One of the few landmark buildings in Calabasas is about to become history. The Calabasas Inn, which has hosted weddings and events in the city for more than 40 years, is set to be torn down early next year for construction of a high-end mixed-use development – the first in the wealthy bedroom community. The Village at Calabasas, a joint venture of Camarillo developer D2 Development Inc. and Aliso Viejo home builder New Home Co., will replace the inn, which opened in 1968 when the area was little more than farmland. The Village will feature 72 two- and three-bed room condos, eight smaller low-income apartments and about 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. “By spring or summer, we expect to start going vertical with our first 12 model homes,” said Rick Bianchi, vice president of New Home. The Calabasas Inn, at 23500 Park Sorrento, which did not include lodgings, closed in 2006 and was purchased by D2. It has since sporadically hosted community events. And though it is one of the older buildings in the community, it does not have official historic status. The developers first got approval for a zoning change from the Calabasas City Council for a 174,313 square-foot mixed use development in 2008, which would have featured 13,000 square feet of retail space. But the housing bust hit, putting the development on hold. Last month, the newest version of the project got approval from the Calabasas Planning Commission, paving the way to tear down the inn and begin construction. The proposal didn’t need City Council approval as the zoning change was still valid. The developers have not released total costs but Bianchi said demolition of the inn and land preparation alone will cost more than $20 million. Matthew May, a retail broker and president of May Realty Advisors in Los Angeles, said the area around the site, which is not far from the city’s retail center, is ideal for a mixed-use development. “It will lease either way because there’s a lot of money there,” he said. “But if they design it right, it will be a home run.” Out with the old The Calabasas Inn was opened in 1972 by Wally Hollenstein, a Valley resident who previously managed the Hungry Tiger seafood restaurant in Sherman Oaks. He and his family operated the Calabasas Inn as a restaurant until 1989, when the restaurant closed and the inn became a hall dedicated to hosting everything from bar-mitzvahs to weddings amid an exterior landscaped with streams and waterfalls. But as decades passed and the city blossomed into a wealthy community, with upscale retail such as the Commons at Calabasas, the event hall began to show its age. D2 purchased it in 2006 and formed its joint venture with New Home, intending to build a mixed-use development. D2 is a family-owned construction firm that has worked on several projects in Ventura County, including the Bella Rosa Estates in Camarillo and Courtyard at Camarillo Springs. Its partner, New Home, has built various housing developments across the state, including Lambert Ranch in Irvine and Trails in Folsom. It’s currently working on developments in Valencia and Thousand Oaks. Plans for the Calabasas property have changed over the years. After the developers put the initial mixed-use development on hold in 2008, they returned to the table with a totally different proposal. In August 2009, a proposal included 106 independent residential living units in a property restricted to senior citizens. It would have featured a salon and spa retreat, wellness center, library and Internet lounge. That application was deemed incomplete. Then in November 2010, the developers submitted a proposal for a 174,710 square-feet development that would have remained a senior residential facility, but included 131 senior condos with on-site amenities such as a pool and gym. Michael Klein, an associate planner for the city, said residents were heavily opposed to those proposals, as senior living facilities often bring heavy traffic and sirens. The project that was approved on July 25 calls for 220,468 square-feet of total development, with one- and two-bedroom condos, in addition to eight low-income apartments built above about 10,000 square feet of retail. The condos would be set back from the apartments and retail, with underground parking. “There were a few people concerned about traffic and construction impacts, but that’s it,” Klein said. “The space has been underutilized for years. Generally speaking, people just want to see something come in that they can utilize.” Arlene Bernholtz, a charter member of the Calabasas Historical Society, has lived in the city since before the Calabasas Inn was built. She said although her family has countless memories at the inn, it isn’t a truly historic site, such as the nearby Leonis Adobe home, which was built in 1844 and was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1962. “At first, I was devastated to hear that this old landmark will be torn down,” she said. “But I have to pull myself back and realize that it’s not a historic building. It’s a commercial building.” Scott Dinovitz, president of D2, which is responsible for the retail portion of the project, is glad to see the lengthy process come to a close. “It’s been a whirlwind experience, and one I hope I never repeat,” he said. “We’re working to get a high-end restaurant, a day-spa and other upscale tenants.” The project will feature Italian-style architecture, including a courtyard, oval-shaped swimming pool and spa with private cabanas and chaise lounges, outdoor fire place, clubhouse and entrance into each unit directly from the elevator. Wow factor “We are appealing and designing this to a home-buying clientele that is very discriminating and looking for a higher-end residence,” said Bianchi of New Home. “Clearly, these are going to be folks that are interested in having a serious ‘wow’ factor in where they live.” The condos will range from 2,038 to 2,549 square feet of living area with covered private decks and balconies. The units will be divided through seven buildings, each three stories high, with gated parking underneath. Bianchi would not disclose costs on the condos, but said that pricing would be dictated by the market. Demolition and construction should begin in the next year with Bianchi expecting the first tenants as soon as spring 2015. May, the broker, said having the condos set back from the retail part of the development is a smart design, which will pay off once the project is complete. “The storefront and retail should have its own identity apart from the residential,” he said. “That will get them better tenants and better rents.” Still, tearing down the Calabasas Inn is bittersweet for all parties involved. Dinovitz said he celebrated his bar-mitzvah and father’s 70th birthday at the inn. “We have a long history with that place,” he said. “But the way this project is being built, such as preserving some of the grassy areas behind the inn, will help preserve some of those memories.”
Calabasas Inn Checking Out
