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The Ratkovich Company in the News RETAIL CENTER IN THE WORKS Developer expects approval of project in Alhambra Pasadena Star News – August 31, 2002 By Jamie McClintock, Correspondent Alhambra – A drugstore, family-style restaurant and a variety of other shops soon may replace what is now a parking lot in Alhambra if city officials OK plans for a retail center. A proposal for a $9.6 million, 4-acre center, dubbed the Alhambra Retail Center, will be pitched to the city’s redevelopment agency on Sept. 9, said Clive Hoffman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles based Ratkovich Co, which purchased the land at Mission and Fremont avenues in 1999. The Alhambra a 45-acre office building on the land also owned by Ratkovich sits adjacent to the proposed retail center. Hoffman said he expects the agency to approve the plans, citing that Ratkovich has been in contact with the city about the idea for a year or two. If approved, the center will be built in the northwest corner of the property in what is currently the 6.9 acre parking lot for The Alhambra said Michael Martin, director of development services for the city. The 2,500 to 3,000 employees at The Alhambra would be able to trek to the center via an existing Fremont Avenue bridge. “This Is a real boom to those folks,” he said. Hoffman would not reveal the name of the anchor drugstore, but referred to it as a “major drugstore chain.” He said several restaurant leases are in the works, but no deals have been signed. Other proposed tenants include a juice bar, coffee house and an ice cream store, Hoffman said. Leases may be announced in the next 30 to 60 days, according to a statement from Ratkovich. If the proposal passes, the company expects to break ground on the development early next year and have the center open by fall. Martin said that the proposal, which has been in the works since Ratkovich originally purchased the land, would benefit the city’s residents and daytime work population. “It will add to the shopping variety on the west side of town,” he said. “It will compliment their facility on the east side of the street, and also the residents on the west side of town.” And the expansion may not stop there. The nearly 3 acres of land not used in developing the retail center initially will continue to be used for parking but may be transformed into additional retail, restaurants or housing in the future, Hoffman said. ‹‹ back |