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INDEPENDENT Wednesday, July 29, 1998 Three developers
jockeying for project By Jullian Bailey In a scenario that would
have been unpredictable 10 years ago, three entities are vying for the right
to develop a property in the heart of Hollywood. The project is the
Hollywood Parkade, a Community Redevelopment Agency‑conceived plan to
establish parking and other consumer elements on a block bounded by Hollywood
Boulevard on the north, Hawthorn Avenue on the south, Orange Avenue on the
East and Highland Avenue on the west. After sifting through the
responses to a statement of interest the CRA issued last year to tenants and
property owners within the project area, the agency has winnowed the field to
just three proposals, said Ann Marie Gallant, deputy administrator of
economic development for the CRA. Gallant confirmed that one of the proposals comes
from Yorkburry Development ILLC, which owns the building located at the
southwest comer of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The commercial
and residential real estate company has submitted plans to replace a souvenir
shop and other retail stores with a 21 –story Marriott hotel, shops and a
2,000‑space parking structure. |
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Yorkburry development LLC has proposed this 21‑story Marriott hotel for the comer of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. |
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TrizecHahn Corp. has also thrown its name into the CRA's hat confirmed Gallant. TrizecHahn has already staked its
claim cross the street with the Hollywood Highland project, a $350‑million
entertainment‑retaiI complex being built with the agency's support. This time
out, the real estate giant has teamed with Jeff Rouze, senior asset Manager
with CUNA Mutual Insurance Co., which owns El Captan, to establish either a
combination retail‑office development or a retail‑hotel development ‑ both
with parking on Hawthorn Avenue. Because of on going negotiations, Hawthorn could
not reveal the identity of the property owner who submitted the third
proposal. Gus Sader, managing partner of Hospitality Asset
Services, a San Diego based hotel management and consulting firm which is
acting as spokesman for Yorkburry and its principal Mazen Nazzal, said the
time is ripe develop in Hollywood. "Absolutely nothing was redeveloped or done
regarding hospitality in the corridor for many years," said Sader,
"and now because of the [TrizecHahn] project on the east side of our
site and because of our economy and because of no new hotels in that area… we
believe the time is right with this project." David Malmuth, vice president of development for
TrzecHahn agrees. "I think there's a big opportunity for hotel
development in Hollywood," he said. xxx So big, in fact, that there is room enough for
both the hotel he is proposing for the Hollywood Parkade and the 171‑room
expansion of the TrizecHahn owned Holiday Inn‑Hollywood across the street. Malmuth explains that the Holiday Inn is being
redeveloped as a four‑star hotel while the proposed Hollywood Parkade hotel
is envisioned as a three‑star facility. The retail component of the Parkade proposal also
has synergy with the Hollywood‑Highland project, explains Malmuth, a number
of "large entertainment‑oriented user” have indicated a desire to set up
shop at the Hollywood‑Highland but were passed over because of the space
configurations. These companies could be accommodated in the Hollywood
Parkade, he said. Sader is unconcerned about the competition.
"We presented our plans to the CRA [saying] this is our intention and
this is what we like to do," he said. Noting the CRA lost the
power of eminent domain earlier this year, he believes that in the long run
Yorkburry will be able to go ahead with the plans regardless of the agency's
position. ''They can be interested in anything but we own it clear and free,
it is ours," he said. What's more, Sader points out that Yorkburry is
seeking no city funds to build the $85‑million hotel/parking development. Gallant pointed out, however, that the Yorkburry
property is located in the redevelopment district, which gives the agency the
right to enforce "quality control" over what is built there by
administering another level of land‑use regulation in addition to the city's
standard process. Furthermore, she said that Yorkburry, which
purchased its property in 1985, has been aware of the CRA's plans for the
Hollywood Parkade since 1996. While the CRA's right to eminent domain expired in
May, and it has not yet reapplied for that right the city is not precluded
condemning a property to turn it over for public use, such as a parking lot. According to Gallant, the finalist will be chosen
in September, but that person is free to cobble together under components of
their plan and any other applicants or entities. "Once a finalist is selected for negotiations," she said, "it does not preclude that person from going back to the other property owners to say, "I want to do a deal with you." |
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