Additional Daily News Article On Costco
For those that did not see it, from Saturday’s Daily News:
Let’s give Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa the credit – or blame – he deserves for his efforts to bring a Costco to Warner Center.
Villaraigosa has been open about his desire to lure more of the discount warehouses to Los Angeles, holding several meetings with Costco Chairman Jeffrey Brotman and CEO Jim Sinegal.
While nearby residents and businesses are divided in their support for the Woodland Hills project, there is no denying that it will draw shoppers and traffic as the anchor of The Village at Westfield Topanga.
Sean McCarthy, an at-large alternate on the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council, takes a pragmatic view of the project. He notes that a partnership between Costco and Westfield LLC demonstrates their belief in the economic strength of the business center.
“They have a purpose in renting to some tenants, especially a large tenant like a Costco, because they know they will be there for years to come and add value to the community,” he said.
“I personally think that any sort of business that can bring activity to Woodland Hills is a positive thing.”
When it opens in 2012, the Warner Center store will join five others in the San Fernando Valley.
And in formally announcing the Warner Center deal last week, Costco said it was opening stores at Westfield-owned malls in Sarasota, Fla., and Wheaton, Md.
Please check out the Daily News’ site for the rest of the article.
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King Zine Announces Costco Is In Fact A Done Deal
So, Dennis, it wasn’t a done deal? Glad to see the community, the Neighborhood Council, etc. was able to have some input here. Insert sarcasm here, folks.
A $50 million Costco will be the anchor tenant at The Village at Westfield Topanga, a mixed-use project planned for Victory Boulevard and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills, officials said Tuesday.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Councilman Dennis Zine issued a formal announcementabout the 146,000-square-foot warehouse store, which said they will create 300 jobs and generate an estimated $1 million annually in revenue. The store is slated to open in late 2012.
Costco is the first tenant to be announced for The Village, which includes plans for an upscale hotel and office and retail space. The project area extends between Victory Boulevard and Erwin Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue.
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Local Blogger Forces LA Councilmember Zine To End Week Backpedaling
From the Valley Vantage:
The Valley Vantage - July 29, 2010
It seems that many people’s mastery of the English language has been called into question by Zine. Apparently, “it’s a done deal,” actually means “don’t worry, it hasn’t been fully decided yet and there will be plenty of time for public comment.” I am quite pleased that I called out Mr. Zine publicly on his comments to Karen Koe, and he has been forced to engage his constituency.
I find it interesting that in the article Zine remarks that the Costco may not even end up at the The Village site at Owensmouth & Victory. (As a side note, I wonder if Zine picked up a backwards pedaling bicycle at the new Performance Bicycles store?) However, since that is the only proposal anyone is putting forward, you can pretty much be assured that’s where it will be going. Zine is clearly working closely with Costco, as he has said repeatedly, and obviously also Westfield, since they have put forth a proposal for it.
So, Mr. Zine, where is the alternate proposal that doesn’t involve The Village? Unfortunately, for everyone, this proposal is going to be put forward as, “If you want a Costco, if you want these jobs and development in Woodland Hills, it has to be at this site.” You can already tell where that’s going. Unless alternatives, and “plan Bs” are developed, this will come to a simple “yes” and “no” decision, which as Zine decrees, “the decision comes out of my office.” We already know what that decision will be if it comes down to Costco at The Village or no Costco at all.
This article is also quite interesting that it reveals that Costco plans to abandon it’s Canoga Park Costco location that has been a cancer on that community for a number of years. No matter how much you love Costco, you must admit that is true. They are not a very good corporate neigbhor for that community. I don’t personally think that would be the case for a higher end store in Woodland Hills, but no one should ignore the obvious fact that even the parking lot at the Canoga Park location is a sewer, last I looked.
Thanks to Tanya Peel for the heads up on the Valley Vantage article.
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Mayor Sam Picks Up On Dennis Zine Post
Mayor Sam’s Sister City writes on Friday’s Hotsheet:
Councilman Dennis Zine has earned the ire of some of his constituents who are opposed to the opening of a new Costco store in his District in Woodland Hills. At a community meeting, Zine said to a Neighborhood Council member speaking up against the big-box retailer ““Let me stop you right there. Costco is a done deal. There’s no way I am going to refuse a huge tax base like that for the city.”
For a lively conversation and interesting comments on both sides of the issue visit their site.
With regard to Zine’s comment to Karen Koe, this commenter make a point which closely resembles my own:
Words matter. They are the means we use to communicate. If Zine meant something else, he should have said something else. We have to assume he meant what he said and said what he meant.
Goals matter, too. If a politician’s state goal is to maximize tax revenues, he may create or destroy jobs. He may, for example, decide to raise taxes to raise revenues, and thereby drive employers out of town.
I think it’s fair and reasonable to expect elected officials to whom we pay six-figure salaries to listen to people’s concerns, and to explain the reasons for their decisions.
Zine could have said, for example, that, while he understoond and sympathized with the increased traffic the project would create, he believes that the jobs the project would create make it good for the city as a whole, especially in a recession.
That’s a far cry from “mo money, case closed.”
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Dennis Zine Writes In With Comments Regarding Costco
Dennis Zine writes in a comment to the “Done Deal” post:
Recent reports in the media have raised some issues over the proposed Westfield Village Project. Let me clarify a few things; while the prospect of a Costco coming to the Westfield development is pending, the deal has not been finalized. Westfield, the owner of the property has proposed several development concepts from residential to commercial for the parcel of land stretching from Victory Blvd. to the Promenade. Having said that, I have been working with Costco for a few years to determine a suitable location for a store to be established in the West San Fernando Valley to make it convenient for residents in the area to shop. Costco ultimately determines the demand for one of their stores at a particular location. It is also my understanding that the current Costco in my district is anticipated to close and that will leave the Southwest Valley without any Costco. This development is in the very early stages and all of the specifics including the architectural details, a traffic plan, and environmental impacts are to be determined. Nothing will be set in stone without an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in addition to a full review by the relevant City Departments, the City Planning Commission, the Planning & Land Use Management Committee, and the full City Council. When a draft EIR is released, a public comment period follows, and subsequently, every single concern is addressed. I am supportive of the concept of a Costco because of the job creation and much-needed tax dollars it will bring to the area, but there will be several opportunities for residents to voice their opinions on this matter so we can ensure a sound plan for the community. As the Councilman for the district, my obligation is to provide economic vitality, and in that endeavor, I will continue to promote opportunities for job creation and a robust economy for residents in my district.
Mr. Zine, so the question I pose to you, is what sites in Woodland Hills and the west SFV were considered and why were those rejected? What about sites just for the Costco that are not Westfield owned? How much empty office space is already in Warner Center? Does it need more? Why do we care if Westfield develops that site at all costs? Wasn’t Catalina Yacht’s property a consideration? Seems like a Costco would be better suited there? I’d like to see more real discussion involving the community on this. That’s my goal, I am not even anti-Costco, I just feel consideration needs to be made to the long term interest and not the rush to develop anything at all just so something is developed.
Note: It appears Zine’s comment is a cut-and-paste of a retort from his weekly newsletter.
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Dennis Zine, “Costco Is A Done Deal” – But Community Meeting Tonight Anyways
Just a remind that tonight is the community meeting with Westfield regarding the revised The Village Project. The gather will be from 5 to 8pm between the dining terrace and Nordstrom in the former Ruehl store at Topanga Plaza mall. Technically, the letter says you should RSVP via e-mail to TheVillage@Westfield.com.
At the July 14th Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council meeting, which I attended, the council’s chairperson Karen Koe recounted a disturbing encounter she had with LA City Councilman Dennis Zine. It was a meeting, I believe, of NC chairs of the various Neighborhood Council’s in his district. Zine had posed the question to them of what were the major concerns of constituents in their neighborhoods. Koe mentioned to Zine that there was some concern regarding Westfield’s revised The Village plan, ergo Costco.
Zine said to Koe, in her words not mine, “Let me stop you right there. Costco is a done deal. There’s no way I am going to refuse a huge tax base like that for the city.”
People in the room were visibly and audibly disturbed by that recount of Zine’s comment. For me, it’s not even about the Costco any more. Matters like this simply require community consensus and feedback. What Zine essentially said is that the community’s input here in unimportant. He has made the decision and deal for everyone. It is important that our elected representatives represent our interests, not their own.
That’s not good, folks. Several people, including one at the meeting, remarked that Zine is planning to run for City Controller, and he needs the developers on his side. But you know what, he needs the community, too.
It was also noted by others with knowledge of the plan at the meeting that Costco has said the deal would be dead without the gas station. This gas station will probably not be a slam dunk for them, as there is technically a creek in the corner of the property where it is to be placed. See the attached Daily News article for some detail about that.
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A Plan To Make You Puke: They Want To Put A Costco At Westfield’s “The Village”
In an article which to me feels like they are putting out feelers to see what the community reaction will be, the Daily News puts forth a piece which details pending negotiations between Costco and Westfield to bring a Costco to the southeast corner of Victory and Topanga.
I suggest all Woodland Hills residents read this article closely. The Village is supposed to be nice. I think Costco is great, but the reality is that Warner Center is not the place for the disgusting mess that Costco creates. One only need to look to the Costco in Canoga Park to see an example of the blight that Costco allows to run rampant.
Councilman Dennis Zine is quoted in the article:
Zine conceded there could be community opposition to building one of the popular stores at what is already a busy intersection.
I believe that is a red herring, in that yes the intersection is already absolutely a disgusting traffic nightmare for North/South traffic, but it’s far from the compelling reason to not allow the development of a Costco at the site. Westfield will no doubt already have to address traffic concerns with the city whatever they end up building there.
They also mention in the article that there are a few alternate locations in mind:
Potential sites also included the Catalina Yacht factory and the Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne property at the southeast and northwest corners of Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard, respectively.
It is my honest belief that a big box warehouse store at Topanga and Victory would be a major step backwards for our community. The Catalina factory property would be a better choice, in my opinion, in that it is adjacent to the relatively buried Home Depot.
I am actually a big fan of Westfield, but I was disgusted when I read this. See the Daily News article here.
I’d really like you to post your comments on this one. If I’m out of line in my objections, let me know.
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