CRENSHAW : Mall Loses Parking Spots--Temporarily

Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza is temporarily losing half of its parking spaces, but for a good cause: the construction of the Magic Theatres multiplex, which is slated for completion in May.

“We’re right on schedule with this,” said plaza manager Joseph Rouzan III. “There will be some inconvenience, but it’s all going to be worth it.”

Work began last week on the theater’s two-tiered parking structure that will increase mall parking capacity from 2,400 to 3,560. The construction area begins in front of the main mall entrance near King Boulevard and stretches west to Marlton Avenue and south toward Santa Rosalia Drive.

Construction got under way last fall, but work was suspended and the lot repaved after Thanksgiving to accommodate Christmas shoppers. The move paid off; holiday season sales--at least 20% above last year--far exceeded expectations, Rouzan said.

He predicted that the addition of the theaters, a long-anticipated project of ex-Lakers star Earvin (Magic) Johnson and Sony Pictures, will generate enough foot traffic and attract enough top-name tenants to finally make the plaza profitable.