STUDIO CITY : Wachs Asked to Settle Mall Dispute

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs has been asked to settle an ongoing dispute between the developer of a Studio City mini-mall and a local residents association.

Talks between the developer of Laurel Promenade mall and the Studio City Residents Assn. have reached an impasse over the issue of businesses in the mall being allowed to open before the developer completes promised street improvements at the intersection of Ventura and Laurel Canyon boulevards.

While Wachs planning deputy Tom Henry said ultimately the issue is for the Department of Building and Safety to decide, the councilman is seeking a solution that would ensure that the improvements are done in a timely manner and that would not force the mall out of business.

The mall has been the site of several protests by residents angry that a store was allowed to open before the developer installed additional turn lanes at the congested intersection to lessen the impact of traffic created by the mall. The city has since ruled that no more temporary permits would be issued to would-be occupants of the mall until the improvements have begun. Work is scheduled to begin Aug. 1.

But mall developer Ira Smedra, arguing that withholding the temporary certificates of occupancy is unfair and could result in a loss of several core tenants at the mall, has formally requested that the city reconsider its decision. Tony Lucente, president of the residents association, promised “a strong and visible response from the community” if businesses are allowed to open in the mall before progress is made on the improvements.

“It’s not in the best interests of the community to allow them to open before the work gets done,” Lucente said. “When that happens, time and again, the community gets left holding the bag.”

Lucente also offered a compromise proposal under which one restaurant in the mall would be allowed to open when work commences, half of the businesses would be allowed to open when 25% of the work is complete, and the remainder would be allowed to open when the work is done.

A spokesman for the developer called the proposal “unfair” and “inadequate.”

“We are pursuing the issuance of (the permits). We feel we have the right to these as other businesses on the boulevard continue to get them,” said Ira Handelman, speaking on Smedra’s behalf. ‘