VENTURA : Developers Team Up on Cinema, Center

Two developers vying to build a movie theater in downtown Ventura have agreed to join forces, proposing a cinema and shopping center complex on the corner of Main and Palm streets, Ventura officials said Tuesday.

Victor K. Georgino, a Burbank-based consultant, wants to build the 70,000-square-foot theater facility and has told the city that he has a ready tenant in the AMC Theater chain, officials said. Meanwhile, Pasadena-based Weirick Properties has proposed constructing a 50,000-square-foot restaurant and commercial center next door, officials said.

Pat Richardson, the city planner overseeing the city’s redevelopment efforts, said he expects to see a detailed proposal on his desk late this afternoon.

In a separate proposal, the City Council spoke informally Monday about paying for a five-story parking garage behind the 12-screen theater to accommodate the expected increase in the number of visitors to downtown. The issue is expected to come back before the council later this year.

The theater, shopping center and parking lot development would replace almost everything now standing on that entire block, from Main Street to Palm Street to Santa Clara Street to Figueroa Street, with the exception of Smokey’s Restaurant and the old Peirano’s Market, Richardson said.

Most of the owners on that block have said they would be willing to sell, he said, and the city will help any displaced tenants relocate, as required by law.