41-Acre Site : Burbank OKs Developer’s Mall Proposal

The Burbank City Council on Tuesday voted to negotiate with Alexander Haagen Co. for development of a major shopping complex on 41 acres of downtown redevelopment property.

Council members voted unanimously for the Haagen plan, which calls for an enclosed two-level mall with offices, hotels and restaurants. The $160-million shopping center would be anchored by the Ikea furniture store, and by Buffums and Sears, Roebuck department stores.

City officials will negotiate with Haagen in the next two months to work out financial arrangements and to refine the development plan. A final plan will be voted on by the council once negotiations are completed.

The council voted to reject another proposal that included a $981-million retail, office and entertainment complex with a three-level mall and a dolphin arena.

City Manager Bud Ovrom said the Haagen project would give the city a solid retail base downtown.

The city has tried to develop the downtown property for almost 20 years. The site is at Magnolia and Burbank boulevards near the Golden State Freeway.

Walt Disney Co. last year abandoned a proposed $611-million retail-entertainment center on the site. Disney officials said their project would have been too expensive.

Haagen is a major developer of shopping malls in Southern California. The firm recently completed the $125-million Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza in southwest Los Angeles.