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?
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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17 Responses to “Westfield To Ram Costco Down Woodland Hills’ Throat, Whether We Want It Or Not”
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This is a very good thing. Jobs and tax revenues are a very good thing. I live within feet of this development and I would much prefer the Costco instead of the well basically nothing that sits there now. Wait How can I forget about the Pumpkin patch in October, the Christmas tree lot in December and that really weird shady circus that pops by every now and then.
Also if you look st the plans the upscale super mall is still getting built and the Costco really takes up its own almost separate section than the rest of the development. The Costco will be in the Northeast corner closest to Owensmouth and Victory while the nice new mall will be along Topanga south of where the Crate and Barrell is now. This is all a very good thing.
I agree that we should go to the meeting. We need to tell the doubters and naysayers to SHUT UP.
Progress is Good. New is Good and anything is better than an old gravel lot that only has a Kinko’s and a Carrows.
Sean, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I do, however, believe that it is a Coco’s, not a Carrows. Not sure if that alone would change your opinion.
Whatever it is I believe I have been there exactly once in 30 years. That should say it all right there. As long as the replace with “The Counter” I will indeed by a Happy man. Also maybe it would be a nice idea to start a section where people can chime in with what they would like in that complex that is not in the area already.
A while back you mentioned that you thought the Costco should go at Variel and Victory and while I agree with that sentiment it isn’t going to happen. I would prefer personally to see an Ikea go into that Owensmouth/Victory Corner but it isn’t and a Costco will be a very nice addition to this town.
I’m usually with Girard on these things, but I would LOVE, LOVE a Costco there. It would save me from my twice-a-month drive to the beautiful environs of Canoga Park. Let’s not kid ourselves, the folks who shop at Nordstrom are the same ones who jam up the wine aisles at Costco nabbing expensive Bordeaux at tres reasonable prices.
COSTCO IS GOOD…..EMPTY STORE FRONTS ARE NOT GOOD AND THAT IS WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF WE ADD MORE SHOPPING PLEASURE AND EXTEND THE MALL.I VOTE FOR COSTCO
Joyce Pearson Coates is NOT the Chair of the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council and has not been so for several months!
The community fought pierce college when they wanted to put a golf course in. What happened, we ended up with ugly apartments. You have to look at the alternatives Costco or the Mexican circus that comes to town every 3 months cone on. Jobs, commerce discounted bulk goods it’s a win win partner.
Look at the Map. They are splitting the project in 1/2. They are still building the open air shopping center. Hell, they already have the Crate and Barrel there. Also if you noticed they moved the AT&T wireless store across the street as well. The Costco will be separate from the rest of it. We are getting the best of both worlds here people. No one should be complaining about this, instead we should show up with shovels and help them get started.
I agree with Sean and the others that are proponents of the Costco plan… I’d much rather drive here for Costco then the craphole at the corner of Canoga/Roscoe. I just love having my kids see the huge lit up signs for the strip club with full-color photo of panties around bare ankles as we drive past.
Giving Costco the PRIME corner of Victory and Owensmouth for a flat box, a 700 spaces parking lot and a gas station does not further a positive vision of Warner Center as a business center/downtown of the West Valley. Why not shoot for high standards? The 2-story “retail” shops and a 5-story parking garage behind the shops do not make a mall.
Stand up for sustainability, walkability, thoughtful planning and design, despite Westfield and Zine pushing for less than mediocrity for Warner Center. Their media b.s. about responding to what the community wants is preposterous. I attended all the seminars and workshops seeking community input. Hundreds of neighbors attended & participated. Great ideas were discussed and nobody advocated for a boxy discount warehouse and ginormous parking lot/gas station. Speak up against Woodland Hills becoming known for a Megamall rather than as a highly sought after place to live, work, be entertained in and visit.
@Sean says: “… I would much prefer the Costco instead of the well basically nothing that sits there now. …”
Actually, what you will probably get is a Costco, plus “basically nothing” (a large vacant lot) because the Costco will be built and the rest will be “coming soon” for another 10 years.
Well Rocket Scientists What Would you Rather Be put There?
I noticed people complaining about the Pavilions as well in another thread. Change is good. Progress is good.
They were going to put a gold course at Pierce College years ago. Residents complained and it got shot down. Did they leave the land untouched you ask? No they built a 2,000 room apartment complex.
Pierce College was going to put in a golf course? And you guys fought that? Hmmmm… That speaks volumes.
I support the Costco move
The costco deal is done. Try to push the idea that what ever acre/land space is used by costco, 5% of that space will be landscaping ie a grass area, trees, water feature… By doing this, it ensure there won’t just be a concrete island with a building.
Look at Warner center businesses, 20 years ago there were a lot more grass area, trees and a few ponds. They paved it and build a parking lot (whoops that’s a song), they build more appts and office structure because it is more profitable. It is to be really pleasant walking around Canoga ave and the surrounding area near califa, oxnards…
We need a very upscale supermarket in the neigborhood. I live at WC on Canoga and am all for something like that within walking distance. We don’t have that right now.
None of you guys even mentioned my biggest fear TRAFFIC TRAFFIC.. All those in Calabasas and west Hills who used to go to Augora now coming down victory seven days a week etc….
The intersection will turn to sh*t. Might as well put up an adult theater next to it like the Canoga Park Costco, and, hey, how about another 7-11 & 99 cent store? You think traffic is bad NOW…..