Judge Backs Airport’s Claim Over Lockheed’s

In a setback for Lockheed Martin Corp., a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Thursday reaffirmed the right of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority to take possession of about 130 acres of Lockheed property next to the airport in June.

The airport began condemnation proceedings against Lockheed last year to acquire the property for a new and expanded terminal.

Lockheed had asked the court for an extension, claiming that the airport shouldn’t be allowed to take possession of the land until September to give the company time to demolish all its buildings. But the motion was denied by Judge Abby Soven, said an aide to the judge.

Lockheed spokeswoman Gail Rymer said Thursday’s ruling means Lockheed won’t have time to finish clearing the site, a task the airport now may have to complete. “We will be giving our contractors stop-work orders,” she said.

The final price of the land is still being debated in court.

Lockheed--which was paid $36 million as part of the court ruling Thursday--maintains that the land is worth about $100 million, Rymer said. The company has argued that a better return on the land could be achieved if a portion were set aside for commercial development.

The authority argues that the whole property is needed for airport use.