CSUN PITCHING PROPOSAL TO BRING IN BIOTECH FIRMS.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

CSUN is on the brink of bringing biotechnology firms to its North Campus, less than two months after dropping its plans to build an upscale retail center.

The biotech firms, along with entertainment-related businesses and a sports complex, are part of the master plan of California State University, Northridge, to create a recognizable identity for the sprawling campus while at the same time raising revenue, and providing students and faculty with educational opportunities.

While CSUN's departments have partnered with the private sector in the past, the proposed 65-acre North Campus development will be a first in other ways, CSUN President Blenda Wilson said Friday.

``The difference in this case is that people whom we are talking to are willing to be present in the vicinity of the university to explicitly offer internships for our students and opportunities for graduate research . . . for our faculty,'' Wilson said during interviews with Daily News editors and reporters.

``We think it's a win-win-win all the way across the board.''

In meetings with chambers of commerce, homeowner associations and other community members, Wilson said she has received only positive feedback so far on the proposed North Campus projects. Those meetings are part of an increased effort to forge a community identity around the campus, she said.

CSUN has moved beyond planning and is now negotiating lease rates with Advanced Bionics Corp., MiniMed Inc. and MRG Inc. All are Sylmar-based biotechnology firms owned by entrepreneur Alfred E. Mann, who hopes to move all his operations onto a 28- to 33-acre parcel, said Frank Wein, CSUN's North Campus development consultant.

``We're close to having a lease-rate operation. We're still in negotiations, but we're making progress and are optimistic to be able to conclude something very quickly,'' said Wein, who estimates the firms, once they are built, will employ 1,500 to 1,800 people.

Mann's companies, which produce medical devices such as insulin pumps and glucose monitoring systems, are not biomedical firms and will not produce hazardous waste, said Wein.

Unlike the proposed University MarketCenter, which critics said would not provide legitimate student internships, the biotechnology firms would offer joint research projects, internships and teleconferencing rooms for long-distance learning, said Wilson.

``It's a win for the community because it doesn't have negative environmental impacts, we believe,'' said Wilson. ``It brings jobs, it's not competitive with any of the retailers in our community. There doesn't seem to be a downside.''

In two weeks, CSUN will begin an environmental impact report on both the North Campus project and physical improvements proposed for the main campus, including new buildings, a loop road, signage and landscaping, said Wein.

Though CSUN is considering sound stages and production studios for the entertainment portion of the North Campus development, exactly what type of facilities will be built will remain unclear until the university completes a market study of the area, said Wilson.

``We want to be clear that we have facilities that for the long term would be useful for the university even as industries change,'' said Wilson, who plans to receive input on the issue from business and community groups.

What is clear are the benefits to CSUN's Entertainment Industry Institute, which debuted this year and offers a multidisciplinary program involving the colleges of arts media communication, engineering, computer science, business administration and economics.

Wilson hopes that any entertainment companies who come on campus will be able to refresh CSUN's technological facilities, offer entertainment experts to work both with faculty and students, and provide students with hands-on internships.

Construction of the North Campus project is expected to be phased in over a period of two to four years, said Wein.

The project, along with facilities undergoing earthquake renovations throughout the campus are part of a master plan that when completed will give the university a distinct identity, said Wilson.

A new arts media communication building, scheduled to be built in 1998, and CSUN's new administration building will be two signature edifices that will ``represent this emergent Valley and the future,'' said Wilson.

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Photo: (1-2) California State University, Northridge, President Blenda Wilson says that unlike a proposed retail complex for the North Campus property, pictured at left, biotechnology firms being wooed to the campus will offer educational benefits to students and staff.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News