Re “‘He Turned the Ice Rink into a Cesspool,’ Landlord Says”
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While no verbal bouquets of “Happy Anniversary” were being toasted around the community, this week does mark the first anniversary of what has turned out to be the final closing of the Culver City Ice Rink.
The most extended and dramatic denouement in recent Culver City history played out for weeks between and among a cast of colorful personalities, pro-rink and anti-rink.
City officials swore the half-century old rink was not safe and needed to be shut down after the contract of the latest lessee expired on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014.
In the hours, months and years prior to the Sunday night closure, which only was to last a few days – now at 369 – the suddenly life-threatening safety concept never was heard to have escaped from a public official’s lips.
There was concern the building might fall down or explode and harm nearby apartment dwellers.
Vaudeville had made a triumphant return to Culver City.
After hopes for a near-term restart were ambushed by hand-wringing concerns for the limbs and lives of neighborhood denizens, exhausted property owner Michael Karagozian said one word. “Enough.”
Once he talked of razing the rink and putting up condos. Other ideas were floated.
If we already are past “Groundhog Day,” the movie, who knows what shape the grounds will take.
From his law offices in Fresno, Mr. Karagozian told the newspaper yesterday afternoon that his attorneys have instructed him not to comment on his intentions.
Meanwhile, the rink that was heaven to Westside skaters for half a century, shlumps solemnly these days behind a well-covered fence that is not even hinting at airtight secrets.
