Arcadia's officials, harboring "serious concerns" about a massive expansion plan for the Santa Anita Park property, want to meet with owner Frank Stronach. An artist's rendering of the proposal is included.
An outdoor courtyard, a 1220 space parking structure, and numerous shops would be added to Westfield Shoppingtown - Santa Anita under an expansion plan under review by the City Council.
In a strongly worded letter to Canadian mogul Frank Stronach, Arcadia city officials urged Santa Anita Park's owner to work with developer Rick Caruso and finish the proposed upscale Shops at Santa Anita mall project that has been in the works for the last five years. Stronach's MI Developments (MID) voided its contract with Caruso following bankruptcy restructuring at Santa Anita Park. In a further flexing of city muscle, the letter stated that it "looks forward to working with the race track in future projects that require City approval."
Santa Anita Park will reduce its work force by merging departments. More than 100 full-time and seasonal positions will be affected--including some layoffs and some full-time positions becoming part-time positions, said Greg Avioli, CEO and President of Stronach Entertainment, the track's parent company. The shift to off-track betting and account wagering has brought less revenue to the race track.
Some residents north of Santa Anita Park are organizing to protest plans to build an enclosed 16,000 capacity concert arena in an unused portion of the race track parking lot.
Santa Anita Park plans to make at least half of approximately 600 equipment rooms and dormitory rooms available as living quarters for its back-stretch workers.
A Los Angeles preservation group that protested Arcadia's approval of construction at Santa Anita Park has demanded the city halt the project until a full environmental review is done.
Trouble at Santa Anita Park. According to figures taken from Equibase, Santa Anita Park's total handle was down $77.1 million, or 17.7% from a year ago. If the current trend continues, the track's all-sources handle could show a decline of more than $100 million for the 2010-2011 meet. George Haines, the president of Santa Anita Park, has other troubles, including some wet weather, a players' boycott, and the inconsistencies of a new dirt racing surface.
Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to give the final approval on Rick Caruso's The Shops at Santa Anita mall. The City Council also approved an expansion project for the Westfield mall with one condition.
The California Horse Racing Board has approved Santa Anita Park's plan to resurface its main track with dirt. The Pro-Ride synthetic surface will be replaced by the first week of December.
Ed Inouye of West Covina, whose family was sent to the internment camp at Santa Anita Park during World War II, died on February 19th. He was instrumental in getting the government to pay reparations to some of the imprisoned families.