Plan to Expand, Enclose Sherman Oaks Mall Gets Planning Commission OK

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission on Thursday approved a plan to expand and enclose the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, the last large open-air mall in the San Fernando Valley.

Despite strong opposition from neighbors, who say they fear increased traffic, noise and crime, the commission unanimously endorsed the zone change required for the $15-million expansion and sent the issue to the City Council.

The council has the power to accept, reject or alter the conditions attached to the commission ruling.

However, Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, whose district includes the mall, has thrown his support to the project after getting the commission to add conditions he says will ensure adequate parking and isolate the mall from the surrounding neighborhood.

Residents’ Concerns

He said the conditions “should alleviate many of the concerns expressed by those living near the mall.”

But Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., said his group would continue to oppose expansion of the Riverside Drive center when the case gets to the council.

“It’s the wrong place to add 170,000 square feet,” he said. “This structure will dominate the neighborhood instead of blending with it.”

He also said opponents will continue to fight enclosing the mall, saying it “would mean the loss of a valuable open-air shopping area.”

About 80 Sherman Oaks residents protested the expansion at a public hearing in October.

Close said members plan to turn out in force once again when the issue is before the council.

The mall, currently 682,000 square feet of leasable space, would be expanded by 25% under the proposal.

Broadway and I. Magnin department stores at the mall’s west end and Bullock’s at the east end would remain unchanged.

More Small Shops

However, a second story containing small shops would be added between the department stores, and the mall would be covered, said W. David Sauers, executive vice president of City Freeholds (U.S.A.), which bought the facility last December.

Under a condition added by the commission at the behest of Yaroslavsky, the mall’s owners would be required to study the adequacy of parking at the mall for three years after the expansion is completed.

If parking is inadequate, the commission would have the right to order the additional parking constructed.

A $2-million performance bond would be posted to ensure construction.

Also, in order to insulate the mall from nearby residential neighborhoods, Yaroslavsky got the commission to ban pedestrian access from Riverside Drive. Also, all the mall’s restaurants would have to close at 10 p.m.

Yaroslavsky said that he will withhold the proposal from council consideration until the mall owners submit final architectural plans “so we know exactly what it is we are approving.”

In response to neighbors’ complaints about the expanded mall’s size, the councilman said he “cannot see how a two-story building can dominate a neighborhood.”

Sauers said the mall owners have agreed to the conditions suggested by Yaroslavsky “although they will be difficult.”

He said that experience indicates that enclosing a mall can boost sales by as much as 50%.