San Bernardino to negotiate fate of Carousel Mall

San Bernardino has approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with the development team chosen to remake the Carousel Mall.

In a 6-0 vote Wednesday, city council members agreed to move forward with Renaissance Downtowns USA and ICO Real Estate Group.

Both sides must decide exactly what will be done with the 43-acre downtown property, a one-time shopping center that fell into disrepair years ago and became a perpetual eyesore.

Possible negotiating points include the condition of sale, zoning changes, and exactly how the property will the developed.

Any agreement must be approved by the council. No negotiation dates have been set.

“The city needs to get moving on this,” Councilman Juan Figueroa said. “if this is what the rest of the council wants to do, then I’m for it. I think we need to move forward on this unanimously.”

Councilwoman Sandra Ibarra was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.