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.”