header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
May 18
1978 - Concert scene for "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" filmed at Magic Mountain [story]
KISS


| Tuesday, Nov 3, 2020
Placerita Entrance
City planners received a request to perform a preliminary review on plans for a 93-acre lot situated at the northeast intersection of 13th and Arch streets. Bobby Block | The Signal

 

Santa Clarita city planners recently received an application for a “one-stop review” for a movie studio complex in Placerita Canyon, city officials confirmed Monday.

A one-stop review is a preliminary process the city offers to anyone considering the proposal of a project in front of the Planning Commission, said Jason Crawford, economic development director for the city of Santa Clarita. The review is not considered a project application.

The proposal discusses an approximately 93-acre lot situated at the northeast corner of 13th and Arch streets in Newhall, which was described as “the primary entrance to Placerita Canyon,” according to city planner James Chow, who’s one of the people looking at the review.

The applicant or property developer is The Weber Group, according to city planners. The owner of the property is LA Railroad 93 LLC, which is a real estate investment company established by Ryan Millsap, CEO of Georgia-based Blackhall Studios. His Atlanta studio complex, launched in 2017, spans about 150 acres, according to the studios’ website, and a 2019 CNBC article referred to Blackhall Studios as the third largest in the state.

While the Santa Clarita lot is a somewhat smaller property, the one-stop review request includes more development than the Atlanta lot, with more than 1 million square feet of commercial space planned.

“The soundstages, in terms of square footage, is about 610,000 square feet,” according to Mike Marshall, associate planner for the city of Santa Clarita. The office buildings discussed would add about 200,000 square feet, and supporting warehouse buildings would include about a half-million square feet. A catering facility is mentioned at approximately 22,000 square feet.

The review request also includes a parking structure with six stories above ground and two subterranean levels, for 1,765 spaces.

The frontage for the proposed site includes the area previously used by the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival to shuttle people back and forth from their cars to the festival, back when the festival was held at nearby Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio.

“Blackhall Studios offers complete services for all types and sizes of productions — from small independent films to scripted television series to tent pole movies,” according to the studio’s website. An email to the company Monday night was not immediately returned.

While there have been plans for the site discussed in the past, it was purchased by Millsap within the last two months, according to city planners.

No formal application has been submitted, as the one-stop review is a preliminary move. The review process, which started about 10 days ago, generally takes about five weeks, which could change depending on the project.

“It’s our informal review process that allows someone to propose an idea, and we provide them feedback on that concept, before they fill out any sort of formal application,” Crawford said.

“It’s a pretty cool program for folks who just have an idea or a concept and can hear back from … all the different groups,” Crawford said, mentioning fire and building and safety, among other agencies. The idea is to give a property owner or developer information about any potential “red flags” in order to make designing a project in adherence to city and county regulations easier.

The Santa Clarita Valley in total has more than 30 sound stages and 10 movie ranches, according to the city’s Film Office figures from December.

Last year, the city estimated an economic impact of about $36 million to the local community.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

1 Comment

  1. Clay Rawlins says:

    The access to the proposed Shadowbox Studio should be through a Railroad underpass at 15th St. The topography of the land supports this and the president has been set with CPUC on this rail line in Canyon Country.
    A controlled access is what the studio would want and the property can be fenced off for security and the Placerita Cyn. access/traffic can remain as is using 13th St.

Leave a Comment


LATEST CITY HEADLINES
Friday, May 16, 2025
The city of Santa Clarita is rolling out the big screen once again for City Cinemas, presented by Henry Rodriguez State Farm, beginning Friday, June 27.
Friday, May 16, 2025
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 6 p.m., in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission will hold a public hearing on the Newhall Avenue Mixed Use Project, consisting of 106 multifamily units and 4,000 square feet of commercial floor area.
Friday, May 16, 2025
The city of Santa Clarita presents its newest art exhibition, “Beyond the Desk,” on view now through Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Step back in time and experience the magic of early Hollywood at the Newhallywood Silent Film Festival Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25, at the Newhall Family Theatre and The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The city of Santa Clarita has announced a significant milestone in the future of William S. Hart Park. The Los Angeles County Superior Court accepted the petition to transfer ownership of the historic park in probate court, clearing the way for the city to move forward with the ownership transition.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1978 - Concert scene for "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" filmed at Magic Mountain [story]
KISS
The annual Santa Clarita Valley Memorial Day Ceremony will be held Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, in Newhall.
May 26: Annual Memorial Day Tribute at Eternal Valley Memorial Park
California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans and active and reserve military members by offering free admission to 142 participating state park units on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.
State Parks Offer Free Admission on Memorial Day to Members of the Military
1993 - Dale Poe, 61, developer of Stevenson Ranch, killed in car crash [story]
Stevenson Ranch fountain
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, May 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
May 20: Saugus School Board Regular Meeting
The Los Angeles Dodgers Neighborhood Camps return to the Santa Clarita Valley Monday-Wednesday, July 14-16. These baseball and softball camps offer young athletes the opportunity to have fun, learn new skills and grow within the community.
July 14-16: Sign up Now for Dodgers Youth Baseball, Softball Camps
Get ready for an unforgettable night of cars, music, food and community spirit at WiSH Education Foundation’s Third Annual WiSH Upon A Car Showcase. This highly anticipated event will be held on Saturday, May 31 and needs volunteers for a variety of positions.
May 31: Wish Upon a Car Showcase Fundraiser Seeks Volunteers
Despite a devastating wildfire season that destroyed thousands of homes and scorched wide swaths of Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Malibu, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang released the May 15 Forecast for the 2025 Assessment Roll, projecting a 3.25% increase in taxable property values over 2024.
L.A. County Property Values Top $2 Trillion
On Wednesday, May 14, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a proposal to eliminate costly red tape and litigious delays for the Delta Conveyance Project while maintaining environmental protections. 
SCV Water Board | Support for Streamlined Delta Conveyance Project Approvals
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Assistant Sheriff Jason Skeen kicked off the 50th Annual Memorial Torch Relay Run on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. on the front steps of the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles.
LASD 50th Annual Memorial Torch Relay Run Honors Fallen Officers
The Castaic Union School District has announced the Castaic Middle School Spring Music Showcase will be held 5-7 p.m., Thursday, May 29 at Castaic Middle School.
May 29: Castaic Middle School Presents ‘Spring Music Showcase’
The city of Santa Clarita is rolling out the big screen once again for City Cinemas, presented by Henry Rodriguez State Farm, beginning Friday, June 27.
City Cinemas Returns in June with Blockbuster Lineup
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 6 p.m., in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission will hold a public hearing on the Newhall Avenue Mixed Use Project, consisting of 106 multifamily units and 4,000 square feet of commercial floor area.
May 20: Planning Commission Holds Hearing on Newhall Avenue Project
The Master's men's golf team member Jonathan Larson has been named one of five finalists for the 2025 NAIA Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award presented by Workday.
TMU’s Jonathan Larson is Finalist for Nicklaus Award
The city of Santa Clarita presents its newest art exhibition, “Beyond the Desk,” on view now through Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall.
‘Beyond the Desk’ Art Exhibit at City Hall First Floor Gallery
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce, has announced the 2025 Congressional Art Competition winners for the 27th California Congressional District.
West Ranch Student Captures First Place in District Congressional Art Competition
Mission Opera, the Santa Clarita Valley’s opera company, will close its seventh season with the timeless opera "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini.
June 13-15: Mission Opera Presents Puccini’s Iconic Tragedy ‘Tosca’
1938 - Brand-new Lockheed transport plane crashes in Agua Dulce; all 9 perish including 2 infants [story]
plane crash
The Los Angeles Dodgers trace their roots back to Brooklyn, New York, where they joined the National League in 1890.
Laurene Weste | Santa Clarita’s Decades-Long History with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Child & Family Center, in partnership with city of Santa Clarita’s Drug-Free Youth, invites local youth ages 11–17 to “Power Up” this summer with a free, high-energy event Friday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at MB2 Entertainment in Santa Clarita.
June 20: Child & Family Center ‘Power Up’ Youth Event
Step back in time and experience the magic of early Hollywood at the Newhallywood Silent Film Festival Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25, at the Newhall Family Theatre and The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
May 23-25: The Newhallywood Silent Film Festival
The Dumas-Stenson Thespians will present its production of "Connie" Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 15 at The MAIN.
June 12-15: ‘Connie’ at The MAIN
The community is invited to help local students in need as the 2025 Backpack Drive kicks off at the May Business After Hours Mixer, hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Backpack Drive for Students in Need Donations Accepted Through July 31
Pro Wrestling Odyssey and TMD Entertainment will host its Wrestle for Autism in the Santa Clarita Valley fundraising event, 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at Pico Canyon Elementary School.
June 7: Wrestle for Autism SCV at Pico Canyon Elementary
SCVNews.com