A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Westfield To Hold Workshop For The Village Changes, Community Urged To Attend

If you care about Woodland Hills, you should download this PDF to read about Westfield’s proposed changes for The Village.  Then, you should come to their workshop and voice your opinions and concerns on Wednesday July 28th.  See my annotated illustration above for a diagram of the proposed project.

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Westfield To Ram Costco Down Woodland Hills’ Throat, Whether We Want It Or Not

This is very sad.  Dennis Zine is not doing us any favors by being so in the pocket of Westfield on this one.  I’ve seen the Costcos like the one they want to put in.  A giant parking lot, a giant warehouse store, and their needless Costco gas station.  Why?  I am not for this project.  Obviously due to the economy exploding “The Village” was doomed, but where is the community input on these changes?

LA Daily News writes:

Three years after announcing it would build an upscale mixed-use project in Warner Center that would rival Century City, Westfield LLC has dramatically scaled back its $750 million plan for the mall connecting its Topanga and Promenade complexes.

In a letter dated July 6 and sent to some households in Woodland Hills, Westfield executives blame the economic recession for their decision to eliminate the housing component and slash office and retail space at The Village at Westfield Topanga.

However, the plan also adds 146,000 square feet for a retail anchor – which sources confirm will be a Costco – in a nod to the changing consumer desires.

“What you envision in 2007 is not going to be what you envision in 2010,” said Westfield spokeswoman Katy Dickey. “It’s reflective of the changing economy and consumer demand.” She declined to say how the more modest development will impact development costs.

The biggest addition to the project is a 146,600-square-foot store that sources confirm will be a Costco. Plans call for the discount warehouse – which would include a gas station and tire center – to be built on the south side of Victory Boulevard, across from the upscale Nordstrom’s at Westfield Topanga.

“It’s a drastic change,” said Joyce Pearson, who chairs the Woodland Hills/Warner Center Neighborhood Council. “I think that is part of what everyone is going to have to grapple with. Is this going to be a good match with Woodland Hills?”

Plans for The Village were announced with great fanfare in 2007, a year before the mortgage meltdown plunged the economy into the worst recession in decades. With the real estate market still struggling and the retail sector just beginning to rebound, the mall owner reduced the size of the 1.8 million square project by 804,000 square feet, or 45 percent.

This particular line is priceless, “However, the plan also adds 146,000 square feet for a retail anchor – which sources confirm will be a Costco – in a nod to the changing consumer desires.”  How big of a check did Westfield have to write to the Daily News to get that sentence in there.  This is the consumer desire?  To have a Costco in that lot?  I’m a consumer, and I sure don’t remember getting that survey in the mail or attending that focus group.

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Visiting The PF Chang’s $3PM – $6PM Happy Hour In Woodland Hills

A few months back PF Chang’s, in line with many other local restaurants, launched a great Happy Hour with food and drink specials ranging from $3 to $6 from 3pm to 6pm every day of the week – appropriately named the $3pm – $6pm Happy Hour.  I have had a chance to drop in on it several times now, and it’s pretty solid.  Weekdays it gets pretty busy at the bar at around 5pm, but the specials are valid in the dining area as well.  These prices are pretty amazing, and I must admit I’ve had those Northern Style Spare Ribs as my dinner on more than one ocassion.  I have included a gallery below of some of my favorite items from the menu.  Honestly, I haven’t tried the drinks yet but as soon as I can get some people together to head over and have some drinks I’ll post pictures of those, too.

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