BUILDING BOOMING IN SANTA CLARITA; ECONOMY SPURS DEVELOPER BLITZ.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Dust rises daily across the Santa Clarita Valley as huge earthmovers rumble across fields and hillsides, marking the end of the last leg of the transition from rural valley to dynamic city.

The economy is booming and real estate is in demand in this suburban enclave north of Los Angeles, as developers work quickly to fill the gap before the next recession hits.

``It's really gained some momentum,'' said Mike Haviland, Santa Clarita's economic development manager. ``There's a good identification associated with this city. People want to come here.''

Off the top of his head, city Planning Director Jeff Lambert can rattle off a list of projects in various stages of construction. There's the Edwards 3D-IMAX theater complex, with a Borders bookstore and two restaurants near Valencia Town Center, and Robinson Ranch, formerly known as Hunter's Green, which will have two golf courses and 70 homes in the Sand Canyon area.

There are exclusive housing tracts and apartments, shopping centers and office buildings. This year alone, The Newhall Land and Farming Company, the area's largest developer, closed escrow on 100 acres of industrial land, Chief Executive Officer Tom Lee said.

``These kinds of things are economically driven,'' Councilwoman Laurene Weste said. ``Because of the recession, we didn't see a lot of activity. Who knows how long this strong economy will last?''

One of the most visible projects this year has been the Town Center Drive development, an outdoor extension of the Valencia Town Center mall that opened this weekend. A new Hyatt Valencia opened there in the summer, and Princess Cruises' new six-story headquarters is getting its finishing touches.

Construction has begun on 210 apartment units at the opposite end of Town Center Drive, across from the upscale Spectrum Club. An office building also is being built in the area and should be ready for occupancy soon, Lambert said.

Not far from Town Center Drive, crews pound nails into wooden skeletons of stately homes - The Woodlands models - that will line the Valencia Country Club golf course.

And the cries heard across the nation's burgeoning suburbs to slow the growth and save the environment are loud and clear in Santa Clarita.

``We get lots and lots of telephone calls and letters from people complaining about all the construction,'' Councilwoman Jill Klajic said. ``They want it to stop. People are not happy.''

Klajic said the growth is reminiscent of the 1980s boom, which prompted residents to vote for cityhood in 1987.

``This is back to deja vu 1985, when we demanded cityhood because of growth,'' Klajic said. ``And the county was shoving every project through that it could because they knew that it was coming.''

Klajic also is convinced that a Santa Clarita slow-growth initiative would get enough support from residents to pass right now, ``hands down.''

``They want to make their money as fast as they can and get out of here,'' she said, ``and that includes Newhall Land. They're at the top of the list.''

Drive down any main road and see the tumbleweeds being cleared from the land, bulldozers grading for new neighborhood after new neighborhood. For the most part, they look the same - middle-class blocks of two-story homes.

Valencia's Bridgeport looks like the others now - barren strips of freshly graded land - but it will stand out. The focal point will be a 14-acre man-made lake, one that will be visible from the picture windows of ``executive'' housing.

Nearby, work has begun on The Greens golf course. The executive course will be smaller than a standard one, but will allow golfers to work on their short game. Opening in March, the course will take about an hour to play.

Near the Golden State-Santa Paula freeway interchange, Explorer Insurance is building a business park. In Saugus, construction has begun on a senior apartment complex approved by the City Council earlier this year.

And in Canyon Country, developers of Robinson Ranch have been grading for two golf courses for about two months. That project should be open by the end of next year, Lambert said.

All across the city, several other small projects can be spotted under construction as well. There's a new Rite Aid store, a church across the street.

Just outside city limits in Canyon Country, Pardee Homes is building Canyon Park, 393 single-family homes, plus three commercial lots and a park, said Jose Caldit, a senior regional planning assistant for the county.

Weste praised the project, which was originally approved in 1990 for 645 condominium units.

``That was scaled way back,'' she said. ``It's much more higher-end housing now, with more amenities and a good agreement with the school district.

``With a good economy, you can extract more from the developer. The city is working really hard. If it's not in our jurisdiction, we have to make sure that all required by law is done.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color in Business only) The framework of new structures at the Valencia Town Center rises on a bustling wave of development.

(2--Color) (Ran in Business only) Construction progresses on the new Princess Cruises building in Valencia.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News