Better late than never for T.O. shopping center's builder

A CHANGING LANDSCAPE-Now that the grading and bedrock removal is complete, construction begins in earnest for a new shopping center at Erbes Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. What should have been a standard one-year construction project turned into a long nightmare for the developer, residents and businesses near the site, and for the city of Thousand Oaks. There's even a related lawsuit involving the building of the upscale shopping center at 1810 Thousand Oaks Blvd., near Erbes Road.

"If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have done this project," said developer Roger Meyer of RDD Properties, based in Newbury Park. "But I would never leave the city with a big eyesore or an incomplete project."

Meyer is happier these days because the biggest challenge with the site has finally been overcome: the unexpected strength of the hard rocky hillside that required noisy blasting and hammering was finally completed last month.

After grading began, workers found that the hillside, made of blue rock, was so strong it resisted traditional grading techniques using bulldozers and backhoes. The hydraulic ram being used resulted in numerous complaints to city hall from local residents and businesses. The city ordered Meyer to halt work at the site several times in an effort to find less noisy ways to clear the rock.

The delays resulted in a project that will have taken 21/2 years to complete instead of one year.

"We broke ground in August 2004 and expected to finish by August of 2005," Meyer said.

After much research and trial and error, as well as 1,200 letters sent to concerned neighbors to keep them updated on the project's progress, a new, nonexplosive process was used to break down the rock. But it took longer and was more expensive than regular blasting would have been.

"The original blasting company didn't do the work properly. We could have blasted for a week or two and that would have saved us a year," Meyer said.

He's now in litigation with the company.

Problems didn't end with the grading. More hammering was required in order to connect the utility lines-sewer, water, phone, gas and the sprinkler system-to the property and to the buildings.

"Nobody realized, not even the city, that we'd have to do more hammering," Meyer said.

The structures are now beginning to take shape. The 2-acreplus site will include an 18,000square-foot retail center to be called Oak Terrace Plaza, with four to eight stores, and a large greenbelt dedicated to the city. Meyer is hoping the center will have a coffee establishment such

as a Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. He expects the project will be completed in time for a Feb. 1, 2007 grand opening.

"We're moving forward as quickly as we can so as not to be a nuisance to neighbors," Meyer said. "Hopefully, everyone will be happy with the project."