DEVELOPER OFFERS BRIDGE TO GALLERIA CARUSO TRIES TO ASSUAGE CRITICS OF SHOPPING COMPLEX.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Town Center developer Rick Caruso has offered to pay millions for a pedestrian bridge from his project to the Glendale Galleria in an effort to quell criticism that his project does not link well with the mall.

In the unexpected move during a public hearing Tuesday, Caruso told executives of mall tenant Robinsons-May he was willing to build a second-story bridge to connect his project to the store - an idea May Department Stores executive Vince Corno said he'd support. Earlier in the meeting, Corno had voiced his concern that the store would be facing the back of the Town Center project.

Corno could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

City Councilman Rafi Manoukian said the bridge would better tie the Galleria and Town Center together.

``I'm excited that the people at Robinsons-May are willing to look at options,'' Manoukian said. ``I think it's a win-win situation for everyone.''

A bridge spanning Central Avenue would allow customers to travel from the Galleria, owned by General Growth Properties, to the 15.5-acre dining, entertainment and shopping complex. The Caruso plan currently allows for a street connection between the two centers via Broadway, Colorado and Harvard streets along Central Avenue.

``I made the offer because it's so apparent that the anchor tenants are under pressure from General Growth to come in and oppose our project, and I don't believe they want to oppose it,'' Caruso said. ``I believe they want more customers to come to their stores, and I think the bridge makes sense for both of us.''

Caruso's $172 million complex is being opposed by General Growth, which has proposed an alternate plan as part of an environmental impact report currently being reviewed by the city and the public.

The pedestrian connection would be built near Caruso's proposed movie theater at Colorado Street and Central Avenue, but Caruso said the existing design would have to be shifted to ensure the bridge led shoppers into the Town Center rather than the theater. The developer will meet with the store's executives to work on the design.

For months, Caruso has proposed to General Growth that a second-story bridge to the main part of the mall be built, and that he'd pay half the cost.

``I've always been supportive of having a bridge so customers can freely go back and forth without being impacted by cars on Central Avenue, but the Galleria doesn't want to let any of the customers out of the fort,'' Caruso said.

But mall officials, who said they wouldn't stand in the way of a Robinsons-May bridge, have maintained a second-level pedestrian walkway was not the solution and a street-level connection between the retail centers would be more crucial.

The offer is just one of the several concessions Caruso has made as scrutiny of the project goes forward.

Caruso announced at the meeting Tuesday that he would not erect giant billboards that would promote movies at the theater - an additional revenue source - if the City Council decided against it.

He also agreed last week to incorporate existing historic streetlamps in his center after some Glendale residents opposed their removal.

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com