PLAN REVAMPS VAN NUYS CIVIC CENTER : PROJECT CALLED MATTER OF VALLEY PRIDE.

Byline: Luz Villarreal Daily News Staff Writer

A draft report calls for revitalizing the Van Nuys Civic Center with a bustling retail center, new offices, a bell tower and auditorium for public meetings and cultural events.

Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude, who is spearheading the plan, said the expansion would be built as a public-private partnership and turn the civic center into a genuine regional government center and be a source of pride for the entire San Fernando Valley.

``I view it as a Valley project, not just a Van Nuys project,'' said Braude, who likes to refer to the project as the San Fernando Valley City Hall. ``It's clearly in the public interest.''

The plan includes new parking garages, a five-story government building with ground-floor retail space fronting Van Nuys Boulevard and a bell tower that would serve as the gateway to the pedestrian mall.

The report discusses the possible demolition of the existing eight-story Van Nuys City Hall, which was built in 1932. The report does not make a recommendation, but Braude said he favors tearing down the building and preserving elements of it in replacement structures.

``That building is grossly inefficient and would have to be seismically restored to be used again,'' he said.

To bring more residents into the civic center, the second phase of the development would include a ``zocalo,'' a Spanish term for a town square that would be a gathering place not just during office hours but evenings and weekends as well.

The zocalo could be the community's ``front porch,'' becoming a setting for concerts, a farmers market and arts and crafts shows.

The draft report, prepared by the Department of General Services, comes one year after Braude first proposed a new civic center with office buildings, restaurants and movie theaters.

The draft report does not include space for movie theaters. It does call for a public-private partnership where developers would construct the five-story building, using the first floor for retail such as coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores and apparel.

The city would lease the remaining four floors and own the building after 30 years. The 100,000-square-foot building would allow the city to save money by consolidating services in one place and offer better services to residents.

If the concept is approved the city would solicit private proposals from developers.

The draft report should be completed this month and then will go to the City Council for consideration. Braude said he does not expect a final vote on the matter until 1997.

The report does not address costs or financing. However, Braude said the city is out of office space in the existing civic center and will need to rent more space if it does not build new facilities.

Marvin Selter, chairman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, said his group supports strengthening the Valley's civic center.

``The plan makes it community-friendly, which is what a city hall is supposed to be,'' he said. ``Government is supposed to be answerable to the community.''

Councilwoman Laura Chick ``believes Van Nuys is where many Valley public services should be concentrated,'' said planning deputy Ken Bernstein. ``She's very supportive of those ideas in the plan.''

The first phase of the revitalization project - building a new 400-car parking garage near the corner of Sylvan and Tyrone streets to serve the Van Nuys Police Station - was approved by the City Council last week.

The second phase includes the five-story building, a second parking garage and a possible bell tower on Van Nuys Boulevard and Erwin Street to serve as an entry landmark.

The third phase includes a joint government building and multipurpose auditorium for town hall meetings, concerts and cultural events. The existing 64-year-old City Hall building, which resembles its 27-story counterpart downtown, could be converted into a museum, library or razed to make room for a larger government building, the report said.

The fourth phase may include purchasing the Los Angeles County Health Department building and redeveloping the site for future use.

Don Schultz, president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Association, said he favors a revitalized civic center but hopes officials can find a way to save the old Van Nuys City Hall, known officially as the Van Nuys Municipal Building.

``There's a nostalgic appeal,'' he said. ``I think the architectural design brings you back to the old days. It's symbolic of Van Nuys and of the downtown City Hall.''

Braude said he believes a revitalized civic center is desperately needed to give Los Angeles a stronger presence in the Valley, and the Valley a stronger connection to its city government.

And what if the Valley should secede from Los Angeles?

No problem, said Braude - the fledgling city would have a ready-made seat of government.

``It would have a place to start,'' he said.

The Van Nuys center is the first of four regions to be studied by the General Services Department for consolidating government offices. The other three areas are in West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, drawing

PHOTO (color) A revitalization plan calls for thepossible demolition of Van Nuys City Hall.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News

Drawing: Improving the Van Nuys Civic Center

Traci Wooden/Daily News