Big changes could be coming to Phoenix’s oldest operating indoor shopping mall.
Kimco, the management company for Christown Spectrum Mall located at the southeast corner of 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, will request a zoning change to create a more urban environment.
When Christown opened in 1961 as Arizona’s first air-conditioned mall. Today, the 98-acre site is home to Target and Walmart, but it recently lost JCPenney and Costco.
Preliminary plans show Kimco will use a multi-phased approach to keep retail while adding apartments, offices and entertainment.
Nearby resident Pam Fitzgerald says she’s hopeful and excited.
“That they will do a good development that takes into consideration the neighborhoods that surround it, that they will use local businesses and local restaurants," said Fitzgerald.