Thanksgiving Day, in a few hours, may feel like a mixed blessing for dozens of neighbors of a proposed Hayden Tract redevelopment project that is the latest budding battleground in what is beginning to resemble a permanent state of war between Culver City residents and builders.
The geography of the redevelopment shifts into new neighborhoods, but the human contours do not change.
The rhetorical template for these battles keeps getting used over and over.
Not a New Scenario
For the second time since his proposal became known, homegrown developer Greg Reitz invited neighbors to a community meeting last week at the site, 8665 Hayden Pl., a warehouse that is to be converted into four stories of business condominiums with three tiers of underground parking.
About 40 persons came to speak, a larger group than attended an earlier meeting. Sparks were rampant. Nearly everyone was reported to be in opposition.
Ground zero is the pocket-sized, already-squeezed intersection of Higuera and Lucerne, a gateway to the Hayden Tract.
One distinguishing factor in this segment of the Redevelopment Wars is that the Reitz project is billed as a green building. It remains to be seen whether that popular environmental concept will mollify or even cool down opponents.
At a gathering yesterday of three neighbors of 8665— all living within yards of the site — the first objection each one mentioned was the presumed doubling of the height of the present building, from 21 feet to 42, from two stories to four.
Within Reason
They seemed amenable enough to improving the old building. But they want the current height maintained for two reasons. More height means more offices, which means more people. Therefore, the residents say, they would be saddled with a further multiplication of already bunched-up truck and automobile traffic. The second reason would be in deference to the cherished view many treasure that ranges far beyond their neighborhood.
Dan Sukal, a retired deputy sheriff, Eriko Mori, a translator, and Mehaul O’Leary, business owner who is running for the City Council in the spring, are arrayed against Mr. Reitz’s nascent plans that have not yet been submitted to City Hall.
Two of them have a front row seat,
Mr. Sukal, who has called Higuera Street home for 30 years, and Ms. Mori “live practically across the street” from 8665.
Last week’s session with the developer and his team sounded onesided.
Of Majority and Volume
“Everybody at the meeting was pretty much against the project,” Mr. Sukal said. “They were concerned about the height, and the traffic, also.”
“I think the meeting was a reality check for the developer,” Ms. Mori said. “But we want him to work with us. And of course, we want to work with him. But height is a really a major issue for us.”
After Mr. Reitz presented a slide show of his intentions and listened to largely single-track comments from the crowd, Ms. Mori was not persuaded to amend her objections.
Refusing to Budge
“What bothered me,” she said, “was that the developer really was adamant about the height of the building. He was quite unwilling to give on it.”
From the opening, the mood of the audience was dark, according to Mr. O’Leary.
“Initially, the residents almost took control of the meeting,” he said.
“When the developer invited us, first, I don’t think he expected the number of people who came. From the beginning, it was obvious to me from comments that the meeting could get out of hand pretty fast.”
The protestors’ clamor became so noisy, said Mr. O’Leary, that the crowd had to be strongly shushed so Mr. Reitz could continue speaking.
On the Matter of Profit
“The developer made it clear he was not able to bend on the height,” said Mr. O’Leary disappointedly. “He and his team indicated if they could not get the height they wanted, they couldn’t make any money.
“So we announced we were going to fight the height.
“But, even if the developer wins that battle, we still want to be (good) neighbors. We want to be able to negotiate with him. We don’t want to build a wall between us.”
Changing Any Minds?
Did the residents’ unhappy mood influence Mr. Reitz?
At least one person thought so.
“I think now he will rethink his plans,” Mr. Sukal said, and he went on to talk about a house near the vortex of the project.
“The home of a lady who lives nearby will be affected more than most. The height of the new building at 8665 would put her home in the shadows all day. The developer told us the lady was in favor of the project. Well, she was at the meeting. She is elderly, and she didn’t really want to speak. But she did. She stood up and said no, she did not like the idea. That was a funny moment.”
Here Comes Traffic
Residents claimed that if the building is approved by City Hall, the number of vehicles traveling the narrow streets of the Hayden Tract on a daily basis will become even more of a frightful mess.
“The developer has not yet done a traffic study,” Mr. O’Leary said. “I believe it is due Dec. 10.
“Parking also was a huge issue, even though the developer said yes, everybody will go down Higuera, turn right and come (into the three-level underground parking) the back way.
“It is obvious that the front door of the building will be right at Higuera and Lucerne. We were concerned about street parking in front of homes.”
A Fait Accompli?
To summarize, Mr. O’Leary attempted to tuck the viewpoint of his friends into a tidy capsule.
“We love the idea of a green building,” he said,. “But we don’t understand why every building in this city has to be maxed out to the highest just because the code says it can be.”
The neighbors were asked if they believe the project by REThink Development is a done deal.
“No,” said Mr. O’Leary.
“We really don’t know,” said Mr. Sukal.
