DEVELOPERS TO REBUILD KEY VALLEY CORRIDOR UPSCALE BUYERS, RENTERS TO RESIDE NEAR MEGAMALL.Byline: BETH BARRETT Staff Writer In what would be one of the largest residential developments in North Hollywood, developers want to build more than 1,000 town homes, condos and apartments as part of a massive modernization that includes transforming the faded Valley Plaza shopping center shopping center, a concentration of retail, service, and entertainment enterprises designed to serve the surrounding region. The modern shopping center differs from its antecedents—bazaars and marketplaces—in that the shops are usually amalgamated into into a $560 million megamall. As envisioned by developer J.H. Snyder Co., preliminary design plans include about 700 condos, town homes and possibly lofts and about 300 rental apartments, as well as a 4.9-acre park just east of the 170 Freeway and south of Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. at Laurel and Valley plazas. Construction of the residential complex at Laurel Plaza would dovetail dovetail (dov´tāl), n a widened or fanned-out portion of a prepared cavity, usually established deliberately to increase the retention and resistance form. with the company's plans for revitalization of the commercial complex at Valley Plaza -- tentatively named The Village -- that would be the costliest retail development in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . While some of the project's details have been discussed with neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. , officials will hold the first comprehensive meeting tonight to review the plans and seek public input. Previous maps that neighborhood councils saw in May showed many more apartments in what developers now say was an error. But even as developers and city officials hail the proposed residential and retail project as a key to invigorating in·vig·or·ate tr.v. in·vig·or·at·ed, in·vig·or·at·ing, in·vig·or·ates To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to; animate: "A few whiffs of the raw, strong scent of phlox invigorated her" the North Hollywood commercial corridor, residents have begun to express concern. ``I'm concerned about traffic density, traffic jams,'' said Julio Martinez Julio Martinez is the weekly host of KPFK Radio’s Arts in Review, is a theatre critic for Daily Variety and Features Editor of Latin Heat Magazine. His articles have appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage West, L.A. , a writer who lives near the proposed project. Susan Ware, a North Hollywood resident, echoed the concern and said residents are hoping the developer listens to their comments. ``We want him to be more neighborhood-friendly,'' Ware said. Cliff Goldstein, a senior managing partner of the Miracle Mile-based company, said response to community concerns will be incorporated into final plans as the company seeks to break ground in about 18 months. The project is being designed by the same architect who did The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Goldstein said there is no intention to duplicate that popular entertainment and retail complex, but the company wants the North Hollywood development to become ``the highest-quality project'' ever built in the San Fernando Valley. ``It's revitalization of a commercial corridor that's been in a state of disrepair for at least a decade, that never recovered from the (Northridge) Earthquake, that has had some high-profile crime issues,'' Goldstein said. ``Given the economic realities of today, if there isn't a substantial project that (can) attract the right tenants and customers, no one is going to invest in a piecemeal way.'' J.H. Snyder also is building a $200 million complex of lofts, apartments and shops known as NoHo Commons at the core of the NoHo Arts District
The Arts District , to the south of the current proposed residential development. The company's plan to renovate the nearby Valley Plaza is to be anchored by a Federated Connected and treated as one. See federated database and federated directories. Department Stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. Inc.-owned Macy's after it closes its Robinsons-May now at Laurel Plaza. In addition to Macy's, developers are negotiating for a cinema complex and are in preliminary discussions with national retailers for a 775,000- square-foot center with a plaza about the size of a football field that could be used for live performances, a local farmers market and other events. ``It's meant to be a town center for this portion of the Valley,'' Goldstein said of Valley Plaza, built in 1955 as an open-air shopping center. For Laurel Plaza, about 70 percent of the residential development is envisioned for sale as condos, lofts or town houses with self-contained garages. The remainder would be rentals. Apartments are expected to cost the same as -- or more than -- the $2,200 that a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom unit now rents for in NoHo Commons, Goldstein said. ``This will be the highest-quality development, whether (for) renter or buyer. These are not low-income units. For you to afford these new buildings, (your) income will have to trend upward from probably what exists in many parts of the area.'' Goldstein said traffic and other points -- such as the number of apartment buildings and their height -- will be addressed in an upcoming environmental impact report. ``Clearly the project will change as we meet with neighborhoods and engage community groups,'' said Goldstein, who grew up in the Valley. ``This is a work in progress.'' Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. , who represents the area, said she wants homeownership maximized for Laurel Plaza, as well as a retail project that has shops and services the community desires. She noted that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. also is working on behalf of the development. Greuel called it ``a signature project'' and a commitment from City Hall to the Valley. ``This is a top priority,'' she said. The Community Redevelopment Agency assistant project manager, Regina Kirschenbaum, said that, unlike other projects in NoHo, the complex is not receiving CRA See Community Reinvestment Act. financial assistance. ``The significance depends on who you ask, but it could be very positive for the area,'' Kirschenbaum said of the project. ``It depends on what ends up coming out of all the meetings, but it could potentially be great -- with more housing and revitalization of the current Valley Plaza, which now is a deteriorating shopping center.'' Area resident Martinez said he is concerned about the development's effect on property values. But he said he had similar concerns before The Grove was built downtown and now can't quibble QUIBBLE. A slight difficulty raised without necessity or propriety; a cavil. 2. No justly eminent member of the bar will resort to a quibble in his argument. with its success. For now, he said, he is cautiously optimistic. ``I have a feeling it will enhance property values.'' beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3731 CAPTION(S): box, map Box/Map: Big plans for North Hollywood SOURCE: Christopher A. Joseph & Associates |
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