Four Voters
That leaves four voting members on the City Council to make the final judgment in July on approving or rejecting the developer Bob Champions proposed design for South Sepulveda.
Although the technical possibility of a tie vote looms, Mayor Alan Corlin said over the holiday weekend he will strive for a unanimous result.
In view of City Halls employment of eminent domain as a tool elsewhere in Culver City, some business owners in the South Sepulveda redevelopment zone are worried they may be marked for the same death knell-type condemnation process.
Distinct from the Rest
South Sepulveda commonly is described as different from the majority of redevelopment undertakings in Culver City because a private developer is at the wheel of control. Boosters of the project say that this should foreclose the likelihood of using eminent domain.
A group of concerned owners on South Sepulveda does not want to take chances. They believe they have a chance, or a better chance, of prevailing no one seems sure what that means if they organize. The owners are scheduled to gather tonight for a first-time meeting called by Peter Messinger, owner of The Aquarium.
At the End of the Project
Mr. Messingers business is in a zone called Phase 4, at the far north end of the four-stage project. This means his store, theoretically, would be one of the last to be affected.
As perhaps the most visibly annoyed owner, he has been running full throttle ever since last autumn when details of the project began to leak, then spray like a fountain.
Mr. Messinger says he is puzzled that his fight has been so lonely.
How Many Want to Leave?
He has studied the 12 1/2 acres and 77 businesses that comprise the redevelopment region along the west side of South Sepulveda.
Returning from his latest inspection, Mr. Messinger said in unmistakable tones:
These businesses are on private property. There is not one For Sale sign posted. I do not understand how Bob Champion can talk about buying up these businesses.
Surveying Opinions
One reason for calling tonights early-evening meeting is to gauge the temperature of some colleagues. Then the owners intend to plot a course of organized group action.
I dont know why nobody else is outraged by what is going on, Mr. Messinger said.
This makes me very angry.
