A Few Pictures From Future Site of Westfield’s The Village
I figured I’d take a few pictures of the structures still left at the eventual site of Westfield’s “The Village” complex. One of the pictures leaves me wondering and guessing if the FedEx Office A/K/A Kinkos was once a bank. I’d like to know the story of why so many valley banks – especially former Washington Mutuals – gave these fascinating murals on them. Most of them seem to depict early valley settlers and Native Americans. While there aren’t too many of these in Woodland Hills that I know of, as you head east there are many. A quick google search on this produces nothing, but it’d be a shame when they tear down the FedeX Office to lose the mural and quasi-iconic building.
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Halloween Pumpkin Patch Opens on Corner of Owensmouth Ave and Victory Blvd
Pumpkin Patch on Victory & Owensmouth
Well, even though I am clearly not a fan of Halloween stores, I don’t think I can have much against a nice seasonal pumpkin patch so you can pick up a pumpkin for carving, baking a pumpkin pie, and other such delightfully festive holiday activities. One of these has opened on the corner of Owensmouth & Victory. I’m sure come November you’ll be able to get your Christmas trees there as well.
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Getting up to Speed on Westfield’s “The Village” Shopping & Entertainment Destination
Woodland Hills business owner and friend to the blog Tanya Peel writes:
I get the feeling you don’t know about the Westfield Plaza 3 year project going in. It will essentially be The Grove. Trolleys, walking, retail, office and condo living. The city has approved the plans and now they are pushing through LEED certification. I hope they continue with their efforts in that department. They are supposed to break ground next year. It will bring 6,000 local jobs and I think increase our property values!
Tanya you are absolutely correct that I was ignorant of this! I could tell that Westfield was up to something but didn’t realize there was as full blow plan like this about to be executed. Obviously I am going to need to bring myself up to speed on this.
This is Westfield’s July 17, 2007 Press Release on the project. Thankfully, it seems, M. Night Shyamalan is not associated with this “The Village” – that would be a disaster.
In 2008 when Westfield submitted their first firm fleshed-out proposal for the project, and LA.StreetBlogs.com did a good writeup and grabbed this graphic from the Daily News:
Westfield's The Village
As noted in this blog, the first phase of the operation, the construction of a wonderful Crate & Barrel has already come to fruition.
Interestingly several articles I came across talk about using a peoplemover to connect the three malls. But, here’s reality folks. This new “The Village” complex will probably be very busy, on par with Topanga Plaza. But, Topanga Promenade Mall is essentially a joke beyond the northern section that contacts Corner Bakery, Maggiano’s, and uWink. Honestly they should be bulldozing that haphazardly renovated relic of a mall and just put “The Village” there.
This new development ties into a train of thought that I am saving for another post. Basically, the reality is that Topanga Plaza is in Canoga Park, not Woodland Hills – though I’m sure we’d like to claim in for ourselves. This new development is firmly below Victory, and thus belongs to the Hills of Woodland.
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Some Updates From LAPD on Alatar Shooting on October 5, 2009
LAPD Topanga Station, Canoga Park
Yesterday I took the time to call up the LAPD’s Topanga Division (located in a brand spanking new facility in Canoga Park) and try to get a little more information about Monday morning’s shooting. I was directed to Detective Bill Speer and had a pleasant conversation with him for a few minutes. As he put it, he is “the supervisor of the detectives in the division working on the case.”
He tells me that the victim knew the assailant, and that they are waiting for the victim to recover from his wounds before questioning him further. Detective Speer also confirmed that the man will recover. Names of the suspect and victim are not being released at this time.
Interestingly, I asked Speer about reports that someone was arrested at the scene, possibly in connection with a marijuana growing facility at the home. He said that there was no marijuana growing facility at the location, and no arrest was made there either. He also seemed to be unaware of these reports.
I will do my best to keep you informed on this case.
Extra fact, the Topanga Division LAPD station opened last year and services Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, Winnetka, and West Hills. I believe until then, these areas were also handled by the West Valley Division. Which made filing reports very inconvenient for Woodland Hills residents being that their station was way up in Northridge.
The official LAPD press release about the incident is after the jump. PS: I don’t necessarily believe everything the LAPD says on this one, they may be holding their cards close to the vest. And check out that eco-friendly xeriscaping.
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