PEOPLE WIN! Lincoln Center project not approved
By Jim
Smith
Two buildings, the size of giant
cruise ships, will probably not be permanently moored on Lincoln Blvd. after a
community uprising against them, April 22.
More than 200 people turned out to oppose
the mega-development proposed for "Lincoln Center," the area that Ralph's, Rite
Aid, Ross and the old Wherehouse building now
occupy.
Only one person in the large
room at the Boys and Girls Club spoke for the project. That was Grass Roots
Venice Neighborhood Council (GRVNC) Vice President Greg Fitchett. He also voted
against the motion not to approve the development. All other Land Use and
Planning Committee (LUPC) members voted for the motion that rejected the
project.
This was a huge victory for
Venice. In earlier meetings, it appeared that some of the LUPC members were
leaning toward approval. Letters, emails and the big turnout of Venetians
insured that the project would not be approved. Most of the credit should go to
the newly formed Venice Community Coalition, a group of Penmar-area neighbors,
who walked their streets and got commitments from people to come to the
meeting.
It became obvious as soon as the
meeting began that the project could only be approved over the objections of our
united community.
Suddenly, it seemed
that no one had ever actually been in favor of the development after all. His
aide denied that Los Angeles Mayor Hahn was supporting the project, saying a
letter from the Mayor backing the development had been issued without him having
seen it.
Kristen Montet, a staff member
in Cindy Miscikowski’s office told the Beachhead that the Councilmember
had not taken a position on the project prior to the April 22 LUPC meeting. In
the wake of the meeting, Montet said, “we oppose the project as proposed.
However, we do think an appropriately designed pedestrian friendly mixed use
project would be fitting for that
site.”
This is probably not the
end of the development scheme. It still has to be rejected by the GRVNC Board on
May 28, and by the L.A. Planning Dept. if the developers push it that far.
The developers had come to the LUPC to
get support for changes in zoning, transitional height limits (set backs) and
mini-mall regulations. The L.A. City Council planning committee (PLUM) is
already helping them get relief from mini-mall regulations. It approved a change
that would exempt “maxi-mall” projects like this one from the
40-foot height limit. The ordinance is now being reviewed by the City
Attorney.
Opponents of this and similar
projects need to begin thinking how they can create an atmosphere in Venice
where developers will have to begin catering to the desires of the community
instead of trying to run roughshod over
it.
Extending the coastal commission
boundaries to include all of Venice – as some legislatures originally
envisioned – might be another option to stop projects like this, once and
for all.
Posted: Thu - May 1, 2003 at 06:21 PM