Court Upholds Glendale Project

The proposed Caruso development, which would include retail space, restaurants, movie theatres and a two-acre park with a pedestrian promenade, was approved by the Glendale City Council last year. The project has long been opposed by General Growth, owner of the 1.5-million-sf Glendale Galleria, which is across the street from the site of the proposed Caruso development. Following the council's approval of the project in April, General Growth supported a referendum aimed at blocking the development. The referendum, consisting of three separate ballot measures, asked city residents to either confirm or reject the council's approval of the Caruso project. Caruso and General Growth each spent in the neighborhood of $1 million, and possibly more, in campaigns supporting their positions on the ballot measures. In balloting in September, Glendale citizens voted in favor of the Caruso project on all three of the ballot measures.

Caruso describes the project as similar to the Grove, Caruso Affiliated's lifestyle and entertainment center adjacent to the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. Officials at General Growth could not be reached for comment regarding the recent court decision.