Major Construction Projects Keeping Valley Builders Busy
The San Fernando Valley added a television studio, construction began on a courthouse, and the flow of office and industrial space continued in the fourth quarter of 2000, as the Valley’s commercial building boom stayed steady.
“For us, the work has been pretty consistent,” said Robert Larson, vice president at the Thousand Oaks office of Whittier-based Oltmans Construction Co.
Oltmans has had about four major commercial projects and at least half a dozen smaller jobs going at any given time in the Valley over the last three years, Larson said.
Major projects are those costing $5 million and above and involving all new construction from the ground up, he explained, while smaller jobs--which usually involve remodeling or renovating commercial buildings--can range from $50,000 to several million dollars.
Despite the slowing economy, it appears that construction will continue its steady pace in the Valley, Larson said.
“We have two build-to-suit projects on the books during the first quarter at Cascades business park and a build-to-suit for an owner-user in Sun Valley, so it looks like it will hold for at least the first part of the year,” Larson said.
Oltmans has maintained a stable Valley work force of about 40 of its own employees and about 100 subcontractor workers over the three years, he noted.
Builders are keeping busy with a variety of projects, from office and industrial buildings to shopping centers, courthouses and other government buildings.
Projects completed during the fourth quarter included KABC-TV’s studio in Burbank and the first of two 178,000-square-foot office buildings at LNR Warner Center in Woodland Hills and a Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services building in Glendale.
Notable construction starts included a Los Angeles County courthouse in Lancaster and the first phase of a 395,000-square-foot office complex by M. David Paul in Burbank.
The Valley’s biggest pending project, Walt Disney Co.’s $2-billion Grand Central Creative Campus in Glendale, won approval from the Glendale City Council.
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Following is a list of significant commercial projects that were started, completed, announced or moved toward governmental approval during the quarter:
Project: ABC building
Location: Buena Vista Avenue at 134 Freeway
Size: 390,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: Walt Disney Co.
Cost: Not available
Status: Completed.
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Project: Grand Central Creative Campus
Location: Grand Central Business Center, Glendale
Size: 3.6 million square feet on 125 acres
Type of building: offices and sound stages
Developer: Walt Disney Co.
Cost: $2 billion
Status: Glendale City Council approved development agreement and environmental impact report in November.
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Project: Burbank Empire Center
Location: Empire Avenue and the Golden State Freeway, Burbank
Size: 103 acres
Type of building: retail, office and hotel
Developer: Zelman Development Co. (retail); Menlo Equities (office); two hotel developers to be named
Cost: $300 million
Status: Groundbreaking announced for first quarter of 2001.
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Project: Antelope Valley Courthouse
Location: Avenue M and 4th Street W, Lancaster
Size: 382,000 square feet
Type of building: courts and offices
Developer: M.B.K. Real Estate Ltd.
Cost: $83 million
Status: Construction began in November.
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Project: The Pinnacle, Phase I
Location: 3400 Olive Ave., Burbank
Size: 395,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: M. David Paul Development
Cost: $80 million
Status: Construction begun.
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Project: LNR Warner Center
Location: Canoga Avenue and Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills
Size: Two buildings of 178,000 square feet each in Phase I
Type of building: office
Developer: Lennar Partners
Cost: $70 million for first phase
Status: Construction completed on first building.
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Project: Kilroy Calabasas Park Centre
Location: 23975 Park Sorrento, Calabasas
Size: Two buildings, 99,000 square feet and 11,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: Kilroy Realty Co.
Cost: $20 million for both phases
Status: Construction begun on both buildings.
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Project: Media Studios North, Phase III
Location: 2233 N. Ontario Ave., Burbank
Size: 96,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: M. David Paul Development
Cost: $20 million
Status: Completed during the fourth quarter.
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Project: Hewson Commerce Center
Location: 29120, 29125 and 29132 Avenue Paine, Valencia
Size: 325,000 square feet in three buildings
Type of building: industrial
Developer: Hewson Co.
Cost: $20 million
Status: Construction began in November.
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Project: Plaza del Valle
Location: Chase Street and Van Nuys Boulevard, Panorama City
Size: 220,000 square feet of renovations and new construction
Type of building: retail
Developer: Agora Realty
Cost: $20 million
Status: Construction begun on second phase of renovations.
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Project: Vista Business Park
Location: Valencia
Size: 206,000 square feet
Type of building: industrial
Developer: Investment Development Services
Cost: $13 million
Status: Construction begun.
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Project: Glendale Family Services Center
Location: 4680 San Fernando Road, Glendale
Size: 80,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: Chase Glendale Services LLC
Cost: $12.6 million
Status: Completed and occupied by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services.
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Project: Howard Burbank Industrial Park
Location: Ontario Avenue and San Fernando Road, Burbank
Size: 220,000 square feet
Type of building: industrial
Developer: Brad Howard/Howard LLC
Cost: $10 million
Status: Construction began in December.
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Project: Cascades Business Park
Location: Golden State Freeway and 210 Freeway, Sylmar
Size: 367,000 square feet in three buildings
Type of building: industrial
Developer: Hewson Co.
Cost: $7.6 million
Status: Construction begun.
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Project: Valencia Commerce Center
Location: 29011 Commerce Center Drive, Valencia
Size: 140,000 square feet
Type of building: industrial
Developer: Sares-Regis Group
Cost: $4.5 million
Status: Completed.
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Project: ABC7 Broadcast Center
Location: 500 Circle 7 Drive, Glendale
Size: 142,000 square feet, seven acres
Type of building: television studios and offices
Developer: Walt Disney Co.
Cost: Not available
Status: Completed and occupied in December.
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Project: Porter Ranch
Location: west end of Valley, north of 118 Freeway
Size: 3 million square feet
Type of building: retail
Developer: Porter Ranch Development Co.
Cost: Not available
Status: Developer obtained Los Angeles City Council approval to reduce retail square footage to 3 million from 6 million.
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Project: Ridgeview Properties at Valencia Commerce Center
Location: 29003 N. Ave. Sherman, 28328 W. Witherspoon Parkway, 28350 W. Witherspoon Parkway
Size: Three buildings totaling 136,564 square feet
Type of building: industrial
Developer: IIC Financial & Development Inc.
Cost: $8.5 million
Status: Completed.
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Project: Highridge II Center, Phase II
Location: Smyth Drive near Copper Hill Drive, Valencia
Size: Four buildings totaling 30,000 square feet
Type of building: office
Developer: IIC Financial & Development Inc.
Cost: $4 million
Status: Construction begun.
