Sherman Oaks Galleria Revamp Takes a Step Forward

A Los Angeles City Council panel has approved plans for renovation of the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

By a unanimous vote, the City Council Planning and Land Use Committee on Tuesday gave a thumbs up to plans by Douglas, Emmett and Co. to add a theater with up to 4,000 seats and increase the office space at the mall to a total of about 600,000 square feet. Developers said that a single entertainment company may lease up to half the office space.

“It looks like a nice project,” said Councilman Hal Bernson, chairman of the committee, just before the vote. “It looks like a big improvement.”

Members of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners’ Assn. gave conditional approval to the project, although the association’s David Rankell said he is still concerned about whether there will be adequate parking and traffic improvements.

The expansion will also include restaurants and retail space. It includes design elements aimed at improving pedestrian access.

Dan Emmett, a principal with the development company, said the Galleria is still involved in a legal dispute with Robinsons-May, which will have to move to make way for the renovation. But he said construction could begin as early as next spring.