WHWC NC PLUM Meeting Re: Costco Gets Ugly, John Alderson “I don’t want to come here anymore.”
These videos are from the November 8th meeting of the PLUM committee. Apparently whatever changes Costco/Westfield made to the previous proposal were minimal and unsubstantial, and things got pretty ugly. Westfield’s chief snake oil salesman John Alderson’s head practically exploded in the second video. Good stuff.
Update: (insert the Unsolved Mysteries “Update” music here) Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council member Jim Anderson tells me that there have in fact been no changes to the plan. Further, the Costco portion of the project and The Village portion of the project have been somewhat separated. In my opinion this is so that Westfield can have even less accountability when they completely fail to build The Village and all the community is left with is a big box Costco.
My question to “Done Deal” Dennis Zine, who stated that he would not vote for this plan, is, “well, now what since they refuse to change it?”
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11 Responses to “WHWC NC PLUM Meeting Re: Costco Gets Ugly, John Alderson “I don’t want to come here anymore.””
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Wow you guys are EPIC Dumb-asses. Once again for the people with the extra chromosome (i.e. All Of You)
1. This is PRIVATELY OWNED land. Westfield paid for it. They own it.
2. Westfield is free to do whatever they want with said land.
3. There is NOTHING THERE NOW AS WE SPEAK. It is a ghost town.
Why are you still arguing about it? Embrace the progress
I can’t believe the guy from Costco claims to be an architect, yet he says they can’t design a successful multi-story store. I don’t understand why he says they take huge pride in how they work with communities, and they aren’t actually working with our community. Glad I wasn’t at the meeting because I might have made a scene.
@Sean: Westfield is free to do what they want with said land ONLY if they are not getting subsidies (tax breaks) etc., that are taken by force from the taxpayers. If they are getting ANYTHING (like 30% off their DWP bill), then this is a private/public enterprise and those of us who are subsidizing them get to have a say in what they do.
Progess is great, but welfare for the corporations is not.
I will never shop here. Sadly they will turn Woodland Hills into ever other character-less suburb of Southern Califonia. Such short sightedness and poor development will be the end of our community.
I am trying to view the videos you posted but it says I must accept your friend request first…how does that work?
These guys are major A-holes…of course, it’s a done deal and they have already done it. They don’t care about anyone or things except maximum profit, which is exactly what their plan is designed to accomplish. I hope everyone in CD 3 remembers this when Zine runs for L.A.City Controller in 2012 and votes him out of any office.
Elizabeth – the reason they cannot do 2 floors is the weight of the merchandise. It is not like Target or Walmart who sell much lighter weight merchandise which is not sitting on pallets.
That is the reason Costco is not in downtown LA – the former Robinson’s store on 7th Street could not handle the weight.
As to this project, Let Costco become the anchor of a good, not great project, and everyone can win with proper developmental input. Costco is one of america’s best mass merchants, and should be able to serve the southwest Valley from this location where developmental and logistical layouts should be to mutual agreement and then let construction begin.
No Grove-type project will EVER be viable here, so get over it, and now!
This situation is not about whether we like to shop at Costco or not. No one has a problem with Costco having a store in Woodland Hills. However,Costco wants to build on the corner of Victory and Owensmouth. The BACK OF COSTCO, AS PLANNED, will butt right up against the SIDEWALK ALONG VICTORY BLVD. So imagine when you drive down Victory Blvd … you will see Sears and Nordstrom on your left and on your right will be a 450 FOOT LONG WALL THAT WILL BE 40 FEET HIGH (No windows, just a 450X40 foot wall). On the corner of Victory and Owensmouth will be a 26 PUMP Costco gas station. Next to Costco will be a 850 FOOT LONG and 6 STORY TALL PARKING GARAGE. That is the issue. Wouldn’t you rather have some small stores, a civic center, restaurants, some place for children to play and a place to hang out and have coffee or drinks with neighbors. There are other locations in Woodland Hills where Costco can build. It doesn’t have anything to do with flats of merchandise or weight on floors. What Costco wants is prime visibility in the neighborhood and they are unwilling to compromise.
Jennifer, no, there are not other locations for Costco to build.
Secondly, what kind of rent do you think small stores, a civic center, place for children to play and hang out and have coffee can pay?!
Costco is a quality rent payer, a quality tenant, and deserves all the support it can get.
Now if you do not like the plot plan/layout, well, discuss that separately as opposed to being opposed to the company being there at all.
They will get prime visibility, just with their signs, so work with them on the layout and let everyone win, and let’s get this project under construction.
There seems to be a proliferation of mis-information about this project. I have been a longtime resident of WH… more than 40 yrs, an architect & former architectural instructor at Pierce College. You need to get your facts straight about what is being proposed, before you jump to ignorant conclusions. All of you have the right to your opinions, and this is a chance for you to contribute constructive ideas to the developer. The specific plan & adopted planning codes govern what is allowed to be built, without a modification or variance; as long as these approved measures are followed the project will proceed … and be approved for construction. The rules for this development have been in place for quite some time, they don’t require any additional popular approval. I’m not alone in saying that I’ll be happy to shop at this new and improved Costco… and can’t wait for the doors to be open.
@Jennifer – Sounds fine to me – I look forward to the cheap gas and convenient Costco shopping.