Meeting Points to Emerging Battle Over Laurel Plaza Mall Expansion

A lengthy battle is brewing between some North Hollywood residents and developers over plans to expand the Laurel Plaza shopping center.

That was the message, at least, from a lengthy public meeting that had been envisioned by the developer as a polite exchange of ideas and information. Instead, the session turned into a tiring, 2 1/2-hour marathon where many residents lashed out at the proposed mall expansion.

More than 400 people filled Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Thursday night to hear developers explain plans to tear down the church’s private elementary school to make way for a bigger mall.

Under the plan, Laurel Hall School would be moved across Radford Avenue into a block now occupied by single-family homes.

The mall is across the street from the church at the corner of Radford and Oxnard Street, near the Hollywood Freeway.

The public meeting was sponsored by the church and the two principal firms behind the plan, the May Co. and Forest City Enterprises, to gauge public opinion of the plan.

They heard plenty. Speaker after speaker said the mall would increase traffic, lower property values and generally ruin the neighborhood.

Many of the speakers were members of People to Preserve Carpenter Avenue, a newly organized group opposing the mall project. The group’s leader, Bob Carcia, said the group has collected 250 signatures on anti-mall petitions and will continue to collect more.

Only a few residents spoke in support of the mall Thursday. One was Martin Petersen, a longtime resident of nearby Ben Avenue, who said area residents voiced similar fears of traffic and noise when Laurel Plaza was built decades ago. “They turned out to be a good neighbor,” he said of May Co. “Just wait and see. Let’s give this a chance.”

The meeting did have moments of humor, however. Pastor Tony Auer, pleased to see a packed church, said: “If we promise to have controversy in our sermons, will you all come back?”

Mall opponents dominated the microphones at the meeting, but applause that greeted pro-mall and anti-mall statements suggested that public opinion was split. Many people at the meeting said they were members of the Emmanuel Lutheran congregation.

Joan Kradin, spokeswoman for Forest City, said Friday that the developer would review the residents’ criticisms and suggestions. Kradin said that the project is in its infancy and that many meetings and hearings will be held before construction can begin. The project’s architect said Thursday that Forest City, a shopping center development firm, hopes to open the mall in 1992.

Forest City Vice President Brian Jones said Thursday that Robinson’s has agreed to put a store in the expanded mall.