Empire Center a hit with city

Paul Clinton

CIVIC CENTER -- More than two years after it first entered the City

Hall pipeline, the $200-million Burbank Empire Center cleared its biggest

hurdle with unanimous approval by the City Council.

After months of exhaustive environmental reviews and planning, the

mega project sailed past the council Sept. 5.

Despite some criticism that the development on former Lockheed Martin

Corp. property will compete with existing businesses and expose workers

and shoppers to ground-based toxins, only a handful of residents spoke

out against the project at the final hearing.

“I don’t think I have ever seen such a big project go through such a

big process and have so little (negative) response,” City Manager Bud

Ovrom said.

Burbank Empire Center is bounded by Buena Vista Street on the west,

Empire Avenue on the north, Victory Place on the east and the MetroLink

rail tracks on the south.

The council’s approval clears the way for construction to begin in

November. A grand opening for the center has been scheduled for October

2001.

Officials for Los Angeles-based Zelman Development Co. said the

project’s components -- two hotels, 900,000 square feet of retail stores

and 400,000 square feet of office space -- are falling into place.

“We think it’s going to be a great project for Burbank,” Zelman Vice

President Brett Foy said. “The tenants are extremely excited.”

Lockheed used the property, once known as Plant B-1, for 63 years to

manufacture military aircraft. Since its pullout in the early 1990s,

Lockheed has spent $265 million to clean up soil and ground water

contamination at its former Burbank properties.

Agreeing with environmental impact reports, state environmental

regulators declared the 107-acre property safe for development Aug. 4.

But former City Councilman Ted McConkey, who has been a vocal critic

of development on the former Lockheed properties, said questions of

safety persist. He pointed out that cancer-causing contaminants, namely

hexavalent chromium, leaked into the soil and ground water during the

decades Lockheed used the property. City officials ignored the pitfalls

in their zeal to increase revenue, he said.

“I don’t think any of it has been analyzed of adequately addressed,”

McConkey said. “It came to a predictable conclusion. We need that sales

tax.”

During public remarks preceding the approval, council members fended

off criticism that they weren’t looking out for the welfare of residents.

“Health is number one,” Mayor Bill Wiggins said. “I think we have put

it No. 1.”

PROPOSED TENANTS FOR BURBANK EMPIRE CENTER (with square footage):

Target: 149,957

Costco: 148,563

The Great Indoors: 141,577

Lowes: 135,197

Best Buy: 45,000

Sportmart: 43,000

Linens ‘n Things: 35,200

Marshalls: 30,000

Shoe Pavilion: 24,500

Staples: 23,942 square feet

Michaels: 23,680

David’s Bridal: 9,460

Hometown Buffet: 8,250

Kay-Bee Toys: - 8,000

Roadhouse Grill: 6,917

TGI Friday’s: 6,800

Aaron Brothers: 6,500

Mattress Discounters: 4,000

Krispy Kreme: 3,800

Panda Express: 3,500

Wendy’s: 3,500

Casual Male: 3,125

ClothesTime: 3,000

Payless Shoes: 2,800

Chipotle Mexican Grill: 2,500

Starbucks Coffee: 1,900