Byline: Dennis Love Daily News Staff Writer
In a scenario that mirrors the seismic economic forces at work in Southern California, a proposal has been floated to convert a 16-acre portion of aerospace contractor Rocketdyne's Canoga Park plant to build a 9,000-seat sports and entertainment complex.
The proposed $60 million project will be unveiled tonight at 7 before the Woodland Hills/West Hills Neighborhood Planning Advisory Council in a public hearing at the Fallbrook Mall, the first step in an approval process that would end with the Los Angeles City Council.
The ambitious plan by self-described entertainment executive Mark Steele of Tarzana includes a bus and rail ``transit center,'' a feature designed to alleviate any community concerns about increased traffic resulting from the project.
The arena would feature attractions such as a minor-league hockey team, professional men and women's volleyball teams, a minor-league indoor soccer team, concerts and ``family-oriented'' events such as circuses, ice shows and team tennis.
The complex also would include a general-use recreation center for volleyball, two major theme-oriented restaurants and approximately 20,000 square feet for sports-oriented retail space.
``We think this is the type of development that the (San Fernando) Valley has been crying out for,'' said Steele, 32. ``The demographics and other factors are perfect. . . . We want to create an atmosphere that simply doesn't exist right now in the Valley.''
The proposal also is a microcosmic reflection of a Los Angeles economy that has seen a decline in defense industry jobs and the increasing dominance of entertainment- and tourism-related employment.
``I think it (the sports arena) sounds like a great idea,'' said Bill Huber, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Association. ``Anything that brings jobs to the Valley, especially something like this, would be welcome.''
Rocketdyne - a division of Rockwell International - builds replacement space shuttle engines, the electrical power system for a space station and engines for the Atlas and Delta commercial rockets. The contractor also will build engines for the experimental X-33 spacecraft project announced recently.
About 3,000 people work on Rocketdyne's Canoga Park campus. Rocketdyne hit a peak of 9,300 jobs in 1989 but now has a work force of about 5,200 at three facilities, two in Canoga Park and one in the hills northwest of Chatsworth.
The property coveted by Steele is a parcel of land at the northeast corner of the intersection of Canoga Avenue and Victory Boulevard, now the site of two Rocketdyne production buildings and a large parking lot.
Steele said he has been in negotiations with Rocketdyne officials for about three weeks, since it was suggested by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick's office that he pursue the site. He said he hoped to submit a final bid for the property as early as next week.
Rocketdyne spokesman Paul Sewell was less forthcoming, saying only that Steele had ``approached'' Rocketdyne about the property, ``but he hasn't quantified anything yet . . . it's wait-and-see.''
One source close to the negotiations said the price tag for the property is in the $20 million range.
Steele's track record is spotty. He was one of four finalists for a proposed redevelopment of Cal State Northridge's Devonshire Downs, but the contract was awarded to another bidder.
He said he currently is involved in a number of entertainment-related projects, including Triumph Music, a group of small record labels for which he is seeking a distribution deal.
Steele said his financing will come from Mariani Financial Co., a Los Altos-based investment company. David Mariani, general partner, said Tuesday that his firm has talked with Steele and is researching the project. ``We haven't made a commitment yet,'' Mariani said.
CAPTION(S):
Photo, map
PHOTO Mark Steele hopes to develop a Valley sports com plex.
Myung J. Chun/Daily News
Map: Proposed site
