Plan for Giant Simi Sports Complex Has Little Support

Norman Irving Hertz has a dream of building a sports complex just north of Simi Valley.

His vision is framed by two domed stadiums seating a total of 165,000 people. There would also be a monorail, horse track, grand prix auto racing course, hospital and 5,300-room hotel. Hertz thinks it would cost about $4.5 billion.

The dream, which Hertz calls Ventura Highlands, would be the biggest project ever built in Ventura County.

During the past year, Hertz’s dream has generated publicity in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, has turned up on the listings of a nationwide construction project bulletin and has attracted the attention of Ventura County and Simi Valley politicians.

Very Long Odds

Nevertheless, it appears to be a case of a dreamer running against very long odds.

In Simi Valley, where political support for such a project would be critical, some city officials believe the project is far too large and would bring major traffic problems. They also doubt the project will get off the ground.

Hertz, 56, whose Azarak Corp. is operated out of a Thousand Oaks print shop, has yet to attract financial commitments or purchase the 10,000-acre site he wants for the project. In addition, he is not an experienced developer of large projects. And, according to statements by investigators from the Ventura County district attorney’s office, he has made two disputed claims about his professional background.

Hertz traces his vision back to New Jersey, where in the mid-1970s he saw the building of the Meadowlands complex. The 580-acre park boasts a large stadium, now home to the New York Jets, Giants and New Jersey Generals football teams, and a horse-racing track.

Hertz said in a recent interview that he saw the need for a similar but larger centralized sports complex in Southern California.

Fans’ Support Expected

Hertz believes Ventura Highlands, which he said would be built over a 10-year period, would be supported by millions of people who soon will be living in growing Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties as well as fans in Los Angeles, who drive long distances to sporting events.

Hertz formed Azarak Corp. in September, 1982, with Jeff Hilgaertner, 45, owner of a Thousand Oaks printing firm, and Michael Lewey, 35.

As a selling tool, Hertz has vowed to use only American-made materials in the construction of the complex. He estimated that the American steel industry would have to rehire 50,000 workers over a six- or seven-year period to provide enough steel.

Last year, Hertz said, he signed contracts with four prominent construction firms, whose names are displayed on Azarak’s colorful brochure, to assist in the project: Blount Brothers Corp., McClelland Engineers, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and The Luckman Partnership.

So far, officials at the four firms said, no work has been done for Azarak. They said they are waiting for Hertz to put together the financing and receive initial governmental approval before commencing work.

Financing for Project

For nearly a year, Hertz or his associates have told reporters that the project’s financing, which they believe will come from foreign banks, is close to being completed. The same claim was repeated in a recent interview in which Lewey said, “It may be in the final stages for another six months.”

While Hertz will not release the names of the banks with which he is negotiating, he said he and his partners have spent $300,000 of their own money planning Ventura Highlands. He said no other investors have added cash to the venture.

Hertz wants to build the complex north of Simi Valley, between Tapo Canyon Road and Moorpark College, on 10,000 acres of land known as Big Sky Ranch.

However, Frank Thompson, president of W&B; Builders, which owns the land, said he has “never seen any evidence that Mr. Hertz has any money at all, even for a down payment. . . . We want him to stop talking about our property.”

Asked about his experience in the construction business, Hertz said he has built several homes, although he would not disclose specifics. He said that he has managed hardware shows in Las Vegas and has done some sales work. He said the four construction firms would provide the necessary expertise.

Informal Poll

Hertz said a marketing study was done to determine the feasibility of the project. He described it as informally polling an unspecified number of people at “fire stations, restaurants, church groups. . . . We just took out a brochure and showed” it to people in those locations. “Most of them want it built.”

Ventura County district attorney’s investigator Steve Hendrick said Hertz told him that he founded and sold Anthony Pools Co. and worked at a Las Vegas casino as a pit boss.

However, the president of Anthony Pools said that he had never heard of Norman Hertz and that the company was founded by two brothers named Anthony. A spokesman for the Las Vegas Club, where Hertz said he once worked, could find no record of his employment.

In addition, Lewey told The Times he once worked for Union Bank and Ibis Corp. Neither company could find any record of his employment.

Hertz and other Azarak officials declined to be interviewed a second time to respond to the apparent discrepancies.

Because of the size of the project, Ventura County district attorney’s investigators said that they have interviewed Hertz about his financing plans and that they will monitor his solicitation activities. They said, however, that there is no evidence of wrongdoing.

Annexation Required

Because of the size of the project and its proximity to Simi Valley, the land in question would have to be annexed to that city before development could proceed, according to Ventura County Supervisor Jim Dougherty, who represents Simi Valley.

That would mean Hertz would need approval of the Simi Valley City Council and the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission, which rules on boundary changes. The county’s general plan calls for the land to remain as open space, said Dennis Davis, manager of the county’s planning division.

Two Simi council members said they have serious doubts about Ventura Highlands.

“First of all, I think the proposal is so large in scope as to be almost unbelievable,” said Councilman Glen McAdoo, a former city planning commissioner. “I don’t expect the city to ever see this proposal.”

Mayor Elton Gallegly said, “I have enough confidence in the current and future councils to understand the sensitivity toward that type of development and the people in the community won’t tolerate it.”

Dougherty would not comment on the project, other than to say he wrote Hertz several months ago informing him that he would have to seek annexation and approval from the city.

Hertz and his colleagues are pushing forward, despite the odds.

“We can prove without a shadow of a doubt that this is a good project,” Lewey said. “You like sports. Your friends like sports. That’s Ventura Highlands.”