BACK IN BUSINESS; BUILDER'S GOOD NAME KEEPS PROJECT GOING.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

Calabasas officials for several years have envisioned a city center combining government offices, retail and entertainment but their efforts had always fallen short.

The project stalled in the early 1990s when demand for office space dropped off sharply. At another point, the community had opposed the project as too large for the area.

The center is now on track, city officials say, largely due to the involvement of Santa Monica-based Caruso Affiliated Holdings Inc., which has built upscale shopping centers in neighboring cities and communities. Company President Rick Caruso plans to build a 190,000 square-foot, Mediterranean-style center with up to 35 stores.

Caruso's project will be key to getting the hotel, office buildings and civic center constructed, city officials believe.

``We think it's a good springboard for the remainder of the project to be developed,'' said Calabasas City Manager Charles Cate.

Last week, the City Council approved a master plan for Caruso's project, which includes a major supermarket, drug store, restaurants, shops and a 1,300-seat multiplex movie theater with stadium seating. The development, to be called The Commons at Calabasas Park, will occupy about 22 acres, Caruso said.

Caruso is purchasing his acreage from Kilroy Calabasas Associates, which will develop the surrounding 45 acres. The council also approved a master conditional use permit governing the entire 67-acre site last week.

When completed, the site will occupy about 750,000 square feet, half the size originally envisioned by city officials. The new plan calls for a 150-room hotel, 500,000 to 650,000 square feet of office space, a civic center and 15 acres of open space.

The approvals came after Caruso established his reputation by building other local projects such as The Promenade at Westlake in nearby Thousand Oaks. That facility opened late last year to much acclaim and delighted even the most ardent slow-growth city officials.

Caruso said the Calabasas project will have a more European flavor than The Promenade. ``We're going to try to create a different experience than we created in Westlake so people can still continue to go to Westlake,'' he said.

Caruso expects to receive final approvals for the project in November, commence construction in December and open the center in September, 1998.

Caruso had worked closely with Thousand Oaks officials and residents to come up with a plan that satisfied all, said Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, a slow-growth advocate who's happy with the two Caruso projects in her city.

``I'm sure that based on the example in Thousand Oaks, the Calabasas community will have a very good project because he really does work hard to see that his project meets community expectations, city codes and the residents' concerns,'' Zeanah said.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Map

Photo: (Color) An artist's rendition of The Commons at Calabasas Park shows how the Mediterranean-style center with up to 35 stores might look.

Map: (Color) Parkway Calabasas project, 67 acres