Media City Center

A 42-year-old woman was in serious condition Thursday after she rode down the handrail of a moving escalator, slipped and fell 20 feet onto a marble floor at the Media City Center shopping mall in Burbank. Nelly Carlson, of North Hollywood, was rushed to County-USC Medical Center on Wednesday suffering from a fractured pelvis, authorities said. Mall and police officials said it was unclear why Carlson sat precariously on the handrail shortly before the Media City Center closed at 9 p.m.

Trying to bring an ill-fated mall partnership to an end, Burbank City Manager Robert (Bud) Ovrom once recommended that the City Council accept a $2-million cash offer from developer Alexander Haagen and not push for any more. "There is so much . . . for us already on the table that we fear losing it by pushing Haagen beyond where he can be reasonably expected to go," Ovrom wrote in a confidential memo. But Mayor Bill Wiggins and Vice Mayor Dave Golonski rejected Ovrom's advice.

The $10-million buyout deal ending the Burbank Redevelopment Agency's interest in the troubled Media City Center shopping mall will be reduced by at least $698,000 that city officials promised to give an earlier, unsuccessful developer of the property. The Hahn Co. of San Diego will receive the money. Hahn tried unsuccessfully for 12 years to build a shopping center in Burbank before the Alexander Haagen Co. stepped in to develop the Media City Center.

Quite a few superlatives are being tossed about by Burbank city officials in describing the deal they recently announced with the developer of the Media City Center mall. Under the terms, which are supposed to become effective later this week, the developer has agreed to pay the city a total of $10 million in 1995 and 1996. "Great," some say. "A phenomenal success . . . an absolute coup," says City Manager Bud Ovrom.

Five years ago, Burbank leaders were thrilled with the great deal they had just closed that would finally bring a major shopping mall to the city. Within 25 years, nearly $229 million in sales, property and hotel taxes would be collected from operations of Media City Center and surrounding properties, officials projected. In addition, Burbank officials exulted, developer Alexander Haagen agreed to split 50-50 with the city the net operating profits from the mall.

Five years ago, Burbank leaders were thrilled with the great deal they had just closed that would finally bring a major shopping mall to the city. Within 25 years, nearly $229 million in sales, property and hotel taxes would be collected from operations of the Media City Center mall and surrounding properties, officials projected. In addition, Burbank officials exulted, developer Alexander Haagen agreed to split net operating profits from the mall with the city, 50-50.

The Burbank City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to end the city's involvement with the financially troubled Media City Center shopping mall, recovering for the city's treasury only $10 million of at least $69.2 million Burbank invested in the project. For shoppers at the mall, the deal is likely to make little difference.

Eight months after going public, the Alexander Haagen Co. says it has raised $374 million in much-needed capital from investors around the world. The firm developed the Burbank Media City Center shopping mall in partnership with the city of Burbank. Haagen used $133 million to repay debt on the center, which was completed in 1991, said an official with the Manhattan Beach-based company.

Daniel Millman, formerly in charge of the Eagle Rock Plaza and Eastland Mall in West Covina, was named general manager of the Media City Center in Burbank Monday. The shopping center has been without a full-time general manager for more than three months and is hoping to increase its name recognition with the public, mall officials said. Millman, 33, of North Hollywood has also worked in management at Topanga Plaza and West Covina Plaza.

The Media City Center mall in Burbank banned all indoor smoking this week, the last major shopping center in the San Fernando Valley to impose such a restriction. Lighting up has been prohibited at the Fallbrook Mall, Northridge Fashion Center, Sherman Oaks Galleria, the Promenade at Woodland Hills, Topanga Plaza and, more recently, at the Glendale Galleria and Sherman Oaks Fashion Square. The ban at the Burbank mall took effect Tuesday and restricts smoking to outdoor patio areas.