Developer Selected

The Woodland Hills-based Voit Cos. has been chosen to build the biggest phase of the Van Nuys Civic Center’s redevelopment, which calls for new office space, an outdoor plaza for art and community events, and eventually entertainment facilities and replacement of old offices.

A public-private panel chose Voit from four finalists to build a $35 million, 210,000 square-foot office/retail building, the plaza and a 300-space parking structure at the southeast corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sylvan Street.

City Councilman Marvin Braude said Voit was chosen for the quality of its economic proposal and because of its extensive experience as a commercial developer in the San Fernando Valley.

A formal contract with the City of Los Angeles, under which Voit would lease and manage the property for 30 years, is the next step in the project.

Construction would start shortly after city approval, with the office/retail building expected to be ready for occupancy by May 1, 2000.