[Editor’s Note: At last evening’s City Council meeting, 16 persons spoke out in favor of a moratorium against perceived overbuilding, also called mansionization. All but one of the 16 live in Carlson Park. Mr. Hawkins filed the following text before the meeting.]
I have owned my home since 1985.
The City Council, for the most part, has ignored the needs and wishes of Culver City homeowners regarding mansionization.
First, though, I would like to thank former Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells for taking the time to attend the June 14 community meeting at the Vets Auditorium regarding mansionization of private homes in Culver City.
Seven homeowners spoke out against the building of monster mansions that overshadow their neighbors.
Three of the five speakers who favored allowing property owners to build without new restrictions were developers who own property in Culver City.
The following facts need to be considered the sizes and shapes of future homes:
- Culver City is one of two areas in the region where homeowners outnumber renters. The other is neighboring
Westchester, which includes Los Angeles International Airport. Homeowners in Westchester earn an average
of more than $100,000 per person. - If homeownership goes into decline in Culver City and renters outnumber owners, those owners left behind
will not be happy with the results. One Santa Monica realtor recently told a potential homebuyer that Culver City
soon would turn into another Inglewood. - The City Council has not done enough to keep industry here in Culver City. They sat back and watched
as the son of a local bootlegger bought and destroyed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Then they allowed the
studio backlots to be converted to condos. Debbie Reynolds wanted to purchase Lot 3 with its two lakes
and a replica of the HMS Bounty. The lot was turned into another condo canyon. The backlot of the Culver Studios,
where “Citizen Kane” and “Gone with the Wind” were filmed, was turned into a recycling center. - Culver City needs to keep its parks in top shape. They represent a big plus to Culver City homeowners. They need to work with Fox Hills homeowners to insure the quality of life there is maintained.
- Culver City needs to improve its business climate. The biggest mistake that California voters made was making
the state Legislature fulltime back in 1966.
Mr. Hawkins, journalist and historian, may be contacted at rjhculvercity@aol.com
I agree that the mansionization of residential areas in Culver City is a threat to our community, but so too are the many dirty and weed filled commercial lots, unpaved ally ways, numerous potholes, deteriorating yellow-plastic-like parking strips, overgrown trees, parking problems on residential streets, and parks that have not been properly seeded and maintained (take a look at Coombs Park, for example). The city is a great place to live but it needs a city council dedicated to a “city beautiful” movement that focuses on the many small details that need constant attention. I very much applaud the council’s support for a higher minimum wage but I fear that all too often the council reflects the city’s Chamber of Commerce pro-business-and-outside interests to the neglect of its residents. The mansionization of the city and council efforts to limit restricted residential parking are but two of the most blatant examples.