Plan to Build Theater Complex Clears Hurdle

Owners of the Village Center Westwood development have reached an agreement with Pacific Theatres to operate the project’s movie multiplex, officials said Wednesday.

Ira Smedra, managing partner for Village Center Westwood, and Neil Hartrecht, vice president of real estate for Pacific Theatres, said they were pleased to be moving forward. The project has been opposed by some Westwood residents for adding more movie seats to an already saturated area.

The proposed 219,000-square-foot development, bounded by Weyburn, Glendon and Tiverton avenues in Westwood, would include retail stores, 10 to 12 movie screens, a supermarket and drug store, and a library, Smedra said.

Smedra, who had negotiated with Mann Theatres and others since he purchased the five-acre site in October 1995, said Wednesday he will seek an amendment to the Westwood specific plan in order to build 3,400 movie seats as part of the project. The specific plan caps the number of movie seats in Westwood Village at 6,030.