Courtesy Mattix Development Partners This rendering depicts the proposed development on the northeast corner of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard. Mattix Development Partners hopes to break ground in early 2006.

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After announcing preliminary plans last week, a new developer from La Caņada Flintridge released renderings to the Outlook two days ago for the newest Sport Chalet area project.

Mattix Development Partners has been hired by La Caņada Properties to develop the nine-acre project, which stretches east-to-west from Angeles Crest Highway to Beulah Drive, and from Foothill Boulevard to the 210 Freeway.

La Caņada Properties, which is owned by Sport Chalet founder Norbert Olberz, hired Mattix from among four developers. "I anticipate that Mattix Development Partners will bring forth a project that is benefiting of the community and in keeping with the ideals presented within the Specific Plan," said Eric Olberz, the CFO of La Caņada Properties.

Darren Mattix, the company's namesake and a nine-year resident of La Caņada Flintridge, has previously developed several high-profile projects in Beverly Hills, including the Gucci building, Dior building and Stuart Weitzman building. He also was involved in constructing the Marc Jacobs complex on Melrose Avenue on the Hollywood/Los Angeles border.

The new project, currently using the working title of "La Caņada Flintridge Town Center," will be under the guidelines of the Downtown Village Specific Plan (DVSP). Mattix said his goal is "being ready to begin construction in the first quarter of 2006." Five new buildings will be contructed in the proposed development, three of which will be located on the northeast corner of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard (near the current site of the Sport Chalet ski rental shop). A fourth building will be constructed on the corner of Foothill and Marvin Street. The largest building, likely the home of the anchor tenant, will be located just west of Sport Chalet's corporate headquarters. The development also will feature more than 500 parking stalls, including rooftop parking on the anchor tenant's building, Mattix said.

There will also be a park - nearly an acre in size - located across the street from Sport Chalet headquarters. "I look forward to working with the city to realize the vision of the park as it was conceived in the DVSP," Mattix said.

Within the structures, Mattix envisions there being 9 to 13 tenants, although he stresses it is largely speculation at this juncture. "It depends on the type of user who is attracted to this project and the economics," Mattix said. "You can anticipate with the type of community that La Caņada is, that [the tenants] will match the demographics that are commensurate with our community.

"Sport Chalet is a natural choice as the anchor tenant for our project. I want to stress, however, that no formal proposal has been made to Sport Chalet or any other targeted tenants at this time."

Mattix said the plan has Taylor's Steak House remaining in its current location. "I think it's a treasure in this community and I hope Mr. Taylor will continue to remain within the La Caņada Properties site," said Mattix, who has also had conversations with many of the existing tenants on the property, including La Caņada Jewelers, Clocks & Curios and Pepe's Mexican Restaurant.

"I think this is very exciting for the city," Mayor Anthony Portantino told the Outlook. "This project has dominated the landscape for three decades, and over the last six years the City Council has been determined to create a fair process that included significant community input during the Downtown Village Specific Plan process.

"I like the fact that Mr. Mattix is a local developer and I am cautiously optimistic." There have been other project development attempts during the past three decades, virtually all of which have been met by delays and controversy. However, Portantino chose to look forward. "I prefer to focus on the positive outlook because of the unique community consensus derived from the unique Specific Plan process," said Portantino, who has been the city's mayor in 2001-02 and 2005-06. "Let's move forward and continue to foster a community-friendly process that's fair and balanced, and this time it will lead to a success."

Said Mattix: "The chief difference between myself and previous attempts at development is, first and foremost, I live in the community. Having participated and watched the crafting of the Downtown Village Specific Plan, I believe the community has collectively spoken of its hopes and desires for this key, gateway parcel of land. I am sensitive to that. I have every intention of bringing forward plans that will address those ideals.

"There are so many dimensions to past developments that aren't present today. I bring a different sensibility and sensitivity to the community's wishes as they've expressed themselves in the Downtown Village Specific Plan.

"I have an outstanding relationship with Eric (Olberz). He is a great guy to work with." Olberz, a 1980 graduate of La Caņada High School who worked for his father's Sport Chalet company for 16 years, said, "I moved to La Caņada in 2002. The history (of the project) is not significant. Going forward, I'm looking for a beautiful project that makes economic sense."