SIMI VALLEY : Owners Offer to Sell Proposed Mall Site

The owners of two large parcels of land in Simi Valley that are slated for development into a regional mall have offered to sell the property to the city.

The landowners contacted the city by letter earlier this month about their proposal, city officials said.

The adjoining land being offered includes 45 acres owned by Rick Lagomarsino and 25 acres owned by Robert Eadington and Bub and Kathleen Orton.

Gary Seaton, an official with Mitchell Realtors who is representing the landowners, said his clients decided to make the offer after learning of a proposal by former City Councilman Bill Baker to sell an adjoining 33 acres of land.

The City Council recently appointed Mayor Greg Stratton and Councilman Michael Piper to meet with Baker to discuss a possible purchase.

Stratton said Friday that the council will direct its staff to put all three proposals on an agenda within 60 days. But he said it is not likely that the city would be interested in purchasing the three properties.

“The city is just reacting to a request,” he said. “I don’t think the council wants to go and buy all that land and sit on it. It’s not the right time to do that.” Stratton had said earlier that the city might be interested in Baker’s land if it could get a good deal on it.

But he said that because Melvin Simon & Associates, developer of the mall, has put its plans on hold, it now appears unlikely that the city will pursue buying any of the properties. “We’re going to treat them all the same,” Stratton said. “Unless somebody comes up with a darn good reason to do it, I think there are better places to park our money.”

Melvin Simon, which has not exercised its options to buy the mall property, has delayed development plans because of the recession and declining retail market.