TENTATIVE RULING BACKS AMERICANA.Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer GLENDALE - A judge has tentatively affirmed the environmental report for developer Rick Caruso's Americana at Brand Americana at Brand will be a large outdoor shopping community in Glendale, California. The site is owned by Caruso Affiliated, who owns many other commercial properties such as The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, CA. project, rejecting a legal challenge by rival General Growth Properties General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois. History The company was founded by two brothers, Martin and Matthew Bucksbaum, in 1954. . Caruso and city officials said they were thrilled by the tentative ruling issued Thursday by 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. Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien, nullifying the legal challenges mounted by the owners of the Glendale Galleria The Glendale Galleria is a large 3 story regional shopping mall located in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. It is the second largest mall in Los Angeles County. It is located in Downtown Glendale. . A ruling against the environmental impact report could have stalled or derailed the $264 million project proposed by Caruso Affiliated Caruso Affiliated is a real estate development company in California, U.S.A.. It is headed by Rick Caruso. It is known particularly for building higher-end outdoor shopping centers. Holdings. ``I'm just excited by the fact that not only have the elected officials endorsed the project and the voters have endorsed the project, but now the courts have spoken,'' Caruso said. ``I would hope that now General Growth exercises decency and allows the project to move forward.'' General Growth officials said they had not yet decided whether to appeal. ``We're disappointed in the judge's tentative ruling,'' spokesman Arthur Sohikian said. General Growth filed suit in May, claiming the EIR EIR n. popular acronym for environmental impact report, required by many states as part of the application to a county or city for approval of a land development or project. (See: environmental impact report) did not thoroughly address the project's environmental impacts and that the city's approval of the report violated provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a California law (California Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.) passed in 1970, shortly after the Federal Government passed the National Environmental Policy Act. . City officials believe General Growth will continue its attempts to stall the 15.5-acre project in downtown Glendale. ``We're anticipating continuing hurdles, but it's certainly a big hurdle that we've overcome,'' City Manager Jim Starbird said. ``But this is a validation of the staff's work and of the process. The judge believes the decisions were informed and balanced.'' Starbird said the ruling could be finalized in early February. Councilman Dave Weaver called the judge's decision ``Christmas in January.'' ``I sincerely believe we were in the right all along, and General Growth's motives have been clearly demonstrated to stop competition and it didn't work,'' Weaver said. Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com |
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