Developer Outlines Planned Retail Project

The developer of the southeast corner of Topanga Canyon and Victory boulevards faced a friendlier group when they recently presented a plan for a 225,000-square-foot retail project on the site where previously it proposed a Home Depot.

The developer, Westfield Corp., told the Woodland Hills/West Hills Neighborhood Planning Advisory Council that possible tenants of the new retail space include a bookstore, a linens store and a toy store. Plans also call for a two-story, 900-space parking structure on the site.

Although the advisory council had a few concerns about the project, it was “received quite positively,” said Ken Bernstein, planning deputy for City Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the area.

The council reviews projects seeking approval through the Warner Center Specific Plan. It also reports to Chick’s office on whether the project would be welcome in the community and suggests changes.

Westfield met intense opposition when it went before the group last June with a plan to build a Home Depot store on the site. Rather than fight the community, the developer dropped its request in September, and the store was later approved to be built a few blocks east at the old Sam’s Club site.

Bernstein said advisory council members did question the viability of yet another retail center in an area already populated by so many other stores. The project is south of the existing Pacific Topanga Theaters and a block away from the 129-store Topanga Plaza.

Noted specifically was another retail center planned for Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard that will have many of the same retail chains looking to move in, putting them not only in competition for customers, but also for tenants.

Westfield representatives could not be reached for comment, but Bernstein said the company made it clear at the advisory council meeting that it thought the center could handle the competition.

“I expect the market does sort itself out,” Bernstein said.