Pomona : New Firm to Try for Mall

Forest City Development Inc., a national builder of shopping centers, apartments and office towers, will take over efforts to create a regional mall at the northwest corner of the Pomona Freeway and the Corona Expressway.

The City Council this week gave the Cleveland-based company an exclusive 90-day right to recruit department stores, line up financing and create a development plan. The negotiation period could be extended an additional 90 days if the developer secures letters of interest from at least two major department stores.

The agreement comes after earlier efforts by May Centers Inc. to build a mall with 100 stores faltered when contaminated soil was found on the site. City officials and representatives of Forest City Development said the contamination involves only a small part of the 74-acre site and can be remedied.