SHERMAN OAKS : Opposition Against Mall Plan Grows

Opposition is heating up against a proposed major expansion of the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square mall.

A group of 700 residents who live near the shopping mall has distributed 700 flyers decrying the project.

Tybe Drum, president of the Sherman Oaks Property Owners Assn., said that in the next week her group will be sending out another 300 flyers, which urge residents to oppose the project at a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 26.

Drum said her group fears the project would create problems of roadway congestion, traffic safety and air pollution.

“Our neighborhoods will be ruined over it,” she said.

Fashion Square is proposing a $20-million expansion that would increase the size of the mall by nearly 20%, to 975,000 square feet. The project would allow Fashion Square to increase the amount of space available for a third anchor store to 180,000 square feet. Mall representatives say that much space would enable them to attract an upscale department store, such as Nordstrom or Bloomingdale’s.

Mall officials say the community wants another department store to replace I. Magnin, which left late last year. They said 1,000 people have signed a petition in support of the store.