This is Mr. Champions first known interaction with a property owner. That means, this one he had to win. You may win and lose as you go along. But the first stop must be a victory, for psychological purposes, to show the people you are a serious player.
City Halls Bystander Role
Now what is City Hall to do?
They were in the position of going to the prizefights, jamming their hands into their pockets and watching their favorite son get knocked out in the first round while they stood there, helplessly.
Hint, hint.
Legally, City Hall could not intervene in the contested negotiations, even though the land on Jefferson Boulevard was a piece of the envisioned South Sepulveda rebuild.
Opening for Naysayers
When Mr. Nissani made a better offer than Mr. Champion for the property (covering seven businesses) in Phase II of the rebuild, I could hear the small-time entrepreneurs in the northern block of the project.
Almost in unison, they were clucking I told you so.
Fearing the worst, some owners have asked me, Do you think Champion will offer me a fair price?
Only One Objective
Maybe he did in the case of Jefferson Boulevard, maybe he didnt.
His job is to win. Mine is to speculate.
If this disappointing experience packs a lesson with it, it is that Mr. Champion will be shoveling against the tide as long as he tries to build a project that Sunkist Park residents dont want and that the business owners who have spoken out dont want.
Protocol Was Not Followed
As has been noted before in these pages, unlike previous redevelopment projects in Culver City, the community never truly was consulted this time.
Two workshops. That was all that were held. City Hall was in and out of the neighborhood. They could have left the car running.
Those workshops were less important to City Hall than the two pennies at the bottom of my right front pants pocket.
Hint. Hint.
Dead on arrival.
Signs Keep Glutting the Skies
Wasnt Mr. Champions embarrassing runnerup finish to Mr. Nissani one more crunching indication that the seemingly non-kosher, hamhanded way City Hall has handled the rebuild of South Sepulveda Boulevard ultimately dooms this version?
Wasnt this still another warning from the heavens, like a steel-tipped baseball bat over the head?
Start Over
South Sepulveda, as presently drawn, is star-crossed.
Every morning when I drive down South Sepulveda, I see giant purple banners spelling out, Hint, Hint.
I mean, I have ex-wives who might not have come in from the rain. But they could figure out that this project was not going to soar.
National Lampoons Vacation?
Say you are planning a family vacation.
When the six of you are walking toward the car, suddenly you notice all four tires are flat. Auto Club to the rescue.
While the tires are being changed, one child throws up, two others are quarreling vehemently with each other, your wife develops an intolerable headache, and the tow truck barely nicks your new car as it is pulling away.
As the six of you finally enter the car, your house, inexplicably, catches fire.
As the aroused neighbors in Sunkist Park say, Hint, hint.
No vacation. No South Sepulveda rebuild, as presently configured.
Try This Suggestion
Consult the people. Then make a U-turn to the drawing board. Then make a U-turn back to the people. That could work.
Perhaps the property owner on Jefferson who chose Mr. Nissanis offer over Mr. Champions did City Hall and the Sunkist Park neighborhood a large favor.
