Caruso Affiliated is suing to block their adversary Westfield from expanding restaurant space.
Caruso’s lawsuit which was filed on Thursday last against both the city of Arcadia and Westfield, puts Westfield on the defensive by demanding another EIR for its massive conversion of retail space into a dining area at The Promenade at Westfield Santa Anita.
Westfield has sued to stop development of Caruso’s Shops at Santa Anita project, which has been delayed after a judge ruled last year that the project’s EIR was incomplete.
The lawsuit challenges the city’s finding that another environmental impact report was not needed for the additional conversion. Westfield hopes to use unoccupied space for restaurants.
Don Penman, Arcadia City Manager said “The City believes that the change of 13,000 square feet of retail to restaurant space at the mall is insignificant and does not require additional environmental review. While we are still fully committed to the Shops at Santa Anita Project at the Racetrack, we disagree with Caruso Affiliated on this issue.
However it does present somewhat of a peculiar situation with Westfield and now Caruso both suing each other and the City on environmental grounds.”