(See pdf here.)
Since there always is time for one fresh bombshell in the riveting ice skating controversy that has gripped the community for a month, here it is.
The CEO of Planet Granite made a stark announcement this afternoon to the newspaper:
“We have canceled our lease” to take over the disputed space of the Culver City Ice Arena, said Micky Lloyd of the momentous event that happened exactly 24 hours earlier. He declined to delve into reasons for ending the lease signed on Dec. 23, promising more information later.
“Enough is enough,” said landlord Mike Karagozian from Fresno.
This startling move would appear, happily, to fling open the Ice Arena doors for the four members of the Takahashi family, longtime rink employees, to operate the rink for at least six months, beginning Saturday, March 1. Richie, Barbara, Shannon and Sami Takahashi were thrilled. In less than a mercurial week, this congenial, popular family has rocketed from relative obscurity to potentially operating one of the most heavily patronized businesses in Culver City.
If relations ever were sound between Planet Granite and the landlord, they have been strained to the near breaking point in recent weeks.
Even before the rink formally closed 10 days ago, Planet Granite’s role and intentions seemed to become murkier by the day, and skating partisans were not bashful about accusing the company, without proof, of mudding the arena’s relations with City Hall.
Especially in view of a peculiarly constructed, convoluted email that Planet Granite sent to City Hall and the Fire Dept. last Monday morning at 10:29 – curiously just as word was breaking about the alleged ammonia danger – it is inarguable that seriously ruffled feelings existed between Planet Granite and Mr. Karagozian.
Hence, Mr. Karagozian’s immediate response and Mr. Lloyd’s succinct stance.
Late this afternoon, James Lee of Planet Granite issued the following 406-word statement:
“Planet Granite, a leading provider of premier indoor climbing facilities, today announced that it and the property owners of its planned Culver City location mutually agreed to release each party from a previously agreed upon lease in order to pursue other alternative uses for the location.
Planet Granite’s lease would have been effective in June of 2014 and was willing to assume responsibility and cost for the safe decommission of the environmental and safety hazards posed by the 50-year old ice making system, but with this decision, the company will be free to pursue other avenues as the property owner moves to develop the location in another direction,” said James Lee, spokesman for Planet Granite. “This decision was a mutual one and recognition of the economics the owner has expressed for a higher return on the value of the property.”
Lee also disclosed that a survey and report commissioned by Culver City revealed significant public safety issues with the current ice making equipment due to its use of chemicals classified as hazardous by the State of California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control and the extreme age of many of the components. While Planet Granite was confident it could accommodate the clean-up, disposal and remediation of the property, with the end of its lease agreement, the company relinquishes all efforts to decommission the equipment.
“There is a certain irony when supporters of the rink have long contended that the potential clean-up and remediation of the property posed an insurmountable challenge for Planet Granite’s eventual operation of a facility, and yet we now see the same groups passionately argue that everything is safe,” Lee said. “It is cold comfort for the families that happen to live adjacent to the property to find that their health and safety might have been a cause for scoring political points in this debate.”
Planet Granite will maintain its efforts to open a location in the Los Angeles-area as part of its expansion program, Lee said.
Planet Granite, founded in 1994 for the climbing community, has grown into one of the leaders of premier climbing experiences for people of all abilities. It offers enthusiasts a wide variety of bouldering and climbing terrain and the latest in training techniques for climbing, yoga and fitness. Its facilities offer the best in training for any outdoor pursuits or fitness level and are a social hub for friends. For more information, please visit us at www.planetgranite.com.
