New complex to start leasing in November

But approvals
for retail,
hotel space are
incomplete
By Stephanie Bertholdo
Acorn Staff Writer

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn The Oak Creek Apartments

The $80 million Oak Creek development on Canwood Street, north of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, is taking shape. It’s scheduled for first-phase completion by November when leases will open for the 336 residential units, east of Kanan Road. Residents can expect occupancy after the first of the year.

The mixed-use project on the 40-acre site is being built by J.H. Snyder Company of Los Angeles. In addition to the 24 14-unit apartment buildings, built in craftsman-style architecture marked by wood trellises and balconies, the development will eventually include a nine-acre commercial site.

John Gebhardt, senior vice president of the Snyder Company, said that his firm is now negotiating for a 124-suite hotel on three acres, four upscale restaurants and a small retail center with a coffee shop and other "quick, casual concepts." Gebhardt said the proposed hotel, which is part of the Hilton chain, will "cater to the business traveler during the week and family travelers on the weekends." Further design plans are underway for a swimming pool and sports court.

The apartment buildings, which are located toward the back of the site by Medea Creek, will feature 144 one-bedroom units, with the remaining 192 to include two bedrooms. Each apartment will have a private outdoor entrance and share underground parking. Rents will range from $1,500 to $2,400 per month.

Plans for the site have morphed over the years. Most recently, a 35,000 sq-ft. office building was being considered, but it was scrapped in favor of apartments, a hotel, restaurants and small retail space.

According to Doug Hooper, principal planner for the city of Agoura Hills, the "retail component of the project has not been determined," and design plans and specific uses must be reviewed. So far, Snyder has only received approval for the apartments.

The development will be surrounded by 11 acres of open space, while 2.6 acres have been donated to the city for the Kanan interchange improvement. That project will begin in 2004 and take a year to complete. A new and improved Canwood Street that swings to the north to Kanan across from the homes in the Hillrise development will be created first.

While eight of the 70 oak trees were initially expected to be removed, Michael Busa, senior project manager of Oak Creek Development, said that so far only four have been removed due to the widening of the street, and one of them was already dead.

After 10 years of failed attempts to develop the site with various proposals ranging from a go-cart track, a factory outlet and big box stores, to an outdoor mall called Riverwalk that would have flattened two rolling hills, the Oak Creek project seemed to meet the practical and aesthetic needs of the community.