Procurement News Notice |
|
| PNN | 214 |
| Work Detail | The Chase Knolls garden apartments had been declared a Los Angeles landmark nearly two decades ago for being the ideal postwar utopian village, with parklike paths and shady courtyards designed to bring neighbors ever closer together. Now residents of the 67-year-old garden apartments in Sherman Oaks have united in a fight to prevent its long-approved expansion, including six new buildings of 141 units and the loss of its long-standing carports and more than 100 trees. “This is ground zero for everything that’s wrong with Los Angeles today,” said Marla Schulman, a TV writer, director and producer who has lived at the historic complex for three years. “It’s the mansionization of a historic property. The project will ruin the schools, the parking and the neighborhood.” She was among an estimated 50 residents to pack a community room at Westfield Fashion Square last week during a heated exchange with city officials and Chase Knolls executives. It was only the latest skirmish in a 17-year battle to preserve one of the San Fernando Valley’s oldest apartment complexes. After a former owner announced plans to replace its 260 units with condominiums spanning the entire block at 13401 Riverside Drive, the Chase Knolls community rallied in 2000 and had it designated a city historic-cultural monument. Designed by noted African-American architect Ralph Vaughn, Chase Knolls was built in 1949 on a former dairy farm in response to the Valley population boom after World War II. Since then, its garden apartments have been recognized for their sleek modern buildings tucked around lush courtyards within a large city block with all car traffic, garage and storage relegated to its outer edges. Ten years ago, however, the Los Angeles City Council approved a scaled-back expansion of six three-story apartment buildings of 141 units. The building entitlement ends in February. A new owner of Chase Knolls, restored to its original appearance three years ago, this summer took out city permits for utility improvements. But by adding new underground power and plumbing to 19 apartment buildings, nearly 200 historic carports must be demolished and 138 mature eucalyptus trees cut down. “The work is underway,” Chris Kiley of The Kor Group, a real estate management firm working with the Waterton Associates of Chicago, the owner of Chase Knolls since 2014, told residents during the 90-minute meeting Thursday evening. “The work we are doing will allow our work in the future. By taking down the carports, we will be able to create additional surface parking spaces and still allow residents to park onsite.” Asked if the carport and tree removal were a precursor to the new apartment building addition at Chase Knolls, a Waterton attorney said he wasn’t sure. “The short answer is: it’s still being evaluated,” attorney Eli Gordon said. “We have not made a final decision.” Residents expressed anger at not being informed about a massive construction project they say will not only disrupt Chase Knolls, but a Sherman Oaks neighborhood next to Notre Dame High School. Since the Chase Knolls expansion was approved a decade ago, they say 1,000 apartments have been built along Riverside Drive, overwhelming it with traffic congestion. For this reason, they are demanding a new environmental study for the apartment expansion. They say a tenant habitability plan filled out by the developer and approved by an obscure city housing agency also failed to account for toxic asbestos that could be released during demolition. They say the plan also fails to mention any loss of services, including carport parking and laundry facilities, as well as just compensation for disrupted tenants. They say new power lines could be run overhead instead. They also object to a potential rent increase of up to 10 percent for capital improvements allowable under a city rent-control ordinance. “They are basically trying to tear down the garages to build new buildings,” said Aaron Gold, an automotive writer who has lived there 14 years. “And disguise primary renovation work and make their tenants pay for it.” Councilman David Ryu, who had hosted the contentious meeting that included officials from the city planning and housing departments, appeared exasperated at a community demand for answers. Meanwhile, an official with the city’s Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department said any asbestos abatement would follow “safe-use practice.” “I want to create some positivity here,” Ryu, a former mediator elected last year to replace Tom LaBonge, told residents. “Then stop the project,” a woman yelled from the standing-room only crowd. “I want to follow the law,” Ryu insisted. “There could be lawsuits. So it’s in their interest to follow the law and prevent lawsuits. … If I tried to stop them, they could sue the city of Los Angeles. And they will win. “If you feel your rights were violated, we will investigate,” he added. “Our office will make sure we follow the law.” |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 02 Sep 2016 |
| Source | http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160828/residents-of-historic-chase-knolls-apartments-challenge-city-on-expansion |
