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.