Moreno Valley — The City Council voted unanimously Jan. 7 to authorize a 10‑year lease of roughly 75,000 square feet on the first floor of the former Sears at Moreno Valley Mall and to enter a professional services agreement with Lighthouse Immersive Studios California Inc. to operate immersive, ticketed exhibitions alongside a smaller, city‑managed traditional gallery and retail space for local artists.

The council’s decision follows a months‑long staff process that evaluated multiple immersive operators and sought ways to use the city’s art development impact fee fund to support cultural programming while covering operating costs. Acting City Manager Brian Mohan presented the lease and operating plan, saying the city expects the ticketed exhibitions to produce revenue to offset operating costs and to help underwrite a dedicated gallery and programming area for local artists and community classes.

Why it matters: Supporters said the plan aims both to bring a new regional entertainment destination to Moreno Valley and to create a permanent venue where local artists, arts‑education programs and City Arts Commission activities can be staged. Opponents in public comment asked the council for more time, urged greater local‑artist participation in planning and questioned financial assumptions, funding sources and potential loss of funds from the art fee program.

What the council approved: The lease terms approved by the council give the city a 10‑year lease with two five‑year extension options for the identified mall space; the city will complete tenant improvements and host two 8,000‑square‑foot immersive galleries run by the operator plus an approximate 4,750‑square‑foot traditional gallery and 1,700‑square‑foot retail/program space to be managed by Parks & Community Services and the Arts Commission. Staff told the council it expects one‑time start‑up expenditures to be covered from facility reserves and recurring operating costs initially covered in part by the art development impact fee (the “diff” fund) while ticket revenues are expected to offset ongoing costs. The contract with Lighthouse is a professional‑services agreement; staff said it selected the firm as the most responsive proposer.

Public comment at the meeting was extensive. Local artists and arts‑community leaders asked for more time for community review, reminded the council that the art diff money was originally intended to support public art and local creators, and urged clearer commitments for using the gallery space for Moreno Valley artists and youth programs. City and mall representatives said the museum component would anchor broader mall revitalization plans that already include hotels and other investments.

What’s next: Staff will implement the lease, negotiate final tenant‑improvement schedules and ticketing policies, and Parks & Community Services will work with the Arts Commission on a programming plan for the traditional gallery and retail space. The council also asked staff to return with the previously paused mural project item for separate council consideration.

The vote: The motion to approve the lease and professional services agreement passed unanimously (Council member Baca Santa Cruz: yes; Council member Delgado: yes; Council member Gonzales: yes; Council member Bernard: yes; Mayor Cabrera: yes).

For the record, several public commenters urged the council to hold a study session and to guarantee specific, measurable commitments that will prioritize Moreno Valley artists, community programming and discounted access for residents, students and seniors. The council directed staff to proceed but signaled willingness to keep working with the Arts Commission and community groups to ensure local participation and ongoing transparency.