[Editor’s Note: The letter below will serve as the first of a series of reports on a projected three-story mixed-use building development by the Los Angeles Housing Partnership in the neighborhood of Tellefson Park on Washington Place. What is striking about this letter, dispatched to City Hall last month, is that the writer says: “I have never received a reply and that shows a lack of professionalism and regard for resident's concerns. I think that the issue t hat I brought up in the letter are relevant and legitimate. In my experience of writing to other cities, you get a personal response to your concerns within 1-2 weeks. I am very disappointed by the city's decision to ignore me.” The next Tellefson report will be in tomorrow’s edition.]
Dear Mr. Mayor and Culver City Council Members,
Last night I attended a meeting about the proposed development of “Tilden Terrace.”
The project has angered many local residents, including myself, because it will exacerbate problems that never have been effectively addressed by the city of Culver City. This neighborhood would benefit from small business development and having a public parking structure like the three downtown. However, a giant, modern apartment complex is not what this neighborhood needs at all.
The traffic is horrible in this neighborhood. I have witnessed several accidents at the intersection of Tilden Street, Washington Boulevard and Washington Place. Increased traffic will compound the problem.
The traffic light for cars exiting northwest from Tilden Street allows only seconds to cross the intersection. Red-light runners on Washington Boulevard and Washington Place make the intersection dangerous for cars and pedestrians. Yet, I have never seen a police officer pull over or ticket the red-light runners. That intersection is ignored by the city and the Police Dept. The city would make a lot of money ticketing cars at that intersection.
Parking is already a nightmare in this neighborhood. Cars going through the side streets (Tilden, Huron, Harter) are dangerous, as commuters take short cuts through the neighborhood streets to avoid Sepulveda. Cars speed through the area, and there are no speed bumps. The amount of parking built into the proposed structure will NOT realistically alleviate control parking problems and or control through traffic. Realistically, it will reduce parking that is already limited for the current residents. The overflow of cars in this area impacts the people who live here.
The aesthetic of the “Tilden Terrace” structure DOES NOT fit with the fabric of the neighborhood. It looks like a modern complex on Lincoln Boulevard or Wilshire Boulevard that will overwhelm the neighborhood. It just isn't a good match. I would have been impressed if the architect spent time in this neighborhood and took inspiration from the existing architectural style, scale and tone. This neighborhood is successful because it is low-density. A monolithic structure taking over the block will be terrible. It will be glaringly out of place.
Further, the store Freedom Assembly, on the corner of Tilden Street and Washington Boulevard, has already affected the neighborhood negatively with the owners, staff and customers loitering on the sidewalk and in the alley, publicly smoking marijuana and dumping trash.
The lines of customers and their illegally parked cars create chaos on Tilden Street. Many of their customers sit in people's yards and throw diapers and trash in the yards. Although the store owners have been approached by the city officials (permits, police, Health Dept.) and residents, they continue to have disregard for the neighborhood. We DO NOT want more “low income” businesses that will increase traffic, parking problems, loitering, excessive nois, and trash in the neighbors’ yards and alleys.
This neighborhood does need attention. There are two streets, Commonwealth Street and Center Street, that do not have street lights. Commercial development of small businesses and a parking structure would be a value to the neighborhood to improve the blocks of Washington Boulevard from Tilden Street to Sepulveda Boulevard. New small businesses will not move into those empty commercial spaces without improved parking. A high volume grocery store or apartment complex will reduce the quality of life for the residents of this neighborhood. You MUST first address existing problems before proposing something as dramatic as “Tilden Terrace.”
The misconception at last night's meeting reported by some L.A. Housing Partnership staff and city staff was that residents are resistant to change. I take offence at that simplification of our concerns. Myself and others want commercial development and neighborhood improvement but this particular proposal is putting salt in the wounds that already exist here. Even “short-term use” businesses would be welcomed in this neighborhood if there were realistic plans to address parking, traffic and loitering issues.
Sadly, there appears to be an adversarial and antagonistic dynamic between residents and city staff that should be urgently addressed. It is counterproductive for the city officials and staff not to listen to the real concerns of residents. I'm a renter, and my concerns are just as valid as homeowners’ because I am invested in my community.
This is also a very diverse neighborhood, and there should be no misconception that the neighbors are exclusionary to diversity. After the bad experiences with the former halfway house and currently with Freedom Assembly, the residents are weary of people identified as “low income.” We actually have many low-income and working class residents who take pride in our neighborhood and do not want it “trashed” by people who don't care.
Lastly, it was frustrating that the city staff, L.A. Housing Partnership staff and The Sayles Group did not wear name tags identifying themselves.
There was a lack of transparency about who are the financial and/or political stakeholders. Although some staff were mentioned in the presentation, they ALL should have name tags in future meetings. There should be NO appearance of trying to deceive residents. And there were photographs taken by L.A. Housing Partnership staff without the permission of the attendees. There was no discloser at the door that we would be photographed, no “consent” forms collected, nor any and no refusal forms available or offered. That angered many attendees as well. People do not want their privacy invaded during a community meeting. This is not a “PR photo op.” It was disrespectful. I hope these legitimate and immediate concerns are addressed.
Regards,
T.R. Fike
cc L.A. Housing Partnership
cc Culver City neighbors
