Westfield America may feel threatened by Caruso Affiliated's proposed outdoor mall and residential complex on the parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track.
In an open letter to Mayor Roger Chandler, Peter Lowy, CEO of Westfield America, writes in response to comments Chandler made about Westfield. At issue are ballot iniatives on free parking and billboards.
City council members refute charges that they met in private with a developer and property owner. Arcadia councilman Bob Harbicht said council did not meet in closed sessions, but met only with city staff to discuss land located in the parking lot of Santa Anita Park. The Council has never met privately with Caruso Affiliated or Magna Entertainment.
Councilman Roger Chandler has apologized for disparaging remarks he made about poor people. His comments were associated with a Habitat for Humanity project that was defeated in a council vote.
Residents voice concerns over the Santa Anita Park race track parking lot development of an outdoor mall to include retail, commercial and apartment space. Residents worry about how the quality of life in Arcadia will be affected. A draft of the environmental report should be ready by late June.
After a 13-hour meeting, Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to approve the outdoor mall to be built on the Santa Anita Park race track parking lot, a development known as The Shops at Santa Anita. Opponents may push a referendum and possibly file lawsuits to block the project.
Los Angeles makes a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The equestrian events would be held at Santa Anita Park race track, as they were in 1984.
Developer Rick Caruso, whose stalled $500 million, 820,000 square feet retail project "The Shops at Santa Anita," is planned for Santa Anita Park's south parking lot, said he has "no control" over possible bankruptcy at the race track's parent company, Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC). Caruso said he was still planning to go ahead with his mall and would "wait and see what happens and deal with it." Any reorganization at Magna Entertainment Corp. may delay the mall plans.
The City Council reviews changes that would allow Santa Anita Park race track to operate the Frontrunner Restaurant and big screen TV year around and to allow for satellite TV wagering until 1:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Mark Holland took the top prize in the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) "roadeo" (yes, roadeo) driving competition at the Santa Anita Park Park race track parking lot.
A full page advertisement authorized by Arcadia First! speaks out against Caruso Affiliated's plans to build a mall on the parking lot of Santa Anita Park race track.
Two incumbents, Sheng Chang and Mickey Segal, are seeking additional terms on the City Council. Businessman Sho Tay and former two-time Councilman Roger Chandler are hoping to unseat them.
Since Magna Entertainment Corp., the owner of Santa Anita Park, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The race track will be auctioned off in September. That land is zoned for horse racing. Jason Kruckeberg, Arcadia's Development Services Director, said it will remain as a race track.
Arcadia mayor Roger Chandler outlined six major areas of progress in the last year in his State of the City address. Overall, he said, "The state of Arcadia is great!"
The Thoroughbred Racing Association of California is trying to put together a bid for Santa Anita Park, with plans to run it as a nonprofit arm of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Santa Anita Park race track was to be auctioned this week but no acceptable opening bid was made.