Westside Reader December 2015

December 2015 THE Reader • 7
Santa Clarita ranked
‘20th Best City to Live’
The city of Santa Clarita was named
America’s 20th best city to live in by
the recently released 24/7 Wall St.’s
“America’s 50 Best Cities to Live.”
Considering 550 cities that the U.S. Census
Bureau reported as having more than 65,000
residents in 2014, the 24/7 Wall St. report
placed Santa Clarita as the only California city
to rank in the top 20.
24/7 Wall St. ranked the cities according
to several variables, including crime rates,
employment growth, access to attractions,
educational attainment and housing affordability.
“This ranking is a reflection of what we are
committed to providing for our residents,”
said Mayor Marsha McLean. “We are continually
looking for new ways to counteract
crime trends, attract new businesses and
provide a wonderful quality of life for our
community.”
Santa Clarita is the third most populous
city in Los Angeles County and was recently
rated by SafeWise Report’s “50 Safest Cities
in California 2015” as one of the top 10 safest
cities in California, according to the FBI Crime
Report for cities with a population of more
than 10,000.
24/7 Wall St. notes that Santa Clarita’s job
market has grown faster (5.2% according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics) than the national
average (1.8%). In September 2015,
the jobless rate in Santa Clarita dropped to
5.6%.
The city also continues to attract top retailers,
another factor in the high ranking.
With its proximity to Six Flags Magic Mountain,
and frequently visited restaurants, bars,
libraries, theatres, recreational sports centers,
hotels and parks, Santa Clarita is the
ideal place for residents to enjoy high-end
shopping and leisure.
Santa Clarita is also a 2015 finalist for the
“Most Business Friendly City” award by the
Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation.
For more information on “America’s 50
Best Cities to Live” and the other ranking factors
involved, please visit 247wallst.com.
valenCia
Upscale hotel plans take shape for long-dormant site
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
Afamily-owned developer will soon
seek approval for an upscale, fivestory,
134-suite hotel at the long-vacant
site of the former Greens miniature golf
course, near the Westfield Valencia Town
Center.
The hotel envisioned by Oliver Hotel
Group LLC, near the corner of McBean Parkway
and Valencia Boulevard, would contain
all suites instead of individual rooms, plus a
restaurant aimed at serving the hotel patrons.
A second eatery, occupying 4,000 square
feet and part of the same development,
would stand separate from the hotel.
Following a meeting to seek public input,
the hotel group has provided documents for
an architectural review from the City of Santa
Clarita, said managing partner Hunter Oliver.
The group wants the hotel to blend into its
surroundings, and said it would look similar
to “the newer elements” of the mall.
“We’re very excited. It’s a great site,” Oliver
said.
Plans call for the Oliver group, a “find and
hold” real estate developer, to hand the project
over to an upscale, national-brand hotelier.
Oliver said a number of national hotel
brands have shown interest.
Several years ago the Sheraton hotel group
proposed a project for the same site, which
is now an area eyesore.
That project was approved by the Santa
Clarita Planning Commission, and then was
appealed to the City Council by neighbors
concerned with increased traffic and the
hotel’s proposed seven-story height.
The council urged the hoteliers to work
with the community to mollify those concerns.
Then the economy slumped, and the
hotel plans were dropped.
Oliver said his group’s plans call for fewer
hotel rooms, less meeting area inside the
A developer will soon seek approval for an upscale, five-story, 134-suite hotel at the long-vacant site of the former
Greens miniature golf course, near the Westfield Valencia Town Center.
hotel, and two fewer stories. He said the hotel
would not exceed 60 feet in height.
If all goes as planned, he said ground could
be broken for the hotel in about spring or
early summer 2016.
“We’d love to see that area move forward,
with a project that would benefit the community,”
said Jason Crawford, economic development
manager for the City of Santa
Clarita. R
C r i m e B l ot t e r
A robbery occurred near the 24200 block
of Valencia Boulevard. Three suspects entered
the location and selected numerous
items off the store shelves and tried to exit
the store without paying for the items.
They were confronted by staff at which time
the suspect pushed the victim and grabbed
the items and fled the location.
A grand theft occurred near the 27600
block of Harwick Place. The victim stated
she left her ring on the night stand for the
day. The victim stated the only person in
her home was the cleaning lady. No one
else was inside the victim’s home the day of
the thefts.
A burglary occurred near the 25600
block of Dorado Drive. While the victim was
out of town their neighbor was taking care
of their home. When he went to go check
on his neighbor’s home he noticed the front
door was open. He looked inside the house
and noticed the home had been ransacked.
The deputies cleared the location and noticed
the house had been ransacked. Due to
the residences being out of town at the time
of the burglary, they were unable to determine
what was stolen. This case is currently
under investigation.
A vehicle theft occurred near the 22800
block of Banyan Place. The victim had his
1991 Honda Accord stolen from the location
during the overnight hours.
A vehicle burglary occurred near the
23700 Sarda Road. The victim stated she
parked her vehicle at her location overnight
and locked her car. During the night hours
an unknown suspect gained access to her
vehicle and stole numerous personal items
from inside her car.
A vehicle burglary occurred near the
28400 block of Avenue Stanford. An unknown
male suspect tried to gain entry to
the victim’s vehicle at which time the victim
snuck up on the suspect and tried to apprehend
him. The suspect got scared and ran
off. The suspect was able to get away before
deputies arrived.
A petty theft occurred near the 28100
block of Smyth Drive. The victim stated an
unknown suspect stole his sons bicycle
from the first floor of the patio area. The
bike is a Mongoose mountain bike, unknown
color. R