mall was locked down while police searched for the suspect, but the 21-year-old suspect, Barry L. Saunders Jr. was not found. On November 26, Saunders was arrested in Portland, Oregon.[10] Saunders initially claimed that he was acting in self-defense, attempting to help his brother during the fight.[11] On December 14, 2010, the Seattle Times reported that he pled guilty to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree assault.[12] He was sentenced on February 4, 2011 to 17 years in prison.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Southcenter mall expands, regroups with new retailers
  2. ↑ "South-of-City Shopping Area Planned" Seattle Times 4 Dec. 1957. P.1
  3. ↑ "City Light Asks Service Franchise in Tukwila Area" Seattle Times 15 Oct. 1958. P.40
  4. ↑ "South End Plans Point to Controversy" Seattle Times 11 Dec. 1957. P.34
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Workers Rush to Ready Giant Southcenter for Grand Opening" Seattle Times 21 Jul. 1968. P.4 C
  6. ↑ "Terrazzo Floor Job is Largest in Area" Seattle Times 21 Apr. 1968. P.C1
  7. ↑ Westfield Southcenter
  8. ↑ Westfield Southcenter News and Events
  9. ↑ 1 dead, 1 wounded in mall shooting near Seattle
  10. ↑ Southcenter Mall Shooting Suspect Arrested, Booked
  11. ↑ Suspect in mall shooting pleads not guilty
  12. ↑ Guilty plea in fatal shooting at Southcenter mall
  13. ↑ 17-year sentence for fatal shooting at Southcenter mall

See also

External links

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