El Cajon is eyeing a blockbuster real estate move: a potential purchase of Parkway Plaza, the county’s largest enclosed mall, in a bid to keep the sprawling center from sliding into long-term decline. City Manager Graham Mitchell did not sugarcoat it, warning the council that the deal would likely be the most complicated acquisition any city staff in California has ever handled. City leaders say the goal is to explore whether the aging retail giant can be reborn as a mixed-use hub with homes, parks and revamped shopping.
Council advances study of a city purchase
The City Council voted this week to let staff dig into what it would actually take for El Cajon to buy Parkway Plaza, including possible purchase structures, financing tools and development…..