COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

A Battle Lost: In other Irvine Co. news . . .

The developer lost a battle in its war with Lion Country Safari Inc. two weeks ago when a judge moved the complicated dispute out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Lion Country had tried for more than a year to have its bankruptcy case dismissed.

It was yet another twist in the long and involved lawsuit that dates back to 1986, when Lion Country sued its landlord for allegedly interfering with proposed projects on the property it leases. Owned by United Leisure Corp. of Laguna Hills, Lion Country holds a 28-year lease on 300 valuable acres in Irvine that runs until 1997.

Meanwhile, the Irvine Co. says that Lion Country owes it $2.2 million in unpaid rent. Lion Country filed for Chapter 11 protection in 1990 but later decided that it would rather have its $50-million lawsuit resolved before a jury in Superior Court.

Lion Country operated a drive-through wild animal park on the land, which closed in 1984 because of poor attendance. In 1986, Lion Country sublet some of the property to Wild Rivers, a profitable water park. It also collects rent from Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre.

Over the years, Lion Country has sought to put horseback-riding trails, softball fields and other projects on the land but claims that the Irvine Co. has unfairly blocked those efforts.