AMC project moves forward

Ben Godar

A Los Angeles developer has been hired by AMC Entertainment Inc. to

oversee phase two of the proposed AMC Entertainment Village project,

and company officials say demolition of the existing AMC 14 Theaters

is expected to begin later this week.

Champion Development Group will oversee development of the

four-acre parcel of land where the AMC 14 stands. The first phase of

the project is anchored by a 16-screen theater complex that opened

June 20. That facility, at 125 E. Palm Ave., will also include 30,000

square feet of restaurant and retail space.

Champion expects to submit plans for development to city officials

this fall, a spokesman said. At that time, city officials will

determine if the proposal meets the broad requirements established

for the overall project, Redevelopment Projects Manager Jennifer Mack

said.

“Phase two was approved for additional restaurant, retail and a

public parking component,” Mack said. “Once we see what Champion

submits, we’ll see if that’s in compliance.”

Champion and AMC officials have discussed what the second phase

will look like, but AMC spokesman Rick King said it was too early to

say what the project will include.

The company does plan to confirm within the next few weeks what

restaurants and retail stores will be located in the AMC 16 complex,

but King said Macaroni Grill, Wolfgang Puck Express and Cold Stone

Creamery are expected to become tenants.

As part of its agreement with the city, AMC is to begin abatement

and demolition of the AMC 14 within 30 days of the opening of the new

theater and complete the work within 90 days of the opening, Mack

said. Workers are presently removing all fixtures from the old

facility, and King said abatement and demolition are expected to

begin within a week.

For the past five weeks, the new theater has ranked among the top

five nationally in terms of total box office gross, King said. City

officials have said they expect the complex to become a destination

that draws people to a revitalized downtown Burbank, and Mack said it

appears to be moving in that direction.

“If the early figures are any indication, it’s doing phenomenally

well,” she said. “Once the other stores open, we believe it will

continue to do well.”