By appearances, the City Hall-sponsored preliminary inspection of a tentative proposal for economic expansion, was a success – without a final score – last evening in the crowded Rotunda Room of the Vets Auditorium.
The prospect of billboards in some form, from a traditional form to the sides of tall buildings visible from the 405 and 90 freeways, was an underlying, unofficial but persistent theme. Among all of the posters, not one showed a billboard. Signage on the sides of buildings, however, was illustrated.
Billed as an introductory opportunity for curious residents, the generally named program, “Visioning a Hospitality and Entertainment District” in southerly Culver City, expansion in a neighborhood bordered by three major hotels, drew about 100 people – for, against, undecided. They arrived by the appointed hour, 6 o’clock, and stayed nearly 90 minutes, evaluating and deciding.
A typical open house.
City Hall was well represented, and positioned to answer questions of the intrigued and opposed. In addition to three members of the City Council, Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells, Jeff Cooper and Andy Weissman, City Manager John Nachbar, Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld and project manager Todd Tipton were answer queries along with the city’s consultant, PlaceWorks.
No one from the high-profile Carlyle Group was present, perhaps in the name of viewer objectivity.
With no formal speaking program, residents stroked their chins, at least figuratively, as they studied posters of plans from various angles, chatting in relatively low tones with friends.
Participants had their choices of three different colors of stickers to post – whether they were supportive of a proposal, against it or uncertain.
Steve Rose, president/CEO of the quite involved Chamber of Commerce, was one of the most familiar faces in the milling crowd.
Did he see anything that changed his thinking – for or against the project?
“I have not made up my mind for or against the project – because there really has been no project proposed,” Mr. Rose said.
“It is evolving.
“The biggest controversy remains, How do you fund the public infrastructure?”
