Community Rallies To Save Norris Theater From $1 Million Lawsuit

ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA — Parents and community members have expressed their confusion over a $1 million lawsuit initiated by the owners of the Promenade on the Peninsula to stop Norris Theater and Palos Verdes Performing Arts from using the parking structure adjacent to the buildings.

When the Promenade was developed in the 1980s, a contract between the developer and PVPA established a parking arrangement that allowed the theater to use a certain number of parking spots in the structure and a nearby parking lot. There has been no incident in the past 40 years regarding parking between PVPA and the different owners the mall has had over the years.

Jennifer Clinton, a parent and supporter of Norris Theater, said they have reached out to the city several times and were told it is a private matter, so the city cannot do much in the situation.

"They're letting the mall owner sue us for an absorbent amount of money, which would essentially bankrupt a nonprofit theater," Clinton said. "We're not equipped to pay a million dollars or anything of that sort to end the lawsuit."

Stolz Real Estate Partners, the current owners of the Promenade, claimed that the use of the parking for PVPA's Conservatory, which was created in 2006 and serves as an educational center for young kids in the South Bay, is considered trespassing and a breach of the contract.

Stolz listed the mall for sale in March of 2022, according to parent Gabriela Ryan who is a lawyer. The sale of the property is pending and the city of Rolling Hills Estates has marked the Promenade Mall Area and the parking garage as an asset for future housing development.

"The City has already been in talks with the property owners of The Promenade and The Brick walk sites, both of which are receptive to housing and mixed-use development within the properties," the city's Housing Element General Plan for 2021-2029 states. "Each identified opportunity area is under a common ownership, and therefore consolidated, making them realistic candidates for redevelopment."

Ryan believes the sudden lawsuit after 40 years without incident is due to Stolz's plans to sell the property and said the longstanding parking agreement may stand in the way of further developments.

Clinton said Norris Theater and the Conservatory are well-loved by the community, so the thought of losing them to this conflict is heartbreaking. As a teacher in Palos Verdes, Clinton remembers taking her students to go see productions there where they learned about the goings-on backstage of the shows.

Community members held a rally on Saturday to show their support for the theater, and Clinton said they plan to address the City Council on Tuesday.

"I've learned a lot about theater and theater kids, and to see this happening to this group of people, it's pretty heartbreaking," Clinton said. "We're not going away until there's some sort of resolution."