CSUN PROPOSES SMALLER MALL; MARKETCENTER PLAN SHRINKS UNDER PUBLIC PRESSURE.Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer Responding to concerns from neighbors and local leaders, Cal State Northridge is proposing to shrink shrink Vox populi noun A psychiatrist the size of the planned North Campus University MarketCenter by 70,000 square feet. CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge officials say a smaller center would mean a $600,000 cut in anticipated revenue to the university, but that it's worth it if residents are happier. ``It's not so much about the maximization of income,'' said CSUN Facilities Director Frank Wein. ``It's about balancing the income with the academic relationship and the environmental impact issues.'' The final environmental impact report on the proposed project released Friday cuts the number of stores from six to four, eliminates two free-standing restaurants and a food court. The number of retail jobs could drop from 300 to 200. Wein said the elimination of the two restaurants accounts for much of the drop in total anticipated revenues. The eateries would have been charged a higher lease rate and were projected to bring in a total $180,000 in annual lease revenues, Wein said. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the report, the center's size would be reduced from 220,000 square feet to 150,000. The rest of the 18-acre lot will be covered with more landscaping and other natural buffers. The changes will be discussed at 7 p.m. Monday at a public meeting at CSUN. The report will come before the California State University Enrollment  Board of Trustees board of trustees Politics The posse of thugs who oversee an institution's administration. See Board of directors. on Sept. 16 and 17.
Critics still argue that a strip mall strip mall n. A shopping complex containing a row of various stores, businesses, and restaurants that usually open onto a common parking lot. Noun 1. , large or small, is not the best use of university land. Potential tenants include Borders bookstores, Bristol Farms Bristol Farms is a grocery store chain that markets itself as being "upscale", with thirteen stores located mainly in the Southern California market. Formerly a subsidiary of Albertsons, Bristol Farms is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, Inc. food market and Circuit City. Some say the project should offer services and opportunities that students and the rest of the community might use more, such as a hotel with conference centers. ``I think they're rushing into something that needs more planning,'' said Richard Hardman, executive director of the Northridge Chamber of Commerce. ``They're just scaling it back, and personally I don't think it's appropriate.'' MarketCenter would offer educational tie-ins to CSUN with student jobs, retail internships and managers as guest lecturers. The new plan would increase natural buffers, which satisfied citizens who have been working with the office of Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. to address concerns that MarketCenter would add glare, traffic and noise. ``That's very encouraging to me that they would be so responsive to us,'' said Encino attorney Art Lepert, chairman of Bernson's Citizens Advisory Committee. ``There were substantial changes that we insisted on before we would make any recommendations on the plan. The (reduced lease revenue) money is an issue the university needs to deal with.'' The original proposed MarketCenter was expected to bring in $1 million a year in lease revenues. A smaller center would likely bring in $400,000. A smaller center would also mean a drop in potential local sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. revenue from $1.25 million to $1 million, Wein said. A discussion of how to develop the 65 acres of little-used land on the North Campus has been ongoing since the late 1980s. An entertainment industry and media center is slated for a separate project on about 15 acres on the southernmost area along Lassen Street. The center could include sound stages and post-production studios. Companies that have expressed interest include DreamWorks and CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. , Wein said. CAPTION(S): map MAP: CSUN DEVELOPMENT |
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