Wednesday, March 3rd, more than 350 Playa Vista residents came together in a tremendous show of support and unity in urging Councilman Bill Rosendahl to pledge his support for the Village plan that was already approved unanimously by the City Planning Commission. SADLY, ROSENDAHL REFUSED. HE CHOSE NOT TO STAND WITH US.
Information provided by Friends of Playa Vista & Video by Dale Ross
Retail developer Caruso targeting airports, including LAX
Reported by the Daily Breeze
Developer Rick Caruso is looking to expand his retail empire to airports across the country, including Los Angeles International.
John Cugasi, a former director of concessions at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was hired Monday to serve as vice president for airports, a new position that was created at Los Angeles-based Caruso Affiliated.
Caruso oversaw construction of the Grove outdoor shopping mall in Los Angeles and the Americana at Brand in Glendale. Airport insiders speculated that Caruso's penchant for new developments may lead to a bid for lucrative concession contracts at LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal, which is undergoing a massive $1.5 billion makeover scheduled for completion by mid-2013.
Airport officials are expected later this year to put out a call for bids from companies interested in operating shops and restaurants inside Terminals 1, 2, 3, 6 and the Bradley Terminal.
"With travelers spending more time in terminals, airport authorities realize the financial value of offering something special because people are more willing to spend if you provide style, quality and service," Caruso said in a written statement.
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VIDEO OF PLAYA VISTA MEETING ON WED, MARCH 3
Playa Vista second phase wins LA planning committee approval !!
Daily Breeze
Playa Vista's long-litigated second phase, a mixed-use development of shops, homes, open space and offices, won support Tuesday from a Los Angeles City Council committee.
After hearing from both supporters and opponents who had packed the council chambers, the Planning and Land Use Management Committee recommended approval for the mixed-use plan known as The Village.
Described as "the heart" of the new community between Westchester and Marina del Rey, The Village has been stalled since 2007, when an appellate court found three main deficiencies with its environmental impact report and called for a supplemental review. The project planned for 111 acres along Jefferson Boulevard initially won council approval in 2004.
The committee's direction Tuesday afternoon came after more than an hour of public testimony and a last-minute request by the City Attorney's Office to delay action on the issue for two weeks.
But in recommending that The Village move forward with a revised environmental analysis, the panel directed attorneys to return with the necessary land-use documents by March 23. The full council is supposed to hear the issue three days later, on March 26.
The hearing brought out Playa Vista residents, community and labor leaders, land-use attorneys and representatives of environmental groups that have spent years battling the community's developers.
Some who challenged the project in court said Tuesday they weren't opposed to Playa Vista residents getting new amenities, but continued to question parts of the the environmental analysis, and whether the city has adequately studied project alternatives. Some want to see the area slated for development used instead as a treatment wetland.
Before addressing the committee, Playa Vista President Steve Soboroff asked supporters to stand, saying there were "hundreds of people" who had turned out in favor of The Village.
"Today we're ready to proceed. It will be a major economic stimulus at a time when the city really needs it," he said. "We're ready to go the minute we're out of litigation."
Soboroff also told the panel he'd met Saturday with Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents Playa Vista, and agreed to market The Village as soon as the litigation had ended. Further, developers have agreed to include an extra 200 senior housing units and give up about 24,000 square feet of office space, spokesman Steve Sugerman said.
That would give The Village 2,800 housing units and about 151,000 square feet of offices. Also planned is 150,000 square feet of retail space and 40,000 square feet of community uses.
Last week, a boisterous crowd of Playa Vista residents pressured Rosendahl for a "yes" vote on The Village during a meeting that was captured on videotape - available at http://vimeo.com/9946536 - at the community's CenterPointe Club. He said he'd vote yes, but "with qualifications."
At one point, Rosendahl was handed a marker and asked to sign a pledge in support of the project. But as the councilman penciled in edits, residents booed, and one man ripped the pledge sign down.
Daily Breeze
Playa Vista's long-litigated second phase, a mixed-use development of shops, homes, open space and offices, won support Tuesday from a Los Angeles City Council committee.
After hearing from both supporters and opponents who had packed the council chambers, the Planning and Land Use Management Committee recommended approval for the mixed-use plan known as The Village.
Described as "the heart" of the new community between Westchester and Marina del Rey, The Village has been stalled since 2007, when an appellate court found three main deficiencies with its environmental impact report and called for a supplemental review. The project planned for 111 acres along Jefferson Boulevard initially won council approval in 2004.
The committee's direction Tuesday afternoon came after more than an hour of public testimony and a last-minute request by the City Attorney's Office to delay action on the issue for two weeks.
But in recommending that The Village move forward with a revised environmental analysis, the panel directed attorneys to return with the necessary land-use documents by March 23. The full council is supposed to hear the issue three days later, on March 26.
The hearing brought out Playa Vista residents, community and labor leaders, land-use attorneys and representatives of environmental groups that have spent years battling the community's developers.
Some who challenged the project in court said Tuesday they weren't opposed to Playa Vista residents getting new amenities, but continued to question parts of the the environmental analysis, and whether the city has adequately studied project alternatives. Some want to see the area slated for development used instead as a treatment wetland.
Before addressing the committee, Playa Vista President Steve Soboroff asked supporters to stand, saying there were "hundreds of people" who had turned out in favor of The Village.
"Today we're ready to proceed. It will be a major economic stimulus at a time when the city really needs it," he said. "We're ready to go the minute we're out of litigation."
Soboroff also told the panel he'd met Saturday with Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents Playa Vista, and agreed to market The Village as soon as the litigation had ended. Further, developers have agreed to include an extra 200 senior housing units and give up about 24,000 square feet of office space, spokesman Steve Sugerman said.
That would give The Village 2,800 housing units and about 151,000 square feet of offices. Also planned is 150,000 square feet of retail space and 40,000 square feet of community uses.
Last week, a boisterous crowd of Playa Vista residents pressured Rosendahl for a "yes" vote on The Village during a meeting that was captured on videotape - available at http://vimeo.com/9946536 - at the community's CenterPointe Club. He said he'd vote yes, but "with qualifications."
At one point, Rosendahl was handed a marker and asked to sign a pledge in support of the project. But as the councilman penciled in edits, residents booed, and one man ripped the pledge sign down.
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