(See pdf here.)
Another day, and bombs once again are clotting the skies over the supposedly at least temporarily doomed Culver City Ice Arena.
A 30-year refrigeration system veteran from Fullerton today issued a counter inspection report to Richie Takahashi, the putative next operator of the Culver City Ice Arena, that fires two dynamite assertions:
- City Hall’s ballyhooed arena assessment last Thursday, by Alliance Industrial Refrigeration Services, that essentially condemned the building because of an alleged ammonia hazard, does not meet the state fire code’s “standard of care,” and calls into question the entire review.
- The 52-year-old arena, due to be shut down by 5 p.m. Friday if remediation of the charged deficiencies is not addressed, is suitable for occupancy by skaters, and it has been all through the current sizzling controversy.
The latest report, based on an examination of the premises yesterday, was filed by James D. Wright of Wright Engineering Associates, harshly rejecting findings released last Thursday night by Alliance Services.
Mr. Wright said that the touted report was signed off on by a gentleman “who never has been to the Culver City Ice Arena to make personal observations, which calls into question the validity and authenticity” of his review.
This latest discovery comes amidst hints by city officials that AEG, owner of the Kings, is the next likely operator of the arena, before, during or after a proposed lease by the Takahashi family takes effect.
Landlord Michael Karagozian told the newspaper this afternoon, not for the first time, that either in the event of hell or high water, AEG will not sail in as the next tenant.
Among critical findings by Mr. Wright:
- The assessment “is flawed with overreach of its scope, inflated by inclusion of non-refrigeration and non-safety-related issues, outside the areas of expertise.
- The Arena’s operating ammonia refrigeration system equipment is contemporary, in current production, and shows no indications as “being at the end of its useful life.” No severe corrosion was observed.
- The system, as it is operating today, is not an occupant or public hazard.
