San Fernando Valley : Homeowners Oppose Plan to Renovate Mall

Two influential homeowner groups oppose the Sherman Oaks Galleria’s $30-million plan to renovate.

The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. and the Homeowners of Encino objected to the plan at an Oct. 23 public hearing, saying that the proposed theater complex expansion and the 10 proposed liquor licenses could turn the mall into a CityWalk-type attraction.

“We agree that the mall is a white elephant that needs to be renovated, but we don’t want it made into a CityWalk,” said Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks group.

Gerald A. Silver, president of the Encino group, said, “Our No. 1 objection is that the project’s not being driven by retail--it’s being driven by the entertainment element.”

However, Close and Silver said they hope that talks among their organizations, the mall and Councilman Michael Feuer’s office will continue and that they will resolve their differences.