There are things you can do, RIGHT NOW to help in the fight to keep condominiums away from the site of the former McCowan's Market.
You can call Councilwoman Janice Hahn's offices. You can Email the Councilwoman. You can send a handwritten note, long letter, or just a card to the Councilwoman stating your true feelings about whether you believe a developer can come into a neighborhood of single-family homes and build whatever he wants.
Here, I'm going to make it easier for you to Call, Email, And write to Ms. Hahn.
Councilwoman, 15th District
Janice Hahn
200 North Spring Street,Room 435
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Office Phone: 213-473-7015
District Offices:
San Pedro Field Office
638 S. Beacon Street
Suite 552San Pedro, CA 90731
310-732-4515
Fax: 310-732-4500
So what is taking you so long to go and grab the phone?
According to one of Ms. Hahn's senior aides, over 200 phone calls, Emails, Faxes, and letters have been received in a very short period of time.
There are no rules as to how many times you can call, and there is no rule that says you can't do all the different types of communicating to the Councilwoman's office.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn has made it perfectly to the development's owner that she does NOT like the idea of condominiums or apartments built in a neighborhood of almost all single-family residents.
We need to help Ms. Hahn demonstrate to other officials and departments within the City of Los Angeles that we will not tolerate the construction of any dwellings at or near the corner of 20Th Street and Walker Avenue, in San Pedro.
If you want to view a show where an interviewer will talk to leaders in the fight against having multi-family dwellings built on the site, you have four chances to do so.
To of the neighborhood's leaders, Charley and Nick have already taped a segment of
"Pete's Place" for airing at 6:30 PM each Saturday evening in February, on the CATV channel of Cox Communication. The channel may be channel 3, but please don't quote me on that.
The tiny spark that became the fiery flame of opposition seems to grow every day.
On Tuesday February 5, 2008, the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council's Land Use and Planning will meet beginning at 6:30 PM at the Bath House at Cabrillo Beach. Everyone is welcome to attend and help the committee, by their comments, develop a draft resolution that can be debated and voted on by the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Council.
According to the Secretary of Coastal, he counted 117 people at their last Board meeting which was the first time any group was able to assemble in numbers, to oppose "Condoization" of the single-family home neighborhood. That number far surpassed attendance at any other meeting of that Neighborhood Council.
San Pedrans should take pride that when a developer comes to town to attempt to change the way residents of OUR community live, not only will the developer find opposition very quickly, but the number of the members of OUR community who are willing to speak out grows every day.
The battles are not over yet, In fact, the fight is only beginning. But it is a fight worth fighting and a battle that we cannot afford to loose.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 stands firmly behind the neighbors who are banding together to fight against having condos or apartments built where the former McCowan's Market stands, if only for a few more days.
We have learned today that there have been no permits pulled, according to a source in Councilwoman Hahn's office to do any construction work on the site of the former market.
Individuals and a growing group of neighborhood leaders and facilitators will be watching like hawks, for any application for permits to be filed and how the process is moving.
The owner/developer has been put on notice, quickly and harshly, that OUR community will fight each and every battle we need to, in order to keep "condoization" or "apartmentization" away from that spot in San Pedro.
As OUR community has put on notice, both this developer and Bob Bisno, any other developer who seek to change the quality of life the current residents now enjoy, will not be tolerated.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Rudderless Steering Committee Meeting
The Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 met for the first time this year, Wednesday evening.
Ponte Vista and the fight to keep condos or apartments from being built at the corner of 20TH and Walker were the two main subjects covered at the meeting.
The group welcomed two leaders in the fight over the McCowan's Market site and also welcomed two members of the Land Use and Planning Committee from the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The McCowan's Market site is within Coastal's area.
Things we learned about Ponte Vista:
Not much.
The developer apparently, has not provided information requested by the staff of the L.A. Planning Department to review so they can make an adequate determination of what they feel could be built at the Ponte Vista site.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn has scheduled a meeting with Ms. Gail Goldberg, the Director of Planning for the City of L.A., next week.
Ms. Goldberg offered comments at Monday's Traffic and Transportation Day held by the members of the L.A. City Council and the Mayor's office. her remarks can be found in a very long post at: www.pontevista.blogspot.com.
In reading Ms. Goldberg comments, I got the impression that she feels that building a densly populate development at some distance from the larger traffic and transportation hubs is not in the best interest of the residents of the greater L.A. area.
High density sprawl seems to be a newer term floating around city planners. Its almost like the ancient creosote plant. When the plant is young, growth is highest at the center of the plant. as the plant ages, rings develop at ever increasing lengths from the center. The way the age of the plant is estimated is by how far the ring is from what is believed to be the center of the plant.
L.A. has recently abandoned plans to build residential dwellings downtown in and area filled with warehouses and businesses. Planners suggested that it was more important to keep jobs closer to downtown and allow folks to use available mass transit (if there really is) to get to the jobs.
That opinion differs with Ms. Goldberg's comments about having residential units close to work locations, shopping and entertainment locations, and all easily accessable via walking short distances or using whatever available mass transit is in the area.
With Bob's statements about offering new transportation options for residents of Ponte Vista, that may help. But if those offers don't actually materialize, then the residents are stuck in a possibly very large development with few other options than to get into their vehicles and drive to major shopping malls and entertainment venues.
As I read Ms. Goldberg's comments, it seemed very clear to me that putting Bob's Senior Housing Section on the north side of the site instead of the south side, it looks like it violates what Ms. Goldberg is trying to convince developers to try. The closer the Senior Housing is to the shopping area, including restaurants, on Western Avenue, the more likely seniors will drive to those places instead of walking a short distance.
If and when I hear something that is more than a rumor, you will be able to read it here.
The McCowan's fight is going to be tough and hopefully long. Folks are trying to find ways to slow down or stop construction of condominiums or apartments at 20Th and Walker.
You may, very shortly, be asked to sign a petition and/or mail a letter to Ms. Hahn and Ms. Goldberg stating your opposition to having multi-family units built in a neighborhood where families live in single-family homes.
The matter of the redevelopment of the former market's site will also be a topic the many believe Ms. Hahn will talk to Ms. Goldberg about.
According to a staff member at the Councilwoman's office, over 200 phone calls, Emails, and letters, have been received by that office.
If you want to do something immediately, please call the Councilwoman's office and state your opposition.
So far, nobody that we know of supports having multi-family dwellings built at the site. At the meeting there were quite a few folks with recognizable names who haven't found any family members, friends, or co-workers who are on the side of the developer concerning multi-family units.
Next week will be crucial in the fight. Leaders are seeking as many calls, Emails, letters, signatures on the new petition opposing multi-family housing at that site, and they need it sooner than as soon as possible.
If you drive near the location, you will see how fast the developer is going to try and get something in the ground before anyone can stop him or slow him down.
There has been a statement that if the developer is slowed or stopped from building condominiums, the developer will build apartments which require fewer off-street parking spaces than condos required.
There has also been a statement that the developer could begin building apartments almost immediately.
But there are strong opponents who are going over Web site to learn what can be done to, at least, slow the developer down.
Learning as much as you can, or sharing your knowledge to help stop multi-family units from being built would be greatly appreciated.
Probably by next week, lawn signs will be in the works. I will proudly place one in my yard and I hope the initial batch of lawn signs will sell out in hours. It might even be a good idea to use my Email address you can find at the top of this blog to reserve you lawn sign.
It looks like an attorney will be needed in this fight. If there are attorneys who would like to defend the character of that neighborhood by doing some pro bono work, you don't know how much that would be appreciated.
But if it takes hiring a lawyer to help fight the battles than when the group has a bank account, then donations will be greatly appreciated.
This blog will keep folks informed about both Ponte Vista and the fight over the McCowan's site.
Ponte Vista and the fight to keep condos or apartments from being built at the corner of 20TH and Walker were the two main subjects covered at the meeting.
The group welcomed two leaders in the fight over the McCowan's Market site and also welcomed two members of the Land Use and Planning Committee from the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The McCowan's Market site is within Coastal's area.
Things we learned about Ponte Vista:
Not much.
The developer apparently, has not provided information requested by the staff of the L.A. Planning Department to review so they can make an adequate determination of what they feel could be built at the Ponte Vista site.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn has scheduled a meeting with Ms. Gail Goldberg, the Director of Planning for the City of L.A., next week.
Ms. Goldberg offered comments at Monday's Traffic and Transportation Day held by the members of the L.A. City Council and the Mayor's office. her remarks can be found in a very long post at: www.pontevista.blogspot.com.
In reading Ms. Goldberg comments, I got the impression that she feels that building a densly populate development at some distance from the larger traffic and transportation hubs is not in the best interest of the residents of the greater L.A. area.
High density sprawl seems to be a newer term floating around city planners. Its almost like the ancient creosote plant. When the plant is young, growth is highest at the center of the plant. as the plant ages, rings develop at ever increasing lengths from the center. The way the age of the plant is estimated is by how far the ring is from what is believed to be the center of the plant.
L.A. has recently abandoned plans to build residential dwellings downtown in and area filled with warehouses and businesses. Planners suggested that it was more important to keep jobs closer to downtown and allow folks to use available mass transit (if there really is) to get to the jobs.
That opinion differs with Ms. Goldberg's comments about having residential units close to work locations, shopping and entertainment locations, and all easily accessable via walking short distances or using whatever available mass transit is in the area.
With Bob's statements about offering new transportation options for residents of Ponte Vista, that may help. But if those offers don't actually materialize, then the residents are stuck in a possibly very large development with few other options than to get into their vehicles and drive to major shopping malls and entertainment venues.
As I read Ms. Goldberg's comments, it seemed very clear to me that putting Bob's Senior Housing Section on the north side of the site instead of the south side, it looks like it violates what Ms. Goldberg is trying to convince developers to try. The closer the Senior Housing is to the shopping area, including restaurants, on Western Avenue, the more likely seniors will drive to those places instead of walking a short distance.
If and when I hear something that is more than a rumor, you will be able to read it here.
The McCowan's fight is going to be tough and hopefully long. Folks are trying to find ways to slow down or stop construction of condominiums or apartments at 20Th and Walker.
You may, very shortly, be asked to sign a petition and/or mail a letter to Ms. Hahn and Ms. Goldberg stating your opposition to having multi-family units built in a neighborhood where families live in single-family homes.
The matter of the redevelopment of the former market's site will also be a topic the many believe Ms. Hahn will talk to Ms. Goldberg about.
According to a staff member at the Councilwoman's office, over 200 phone calls, Emails, and letters, have been received by that office.
If you want to do something immediately, please call the Councilwoman's office and state your opposition.
So far, nobody that we know of supports having multi-family dwellings built at the site. At the meeting there were quite a few folks with recognizable names who haven't found any family members, friends, or co-workers who are on the side of the developer concerning multi-family units.
Next week will be crucial in the fight. Leaders are seeking as many calls, Emails, letters, signatures on the new petition opposing multi-family housing at that site, and they need it sooner than as soon as possible.
If you drive near the location, you will see how fast the developer is going to try and get something in the ground before anyone can stop him or slow him down.
There has been a statement that if the developer is slowed or stopped from building condominiums, the developer will build apartments which require fewer off-street parking spaces than condos required.
There has also been a statement that the developer could begin building apartments almost immediately.
But there are strong opponents who are going over Web site to learn what can be done to, at least, slow the developer down.
Learning as much as you can, or sharing your knowledge to help stop multi-family units from being built would be greatly appreciated.
Probably by next week, lawn signs will be in the works. I will proudly place one in my yard and I hope the initial batch of lawn signs will sell out in hours. It might even be a good idea to use my Email address you can find at the top of this blog to reserve you lawn sign.
It looks like an attorney will be needed in this fight. If there are attorneys who would like to defend the character of that neighborhood by doing some pro bono work, you don't know how much that would be appreciated.
But if it takes hiring a lawyer to help fight the battles than when the group has a bank account, then donations will be greatly appreciated.
This blog will keep folks informed about both Ponte Vista and the fight over the McCowan's site.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Coastal Neighborhood Council Meeting
The Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council held a meeting of its Board of Directors on Monday January 28.
I was not in attendance but a very talented person, who has a good talent for reporting, sent me information about the meeting that I will pass through via this post.
The agenda for the meeting did not include the issue of the proposed development on the site of the former McCowan's Market.
However, since this was the first opportunity for residents objecting to the idea of having condominiums built on the site, to meet with their representatives on the Board of Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council (Coastal), the first part of the meeting was devoted to those issues.
According to the reporter, a standing room only crowd of approximately 110 people cam out to oppose plans to have condominiums built.
Twenty members of the audience spoke on a variety of topics concerning the overall issues and not many of them repeated comments made by others.
One person spoke that he was a vendor to McCowan's while being owned by Mike Rosenthal. He stated that he supplied fish to the market and was told he would be paid only "pennies on the dollar of what he was owed".
Several speakers spoke about the problems neighbors of the former market had in that, many individuals used to walk to and from the store and having lived in the area for so long, were not prepared to need to find transportation to and from the larger markets outside of the neighborhood.
One speaker supported having the "Q Condition" put on the zoning variances of the parcels that are currently zoned C1.
A few speakers talked about being concerned that traffic on Walker will be dramatically changed. Instead of folks being able to walk to and from their neighborhood store, now everyone will have to find transportation to and from other stores. Since Walker Avenue has a signal at its intersection with 25Th street, traffic on Walker may be completely altered.
A representative from Councilwoman Janice Hahn's office came to speak. Although he wanted to speak early on, the President of Coastal told the gentleman that he was there to listen to comments from the public and after those comments were completed, he could address meeting attendees.
The representative told the group that Councilwoman Janice Hahn must initiate the process of getting the "Q Condition" applied. He also said that that process could take several months of study, perhaps 2-3 months.
The representative did inform the group what could be built on property zoned C1 as the parcels are. He also took "pointed" questions from some of the audience.
The intrepid reporter wrote about concerns that instead of condominiums, apartments could be built without the same amount of variances that condominiums would require.
It appears to me that at this first chance to have residents voice their opinions at a scheduled public meeting was a great step in learning about the proposed development and getting folks involved in working towards finding the best result for that neighborhood and OUR community.
I didn't get any word that a park was even remotely considered by speakers at the meeting, or realistically considered by the Board or the audience.
It seems Mike Rosenthal threw that line out and it only took a little-bitty fish to throw the line back at him. Turns out, there was not even a hint of bait on the line.
It also turns out that this is not the first time that someone attempted to build condos on the site of McCowan's. John McCowan considered taking down the market and building condominiums. My reporter wrote that Mr. McCowan's idea was defeated by the actions of the residents of that neighborhood.
I was not in attendance but a very talented person, who has a good talent for reporting, sent me information about the meeting that I will pass through via this post.
The agenda for the meeting did not include the issue of the proposed development on the site of the former McCowan's Market.
However, since this was the first opportunity for residents objecting to the idea of having condominiums built on the site, to meet with their representatives on the Board of Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council (Coastal), the first part of the meeting was devoted to those issues.
According to the reporter, a standing room only crowd of approximately 110 people cam out to oppose plans to have condominiums built.
Twenty members of the audience spoke on a variety of topics concerning the overall issues and not many of them repeated comments made by others.
One person spoke that he was a vendor to McCowan's while being owned by Mike Rosenthal. He stated that he supplied fish to the market and was told he would be paid only "pennies on the dollar of what he was owed".
Several speakers spoke about the problems neighbors of the former market had in that, many individuals used to walk to and from the store and having lived in the area for so long, were not prepared to need to find transportation to and from the larger markets outside of the neighborhood.
One speaker supported having the "Q Condition" put on the zoning variances of the parcels that are currently zoned C1.
A few speakers talked about being concerned that traffic on Walker will be dramatically changed. Instead of folks being able to walk to and from their neighborhood store, now everyone will have to find transportation to and from other stores. Since Walker Avenue has a signal at its intersection with 25Th street, traffic on Walker may be completely altered.
A representative from Councilwoman Janice Hahn's office came to speak. Although he wanted to speak early on, the President of Coastal told the gentleman that he was there to listen to comments from the public and after those comments were completed, he could address meeting attendees.
The representative told the group that Councilwoman Janice Hahn must initiate the process of getting the "Q Condition" applied. He also said that that process could take several months of study, perhaps 2-3 months.
The representative did inform the group what could be built on property zoned C1 as the parcels are. He also took "pointed" questions from some of the audience.
The intrepid reporter wrote about concerns that instead of condominiums, apartments could be built without the same amount of variances that condominiums would require.
It appears to me that at this first chance to have residents voice their opinions at a scheduled public meeting was a great step in learning about the proposed development and getting folks involved in working towards finding the best result for that neighborhood and OUR community.
I didn't get any word that a park was even remotely considered by speakers at the meeting, or realistically considered by the Board or the audience.
It seems Mike Rosenthal threw that line out and it only took a little-bitty fish to throw the line back at him. Turns out, there was not even a hint of bait on the line.
It also turns out that this is not the first time that someone attempted to build condos on the site of McCowan's. John McCowan considered taking down the market and building condominiums. My reporter wrote that Mr. McCowan's idea was defeated by the actions of the residents of that neighborhood.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Interesting Input From a Contributor
An individual who is an instrumental leader if the fight to keep condominiums off of the former site of McCowan's Market, has created some writing that is important to know and possibly shows us the demeanor of the current owner and one of his partners.
I am taking the liberty and responsibility to change some of the information for legal purposes.
I am not going to change the facts that the contributor believes are true. The contributor has done their homework and has information many of us do not currently have access to.
__________________________________________________
It appears, according to evidence uncovered by the contributor that they believe that the majority of vendors supplying the market, were stiffed by Mr. Rosenthal, when he closed down.
The contributor has the opinion that his dishonest business practices are something the public should be made aware of.
The contributor received three calls from purveyors that were told they would only be paid 50 cents on the dollar. Many of them had done business with John McCowan for years and never had any problems. They assumed Mr. Rosenthal would be honest and pay for the products he ordered. Instead they were cheated out of payment. One vendor went to small claims court, but was told that since he didn't have a personal guarantee there was nothing he could do. The public needs to be aware of this scam, by the same man that is trying to build condos, in our single family neighborhood, according to the contributor.
The contributor feels Rosenthal is blowing smoke proposing the City of L.A. buy the property to build a park. This is not an adequate area for the type of park we need in San Pedro. A park at this site would only bring vandals and graffiti gangs. We don't need that in our neighborhood either. This man is a con artist trying to fool San Pedro once again. We aren't buying it!!
************************************************************
A personal pause comment from me. I have no idea whether other neighbors feel the same about having a park in that location. As I have addressed before, we are blessed more so than just about everyone else in the greater L.A. area by having so many parks, park lands, nature preserves, beaches, and other recreational venues nearby.
IF, and I mean IF a park is even remotely really considered by Mr. Rosenthal at the site, I think everyone should let the neighbors living in that area decide whether they would like a park or not. If they don't want a park, then that is their decision.
***********************************************************
Now back to the contributor's post.
The contributor learned that Rosenthal states he is the owner of the property, but not the developer - that doesn't make any sense at all. This guy must think we are all idiots!!
Also, Mike Popa, Rosenthal's partner, and the builder, said the prospective condos would be priced for first time buyers - how do you do that when you build million dollar houses next door? It just doesn't make sense.
The contributor wants to see a large showing of folks concerned about the issue at tonight's Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting.
_________________________________________________
The contributor also unwittingly brought up an issue that could be of concern to future residents of Ponte Vista. If first-time home buyers lived next to large town houses at Ponte Vista, might there not be some issues placing upper middle-income folks right next to millionaires?
What would keep a "first-time" home buyer hitting hard times and leasing out their unit and moving back in with mom and pop, or renting a much less expensive apartment. Use the rental income from the condo to pay for the apartment and anything else.
I am taking the liberty and responsibility to change some of the information for legal purposes.
I am not going to change the facts that the contributor believes are true. The contributor has done their homework and has information many of us do not currently have access to.
__________________________________________________
It appears, according to evidence uncovered by the contributor that they believe that the majority of vendors supplying the market, were stiffed by Mr. Rosenthal, when he closed down.
The contributor has the opinion that his dishonest business practices are something the public should be made aware of.
The contributor received three calls from purveyors that were told they would only be paid 50 cents on the dollar. Many of them had done business with John McCowan for years and never had any problems. They assumed Mr. Rosenthal would be honest and pay for the products he ordered. Instead they were cheated out of payment. One vendor went to small claims court, but was told that since he didn't have a personal guarantee there was nothing he could do. The public needs to be aware of this scam, by the same man that is trying to build condos, in our single family neighborhood, according to the contributor.
The contributor feels Rosenthal is blowing smoke proposing the City of L.A. buy the property to build a park. This is not an adequate area for the type of park we need in San Pedro. A park at this site would only bring vandals and graffiti gangs. We don't need that in our neighborhood either. This man is a con artist trying to fool San Pedro once again. We aren't buying it!!
************************************************************
A personal pause comment from me. I have no idea whether other neighbors feel the same about having a park in that location. As I have addressed before, we are blessed more so than just about everyone else in the greater L.A. area by having so many parks, park lands, nature preserves, beaches, and other recreational venues nearby.
IF, and I mean IF a park is even remotely really considered by Mr. Rosenthal at the site, I think everyone should let the neighbors living in that area decide whether they would like a park or not. If they don't want a park, then that is their decision.
***********************************************************
Now back to the contributor's post.
The contributor learned that Rosenthal states he is the owner of the property, but not the developer - that doesn't make any sense at all. This guy must think we are all idiots!!
Also, Mike Popa, Rosenthal's partner, and the builder, said the prospective condos would be priced for first time buyers - how do you do that when you build million dollar houses next door? It just doesn't make sense.
The contributor wants to see a large showing of folks concerned about the issue at tonight's Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting.
_________________________________________________
The contributor also unwittingly brought up an issue that could be of concern to future residents of Ponte Vista. If first-time home buyers lived next to large town houses at Ponte Vista, might there not be some issues placing upper middle-income folks right next to millionaires?
What would keep a "first-time" home buyer hitting hard times and leasing out their unit and moving back in with mom and pop, or renting a much less expensive apartment. Use the rental income from the condo to pay for the apartment and anything else.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Take on Sunday's Article in the Daily Breeze
I am going to give my take on Sunday January 27, 2008 article in The Daily Breeze concerning the redevelopment of the former site of McCowan's Market.
But first, I would apprecate other individuals providing their take on not only Sunday's article, but also the two most recent articles concerning the issue. Whether using a comment to an existing post, or by creating a new post sent to me via the Email address on the top of this blog, sharing opinions about the matters can provide all of us with more information and opinions to consider.
In the span of eight days, three articles conserning the issue of what may be built on the site of the former McCowan's Market have been found in The Daily Breeze. Ms Donna Littlejohn and Ms. Rachel Jones have provided three separate articles in the span of just over a week.
To me I think, the editors of the newspaper feel the issues are important to inform readers about and it may also show that interest in the issues is very high among the residents of OUR community.
I also feel that when two of the three articles bring up the idea of a park being provided on the site, instead of another market, single-family houses, or what could be more probably, a condominium project of between 14 and 19 units, it says something about the apparent discord with the porperties current owner by the local neighbors and OUR community.
There is serious doubt that there is a large number of supporters to having condominiums built on the three parcels of land the former market still stands of.
The idea of a park on the site may appear to have come out of left field as a way to demonstrate that the sites' current owner, Mr. Mike Rosenthal was probably overwhelmed by the resistance to having condominiums built.
Even if the proposed condominiums were priced for first-time homebuyers, resistance among neighbors who live near the sites and an ever-growing number of other neighbors in other neighborhoods is extremely high.
The last sentence of the latest article was a quote along the lines that having a park built on the three parcels in not very likely or probable.
As an opinion, I think OUR community should take pride first, with the good folks who live closest to the sites. They banded together about as quickly as they could and they took the right steps to bring their issues into view for the rest of OUR community.
Second, neighbors living in neighborhoods some distance away from the sites came forward with their support to oppose having condominiums built.
I have first hand knowledge that there have been community members who live miles away from the sites, who contacted me with their frustration about the possibility of having condos built and their willingness to help in any way they can.
I think we also should give a big shout out to Councilwoman Janice Hahn who has already publicily opposed having condominiums built on the parcels.
The study and possible implementation of a "Q Condition" on the three parcels, and the folks who have worked on that, should also be recognized.
A "Q Condition" is a zoning classification that places "restrictions on property as a result of a zone change, to ensure compatibility with surrounding property." Basically the classification would result in the developer only being allowed to build single-family homes so that the buildings would reflect the compatibility with the other single-family homes that make up the vast bulk of the type of residences found in the neighborhood.
I can even commend Mr. Rosenthal for doing the correct thing and providing three new single-family houses on the three lots he also bought, and kept their current zoning of R1 (or R1P).
Mr. Rosenthal could have opted to attempt zoning changes of the three R1 lots to allow for multi-family units. Perhaps he saw what is happening with the resistance to Ponte Vista and thought twice before he really considered zoning changes for the three-R1 lots.
The issue of having the City of Los Angeles or any other entity buying the three parcels so a park could be built, is something that will continue to be just a dream. San Pedro has lots of parkland as compared to the rest of the cities in the 15Th Council District. Residents also have an L.A. County park, a nature preserve, coastal parks, Angel's Gate, and parks in nearby communities to use. As communities go, I think we would have to find a rich benefactor to buy more property for what would be a great neighborhood park.
I think fighting against condos being built is a must. Having a positive attitude about the adoption of Q Conditions on the properties zoned as commercial should be a strong attitude.
Affording the opportunity to the current owner or developer to build a total of six-single-family houses on the three-R1 lots and the three C1 parcels, may be the best result of all efforts.
A strong message could be sent by opponents of both the massive condo development called Ponte Vista and opponents of having condos built on the former market's site, that OUR community is willing to join with other communities in the greater L.A. area to put curbs on the reckless notions that the area should tolerate massive residential growth, whether we need it or not.
But first, I would apprecate other individuals providing their take on not only Sunday's article, but also the two most recent articles concerning the issue. Whether using a comment to an existing post, or by creating a new post sent to me via the Email address on the top of this blog, sharing opinions about the matters can provide all of us with more information and opinions to consider.
In the span of eight days, three articles conserning the issue of what may be built on the site of the former McCowan's Market have been found in The Daily Breeze. Ms Donna Littlejohn and Ms. Rachel Jones have provided three separate articles in the span of just over a week.
To me I think, the editors of the newspaper feel the issues are important to inform readers about and it may also show that interest in the issues is very high among the residents of OUR community.
I also feel that when two of the three articles bring up the idea of a park being provided on the site, instead of another market, single-family houses, or what could be more probably, a condominium project of between 14 and 19 units, it says something about the apparent discord with the porperties current owner by the local neighbors and OUR community.
There is serious doubt that there is a large number of supporters to having condominiums built on the three parcels of land the former market still stands of.
The idea of a park on the site may appear to have come out of left field as a way to demonstrate that the sites' current owner, Mr. Mike Rosenthal was probably overwhelmed by the resistance to having condominiums built.
Even if the proposed condominiums were priced for first-time homebuyers, resistance among neighbors who live near the sites and an ever-growing number of other neighbors in other neighborhoods is extremely high.
The last sentence of the latest article was a quote along the lines that having a park built on the three parcels in not very likely or probable.
As an opinion, I think OUR community should take pride first, with the good folks who live closest to the sites. They banded together about as quickly as they could and they took the right steps to bring their issues into view for the rest of OUR community.
Second, neighbors living in neighborhoods some distance away from the sites came forward with their support to oppose having condominiums built.
I have first hand knowledge that there have been community members who live miles away from the sites, who contacted me with their frustration about the possibility of having condos built and their willingness to help in any way they can.
I think we also should give a big shout out to Councilwoman Janice Hahn who has already publicily opposed having condominiums built on the parcels.
The study and possible implementation of a "Q Condition" on the three parcels, and the folks who have worked on that, should also be recognized.
A "Q Condition" is a zoning classification that places "restrictions on property as a result of a zone change, to ensure compatibility with surrounding property." Basically the classification would result in the developer only being allowed to build single-family homes so that the buildings would reflect the compatibility with the other single-family homes that make up the vast bulk of the type of residences found in the neighborhood.
I can even commend Mr. Rosenthal for doing the correct thing and providing three new single-family houses on the three lots he also bought, and kept their current zoning of R1 (or R1P).
Mr. Rosenthal could have opted to attempt zoning changes of the three R1 lots to allow for multi-family units. Perhaps he saw what is happening with the resistance to Ponte Vista and thought twice before he really considered zoning changes for the three-R1 lots.
The issue of having the City of Los Angeles or any other entity buying the three parcels so a park could be built, is something that will continue to be just a dream. San Pedro has lots of parkland as compared to the rest of the cities in the 15Th Council District. Residents also have an L.A. County park, a nature preserve, coastal parks, Angel's Gate, and parks in nearby communities to use. As communities go, I think we would have to find a rich benefactor to buy more property for what would be a great neighborhood park.
I think fighting against condos being built is a must. Having a positive attitude about the adoption of Q Conditions on the properties zoned as commercial should be a strong attitude.
Affording the opportunity to the current owner or developer to build a total of six-single-family houses on the three-R1 lots and the three C1 parcels, may be the best result of all efforts.
A strong message could be sent by opponents of both the massive condo development called Ponte Vista and opponents of having condos built on the former market's site, that OUR community is willing to join with other communities in the greater L.A. area to put curbs on the reckless notions that the area should tolerate massive residential growth, whether we need it or not.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Today's More San Pedro Article About the McCowan's Site
First off, if you want to create a comment on the article by visiting www.dailybreeze.com, it is going to take some digging to get to the article and spot for commenting.
I had to use the search area to type in "More San Pedro" because I couldn't find it on the home page of the site. Perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough on the newly redesigned site.
I had to go to the second page of the link to find Ms. Littlejohn's article.
Of course I giggled when I read the article in the actual More San Pedro and then again when I reread it on the newspaper's Web site.
A friend of mine who Emailed me this morning uses things like "@#$%^&*" to describe her feeling on what she read coming from Mr. Rosenthal.
Some people feel Mr. Rosenthal will create a limited liability corporation which he and possibly a partner will own, and move title to the properties over to the LLC.
We have also learned that Mr. Rosenthal has applied for a demolition permit for the building that stands on three lots on the corner of 20TH Street and Walker Avenue.
Would a property owner be quick in demolishing a building just to put a park in its place? You will need to answer that question using your own thoughts.
Whether a park is truthfully being considered by Mr. Rosenthal is not something I know.
But I will consider that anyone and everyone who considers having condominiums built on the approximately 17,000 square feet of property under the market a very bad idea, should probably want to get involved in some form or another.
A good showing of concerned members of OUR community at Monday evening's Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council would be a great thing to have happen, I feel.
Perhaps Ms. Littlejohn or Ms. Jones from the Daily Breeze and/or a reporter from Random Lengths News might come to the meeting and ask for your comments about the issue.
I don't think it would hurt showing support to and for the neighborhood that will be impacted should condominiums get approval to be built.
The meeting begins at 6:30 PM at the Cabrillo Community Center, which is near Berth 28, behind the hotel that is located at the Cabrillo Marina.
A good friend of mine gave me a picture of a pig, with little wings, perched on a telephone line between two poles. ( We both work for a "telephone" company). I imagine that if that pig could fly up to that line, a park could get built at the site.
The park should be called McCowan's Park in my opinion, because of the honor the McCowan family bestowed on OUR community by having three supermarkets in San Pedro and being so wonderful to several generations of OUR community.
If you do happen to come upon a pig sitting on wires between poles, don't stand underneath one. It seems that just before the pig takes flight, it takes a number 2, to lighten its load.
Perhaps flying pigs and some comments from Mr. Rosenthal have some number 2 in common.
I had to use the search area to type in "More San Pedro" because I couldn't find it on the home page of the site. Perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough on the newly redesigned site.
I had to go to the second page of the link to find Ms. Littlejohn's article.
Of course I giggled when I read the article in the actual More San Pedro and then again when I reread it on the newspaper's Web site.
A friend of mine who Emailed me this morning uses things like "@#$%^&*" to describe her feeling on what she read coming from Mr. Rosenthal.
Some people feel Mr. Rosenthal will create a limited liability corporation which he and possibly a partner will own, and move title to the properties over to the LLC.
We have also learned that Mr. Rosenthal has applied for a demolition permit for the building that stands on three lots on the corner of 20TH Street and Walker Avenue.
Would a property owner be quick in demolishing a building just to put a park in its place? You will need to answer that question using your own thoughts.
Whether a park is truthfully being considered by Mr. Rosenthal is not something I know.
But I will consider that anyone and everyone who considers having condominiums built on the approximately 17,000 square feet of property under the market a very bad idea, should probably want to get involved in some form or another.
A good showing of concerned members of OUR community at Monday evening's Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council would be a great thing to have happen, I feel.
Perhaps Ms. Littlejohn or Ms. Jones from the Daily Breeze and/or a reporter from Random Lengths News might come to the meeting and ask for your comments about the issue.
I don't think it would hurt showing support to and for the neighborhood that will be impacted should condominiums get approval to be built.
The meeting begins at 6:30 PM at the Cabrillo Community Center, which is near Berth 28, behind the hotel that is located at the Cabrillo Marina.
A good friend of mine gave me a picture of a pig, with little wings, perched on a telephone line between two poles. ( We both work for a "telephone" company). I imagine that if that pig could fly up to that line, a park could get built at the site.
The park should be called McCowan's Park in my opinion, because of the honor the McCowan family bestowed on OUR community by having three supermarkets in San Pedro and being so wonderful to several generations of OUR community.
If you do happen to come upon a pig sitting on wires between poles, don't stand underneath one. It seems that just before the pig takes flight, it takes a number 2, to lighten its load.
Perhaps flying pigs and some comments from Mr. Rosenthal have some number 2 in common.
Friday, January 25, 2008
So What is a "Q" Condition?
The title of this post is the question I was seeking an answer to.
I started at the L.A. City Department of Planning's Web site at: http://cityplanning.lacity.org/.
From there, it was a matter of searching around and this is what I found.
A "Q" condition is a classification wherein a property or properties have "restrictions on property as a result of a zone change, to ensure compatibility with surrounding property."
The three lots that make up the footprint of the old McCowan's Market are zoned for commercial use, but it can be translated for residential sake to be equivalent to R3.
I guess we should hope for the placement of the Q condition because that would ensure that whatever is built on the three lots that make up the footprint of the building are kept compatible with the surrounding property.
As I was looking around the Planning Web site, I was able to read about lots of Q condition rulings that allowed for or disallowed for many different things. There are Q conditions for the height of structures, the set backs, from the property lines, and other issues that appeared to be covered under an umbrella that is the "Q" or "Qualified Condition".
It seems that a developer can't always use equivalent zoning types to build whatever he or she wishes. Whatever is built should be compatible with the surrounding property.
Since the surrounding properties, including the three properties Mr. Rosenthal is building single-family houses on, are single-family dwellings on R1 size lots, a Q condition would mandate that only similar type dwellings be built on the lots left behind after the market is demolished.
There, I hope it helps. I now have a little better idea of what a Q condition is.
Now if I can just get to those darn buttons by Monday evening.
I started at the L.A. City Department of Planning's Web site at: http://cityplanning.lacity.org/.
From there, it was a matter of searching around and this is what I found.
A "Q" condition is a classification wherein a property or properties have "restrictions on property as a result of a zone change, to ensure compatibility with surrounding property."
The three lots that make up the footprint of the old McCowan's Market are zoned for commercial use, but it can be translated for residential sake to be equivalent to R3.
I guess we should hope for the placement of the Q condition because that would ensure that whatever is built on the three lots that make up the footprint of the building are kept compatible with the surrounding property.
As I was looking around the Planning Web site, I was able to read about lots of Q condition rulings that allowed for or disallowed for many different things. There are Q conditions for the height of structures, the set backs, from the property lines, and other issues that appeared to be covered under an umbrella that is the "Q" or "Qualified Condition".
It seems that a developer can't always use equivalent zoning types to build whatever he or she wishes. Whatever is built should be compatible with the surrounding property.
Since the surrounding properties, including the three properties Mr. Rosenthal is building single-family houses on, are single-family dwellings on R1 size lots, a Q condition would mandate that only similar type dwellings be built on the lots left behind after the market is demolished.
There, I hope it helps. I now have a little better idea of what a Q condition is.
Now if I can just get to those darn buttons by Monday evening.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Some More Information to Help Understand the Situation Better.
Here is some information from a very reliable source relayed under the condition of anonymity:
Mr. Rosenthal has filed permits to build two single family homes on the South side of 20th Street.
(Mr. Rosenthal is also planning to build one single family home on the North side of the street.)
The parking lot on the North side of the street is zoned R-1 (next to the market). The market itself sits on three lots zoned C-1. The C-1 zone allows for a conversion to R-3. This is where Rosenthal plans on building 14-19 condos.
Councilwoman Hahn has publicly stated her opposition to the condos. The only thing that has been filed thus far is for a demolition permit of the market.
________________________________________________________
The source than went on to describe what is called a "Q condition" whereby the site of the former market may only be developed with single-family houses.
I feel this is important in the fight to keep condos away from the neighborhood. I also suggests to me that there are friends who are looking into different ways to insure that the site is developed without condos.
I was impressed to read that Councilwoman Janice Hahn already opposes the idea of having condos built on the site.
Perhaps we can share ideas where we can use the letter "Q" and the efforts to continue the good quality of life in the neighborhood by having only single-family houses built.
It would help if people would Email me their suggestions for buttons, bumper stickers, and advertisements to help educate and inform others about the issues. My Email address should be at the top of the blog or you can just click on: mrichards2@hotmail.com.
Tomorrow is a Friday. On Fridays I write an "Odds and Ends" post on one of my other blogs:
http://www.pontevista.blogspot.com/. I hope to have an interesting group of odds and ends to share.
I don't think it is time for me to try something like that on this blog for theses issues. There may be a time when it might be a good idea, but I don't think right now is a good time.
"Q for Quality"
"Q for Life!"
"Q for Quit wanting condos"
"Q is the condition that is best for the neighborhood."
"Q is for Quagmire out-of-town developers have gotten us in."
O.K. I'm out of ideas right now.
Mr. Rosenthal has filed permits to build two single family homes on the South side of 20th Street.
(Mr. Rosenthal is also planning to build one single family home on the North side of the street.)
The parking lot on the North side of the street is zoned R-1 (next to the market). The market itself sits on three lots zoned C-1. The C-1 zone allows for a conversion to R-3. This is where Rosenthal plans on building 14-19 condos.
Councilwoman Hahn has publicly stated her opposition to the condos. The only thing that has been filed thus far is for a demolition permit of the market.
________________________________________________________
The source than went on to describe what is called a "Q condition" whereby the site of the former market may only be developed with single-family houses.
I feel this is important in the fight to keep condos away from the neighborhood. I also suggests to me that there are friends who are looking into different ways to insure that the site is developed without condos.
I was impressed to read that Councilwoman Janice Hahn already opposes the idea of having condos built on the site.
Perhaps we can share ideas where we can use the letter "Q" and the efforts to continue the good quality of life in the neighborhood by having only single-family houses built.
It would help if people would Email me their suggestions for buttons, bumper stickers, and advertisements to help educate and inform others about the issues. My Email address should be at the top of the blog or you can just click on: mrichards2@hotmail.com.
Tomorrow is a Friday. On Fridays I write an "Odds and Ends" post on one of my other blogs:
http://www.pontevista.blogspot.com/. I hope to have an interesting group of odds and ends to share.
I don't think it is time for me to try something like that on this blog for theses issues. There may be a time when it might be a good idea, but I don't think right now is a good time.
"Q for Quality"
"Q for Life!"
"Q for Quit wanting condos"
"Q is the condition that is best for the neighborhood."
"Q is for Quagmire out-of-town developers have gotten us in."
O.K. I'm out of ideas right now.
A Sad Side of San Pedro
I don't want to spend too much time writing about this, but for those of you who visit this blog, I need to tell you about a sad, but fictitious person.
If you ever hear about someone calling themselves "Tom Field" you need to know that whoever writes under that name is sad, gutless, sarcastic, and an unwelcome guest at any party.
This individual seems to want a really big development at Ponte Vista and has suggested about 1,750 units be built there. There was a time he/she tried to come to some kind of compromise in what we could put forward together, but the individual would do just like Bob continues to do and not be willing to really compromise.
I hope for our sake this person or persons want only single-family houses on the site of the old McCowan's Market.
I don't know this person's true identity, but he seems to be so afraid of what may happen if she/he actually reveals herself/himself, that there is a continuation of falsehoods, misstatements, and misrepresentation of what I write and say on the blog she/he writes.
I won't reveal the blog's title and I won't reveal where you can find one of my other blogs that address this individual's comments. If I revealed my other blog, you would be subjected to slander, slurs, offensive and foul language, lies, and other thing I leave on the site as evidence of whoever's deceit and diminished capacity.
As you can probably tell by now that sometimes, developers will look the other way in order to allow certain individuals to "vomit" their writings without regard to being reasonable, responsible, realistic, or respectful.
So please, if you hear of, read, or are contacted by someone identifying themselves as "Tom Field" you may want to take what she/writes with a huge grain of salt.
Thanks for reading this post and I appreciate your concern about having condos built at the corner of 20TH Street and Walker.
If you ever hear about someone calling themselves "Tom Field" you need to know that whoever writes under that name is sad, gutless, sarcastic, and an unwelcome guest at any party.
This individual seems to want a really big development at Ponte Vista and has suggested about 1,750 units be built there. There was a time he/she tried to come to some kind of compromise in what we could put forward together, but the individual would do just like Bob continues to do and not be willing to really compromise.
I hope for our sake this person or persons want only single-family houses on the site of the old McCowan's Market.
I don't know this person's true identity, but he seems to be so afraid of what may happen if she/he actually reveals herself/himself, that there is a continuation of falsehoods, misstatements, and misrepresentation of what I write and say on the blog she/he writes.
I won't reveal the blog's title and I won't reveal where you can find one of my other blogs that address this individual's comments. If I revealed my other blog, you would be subjected to slander, slurs, offensive and foul language, lies, and other thing I leave on the site as evidence of whoever's deceit and diminished capacity.
As you can probably tell by now that sometimes, developers will look the other way in order to allow certain individuals to "vomit" their writings without regard to being reasonable, responsible, realistic, or respectful.
So please, if you hear of, read, or are contacted by someone identifying themselves as "Tom Field" you may want to take what she/writes with a huge grain of salt.
Thanks for reading this post and I appreciate your concern about having condos built at the corner of 20TH Street and Walker.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Show Your Support to Oppose
Attention!
The Board of Directors of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council is having their meeting on Monday January 28, 2008, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Cabrillo Marina Community Center, Berth 28, in San Pedro. The building is located behind the hotel at the end of the Cabrillo Marina.
Here is your chance to support the opposition to building 15-18 condominium units at the site of the former McCowan's Market, which was located on the corner of 20TH Street and Walker Avenue, in San Pedro.
You will be able to meet many of the concerned residents of the local area around the former market and you will also have the chance to voice your opinion about the "weapon of mass development" that an out-of-town developer is attempting to push onto OUR community.
We shouldn't have to fight to keep the quality of life we enjoy in OUR community, but fight we must. And fight we will!
If I can get off my duff, there should be free buttons given out at the meeting so you can show your support as an opponent to the development of the condominium units.
Please try to attend the meeting. Please talk to your neighbors and friends about getting involved in this issue, as well as fighting the "weapon of mass development" which is Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
You may think that on 20Th and Walker, there will be just one building. But that one building housing 15-18 condominiums is extremely overly high density for that neighborhood of R1 homes and lots.
Please do not believe that all condominium units built on the site would be owner-occupied. Speculators and others may purchase units and rent them out. This is also an issue with the Ponte Vista development.
If the developer get his way, we have no idea how many units will be owner-occupied or lived in by more transient renters.
The Board of Directors of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council is having their meeting on Monday January 28, 2008, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Cabrillo Marina Community Center, Berth 28, in San Pedro. The building is located behind the hotel at the end of the Cabrillo Marina.
Here is your chance to support the opposition to building 15-18 condominium units at the site of the former McCowan's Market, which was located on the corner of 20TH Street and Walker Avenue, in San Pedro.
You will be able to meet many of the concerned residents of the local area around the former market and you will also have the chance to voice your opinion about the "weapon of mass development" that an out-of-town developer is attempting to push onto OUR community.
We shouldn't have to fight to keep the quality of life we enjoy in OUR community, but fight we must. And fight we will!
If I can get off my duff, there should be free buttons given out at the meeting so you can show your support as an opponent to the development of the condominium units.
Please try to attend the meeting. Please talk to your neighbors and friends about getting involved in this issue, as well as fighting the "weapon of mass development" which is Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
You may think that on 20Th and Walker, there will be just one building. But that one building housing 15-18 condominiums is extremely overly high density for that neighborhood of R1 homes and lots.
Please do not believe that all condominium units built on the site would be owner-occupied. Speculators and others may purchase units and rent them out. This is also an issue with the Ponte Vista development.
If the developer get his way, we have no idea how many units will be owner-occupied or lived in by more transient renters.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Blight From ANOTHER Out of Town Developer
Here is the body of an Email sent by an opponent of having condos built on the site of the old McCowan's Market.
It seems the current owner, Mike Rosenthal is using demolition contractors who not only work far past normal quitting times, they also leave a mess around the former market that so many of us remember and have fond memories for.
Here is what Barbara wrote:
This is the mess that crews left Saturday night after working well past 11:30 pm. The police were called and they stopped leaving broken glass, sharp metal pieces, and trash all over the side walk. This was not only and eyesore, but a very dangerous situation with children playing in the area. I took these pics to building and safety this morning and filed a complaint. This is no way to do work in our neighborhood. Rosenthal has no regard for anyone. Please continue with your efforts to get this stopped.
Thanks,
Barbara Dragich
Below is a photo Barbara took the morning after the work crew was stopped by the L.A.P.D.
This is now way for a developer to display, or have his contractors display how they work. If this is what we can expect from the developer, who know how whatever he builds will look like and it they will be constructed with the quality the houses in the neighborhood were constructed like.
_____________________________________________________
It seems the current owner, Mike Rosenthal is using demolition contractors who not only work far past normal quitting times, they also leave a mess around the former market that so many of us remember and have fond memories for.
Here is what Barbara wrote:
This is the mess that crews left Saturday night after working well past 11:30 pm. The police were called and they stopped leaving broken glass, sharp metal pieces, and trash all over the side walk. This was not only and eyesore, but a very dangerous situation with children playing in the area. I took these pics to building and safety this morning and filed a complaint. This is no way to do work in our neighborhood. Rosenthal has no regard for anyone. Please continue with your efforts to get this stopped.
Thanks,
Barbara Dragich
Below is a photo Barbara took the morning after the work crew was stopped by the L.A.P.D.
This is now way for a developer to display, or have his contractors display how they work. If this is what we can expect from the developer, who know how whatever he builds will look like and it they will be constructed with the quality the houses in the neighborhood were constructed like.
_____________________________________________________So now we have to deal with another out of town developer trashing OUR community and trying to lower the quality of life for the residents who live in the neighborhood.
Fighting against the prospect of having ANY multiple-family units built on the former site of the market is very important and a fight we all need to be involved in.
The local neighborhood has become organized and united. Now, with the help of all the great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1, we will use our time, energy, and strengths to keep OUR community with the highest quality of life possible.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Web Site Information About the R1 Houses
Here are two pages that make up the Web site: www.20thstreetcustomhomes.com.
You can view photos that illustrate what the exterior and interior of the three-single-family houses that the owner of the old McCowan's market is going to build on three R1 lots he owns on 20TH Street, in San Pedro.
Already, the old parking lot on 20Th Street is gone and permits to demolish the parking lot and building at the corner of 20Th and Walker are going through.
Whether the three houses will look out of place in the neighborhood, will be up to the eyes of the beholders.
I bet they would look more in place if there wasn't a condo building either right next door to one and across the street from the other two.
In the Daily Breeze article, the developer or somebody else suggest that traffic with condominiums would be less that traffic that was found when McCowan's was open.
I wouldn't argue that issue, but I will contend that there may not be "condominiums" eventually populated by folks, when everything is finally said and done. Remember Seaport Luxury Homes? Those "condominiums" were changed to lease to own apartments.
With the economy the way it is today, should we trust the only condominiums will stand forever at the site, if the developer gets his way? I think not! Even is the units were built as "condominiums" some, if not all, could become rental units.
Folks would still have housing, but they most likely be the owners of the units. Would they keep the value of the unit up if they weren't really paying the mortgage on the place?
Apartments seem to become vacant more frequently than owner-occupied units, don' they?
Let's work hard to keep the site of the McCowan's Market, the least dense as possible.
You may be interested in this little bit of trivia: If these three houses sell for $899,000 each, that is about $406.42 per square foot. A 600 square foot condo at Ponte Vista may go for $300,000, or about $500.00 per square foot. And that is not including dues and fees for living in that planned community.
I wonder what the developer of any condos that get approved of at 20Th and Walker will ask per square foot for his units?
Here is a link to Ms. Donna Littlejohn's article about the issue that was in The Daily Breeze on Sunday January 20, 2008: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8023686
You can view photos that illustrate what the exterior and interior of the three-single-family houses that the owner of the old McCowan's market is going to build on three R1 lots he owns on 20TH Street, in San Pedro.
Already, the old parking lot on 20Th Street is gone and permits to demolish the parking lot and building at the corner of 20Th and Walker are going through.
Whether the three houses will look out of place in the neighborhood, will be up to the eyes of the beholders.
I bet they would look more in place if there wasn't a condo building either right next door to one and across the street from the other two.
In the Daily Breeze article, the developer or somebody else suggest that traffic with condominiums would be less that traffic that was found when McCowan's was open.
I wouldn't argue that issue, but I will contend that there may not be "condominiums" eventually populated by folks, when everything is finally said and done. Remember Seaport Luxury Homes? Those "condominiums" were changed to lease to own apartments.
With the economy the way it is today, should we trust the only condominiums will stand forever at the site, if the developer gets his way? I think not! Even is the units were built as "condominiums" some, if not all, could become rental units.
Folks would still have housing, but they most likely be the owners of the units. Would they keep the value of the unit up if they weren't really paying the mortgage on the place?
Apartments seem to become vacant more frequently than owner-occupied units, don' they?
Let's work hard to keep the site of the McCowan's Market, the least dense as possible.
You may be interested in this little bit of trivia: If these three houses sell for $899,000 each, that is about $406.42 per square foot. A 600 square foot condo at Ponte Vista may go for $300,000, or about $500.00 per square foot. And that is not including dues and fees for living in that planned community.I wonder what the developer of any condos that get approved of at 20Th and Walker will ask per square foot for his units?
Here is a link to Ms. Donna Littlejohn's article about the issue that was in The Daily Breeze on Sunday January 20, 2008: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8023686
Friday, January 18, 2008
Another Very Good Cause to Fight For
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is about helping OUR community, all of OUR community, fight to keep what is best in OUR community.
Very recently we lost a dear, dear friend when the last McCowan's Market closed its doors on 20TH Street and Walker Avenue.
The paved parking on Walker between 20Th street and the alley was removed and there will be R1 homes built on that site, consistent with the land's current zoning.
Also, the parking lot directly next to the old store will be removed and one home on an R1 lot will be built.
The problem are good friends living in the nearby R1 homes are facing revolves around the land the actual store's structure was built on. It is zoned commercial and the new owner of the space is seeking to build at least 15 condominium (or perhaps apartments).
The neighborhood surrounding the store has single-family homes on R1 lots. There are multiple-family units on parts of 19TH Street, but there are still quite a few single-family homes on that street as well.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is as it should be, dedicated to helping residents no matter where they live or how they feel they are being targeted.
In the following post, there will be more information about the project and information anyone can use to contact Councilwoman Janice Hahn and/or her aide, Mr. Gordon Teuber, concerning this project.
Ponte Vista is not the only weapon of mass development we are facing. Having so many multiple-family units built in an area of mainly R1 homes could do harm to the current residents of OUR community and cause more trouble for all of us, than it is worth.
Very recently we lost a dear, dear friend when the last McCowan's Market closed its doors on 20TH Street and Walker Avenue.
The paved parking on Walker between 20Th street and the alley was removed and there will be R1 homes built on that site, consistent with the land's current zoning.
Also, the parking lot directly next to the old store will be removed and one home on an R1 lot will be built.
The problem are good friends living in the nearby R1 homes are facing revolves around the land the actual store's structure was built on. It is zoned commercial and the new owner of the space is seeking to build at least 15 condominium (or perhaps apartments).
The neighborhood surrounding the store has single-family homes on R1 lots. There are multiple-family units on parts of 19TH Street, but there are still quite a few single-family homes on that street as well.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is as it should be, dedicated to helping residents no matter where they live or how they feel they are being targeted.
In the following post, there will be more information about the project and information anyone can use to contact Councilwoman Janice Hahn and/or her aide, Mr. Gordon Teuber, concerning this project.
Ponte Vista is not the only weapon of mass development we are facing. Having so many multiple-family units built in an area of mainly R1 homes could do harm to the current residents of OUR community and cause more trouble for all of us, than it is worth.
More Information and a Very Interesting Letter
The following three documents are part of the initial actions by residents of the neighborhood near the old McCowan's Market and the site on 20TH Street and Walker Avenue.
The first piece is a flier which is calling for "NO CONDOS" on the site of the former grocery store.
You are most welcome to download it onto your computer and call the Councilwoman and/or her representative.
The next piece is a very interesting letter to the editor concerning the project. It appears to me by reading it, that perhaps the owner/developer had other things on his mind when he purchased the store in the first place.
It seems strange though that he would make all the remodeling changes he did if he was just going to close the store in the first place.
We did notice when we went to McCowan's on our last visit there that many of the items we looked at had their "sell by" dates some time ago. We actually bought a jar of jam that has a "Best by" date in 2006! I saw some cookies, which I did not buy, that had "sell by" in early 2006.
I agree with the letter submitted by Nick and Barbara.
No here is something else you can do. You can capture the form shown below and fill it out and mail it in, if you are of a mind to. While I think the folks in the immediate area should mail this form in, I think anyone else who has ever shopped at the store and/or visited the neighborhood near the store, and/or have friends who live in that area, should also fill out the form and mail it in.
Perhaps we can assist this developer to rue the day when Bob Bisno came to OUR community and brought with him his weapon of mass development. Bob has all of us watching more carefully when other developers come into town and attempt to lower the quality of life for the current residents so they can reap profits.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is OUR neighbors helping OUR neighbors, no matter where they live.
The first piece is a flier which is calling for "NO CONDOS" on the site of the former grocery store.
You are most welcome to download it onto your computer and call the Councilwoman and/or her representative.
The next piece is a very interesting letter to the editor concerning the project. It appears to me by reading it, that perhaps the owner/developer had other things on his mind when he purchased the store in the first place.
It seems strange though that he would make all the remodeling changes he did if he was just going to close the store in the first place.
We did notice when we went to McCowan's on our last visit there that many of the items we looked at had their "sell by" dates some time ago. We actually bought a jar of jam that has a "Best by" date in 2006! I saw some cookies, which I did not buy, that had "sell by" in early 2006.
I agree with the letter submitted by Nick and Barbara.
No here is something else you can do. You can capture the form shown below and fill it out and mail it in, if you are of a mind to. While I think the folks in the immediate area should mail this form in, I think anyone else who has ever shopped at the store and/or visited the neighborhood near the store, and/or have friends who live in that area, should also fill out the form and mail it in.
Perhaps we can assist this developer to rue the day when Bob Bisno came to OUR community and brought with him his weapon of mass development. Bob has all of us watching more carefully when other developers come into town and attempt to lower the quality of life for the current residents so they can reap profits.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is OUR neighbors helping OUR neighbors, no matter where they live.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Happy New Year, Now Let's Get Back to Business!
Happy New Year to all!
The quiet festive time may be coming to an end as we patiently, or as patiently as we can, await the news from the Los Angeles City Department of Planning, and what they feel is appropriate to be built at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
Bob Bisno is still sticking to his plans to build 1,950 condominiums on 61.53 acres of land in northwest San Pedro. That would give that project a gross density of 31.69 units per acre. Of course not all the land inside the fences of Ponte Vista is able to be built on and since Bob claims that "40% of the land will be open space", it seems the housing will really be more dense than one can imagine.
There is still no logical reason for many folks to demand anything other than R1 and keeping the current zoning as it is at Ponte Vista, if Bob stands firm on his outrageous number of units. Unfortunately, Bob continues to strongly refuse to compromise in any real manner.
Bob and his bunch have produced a single page flyer that shows the difference between what he wants to build and what he believes would be offered if R1 was maintained at the site.
As one would expect, the figures and notes used to create the flyer cause it to have many errors and/or omissions on both sides of the page and it uses incorrect statements to get folks to favor his plans over keeping the site R1.
Back in August, 2006, Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee met for the very first time. At that meeting, both Bob and Councilwoman Hahn made statements and predictions. Bob claimed he would work with any and all groups to try and find solutions to problems folks had with his plans, back then.
There was talk, so very long ago, that the L.A. City Council would probably get to vote on the municipal laws and codes that would allow for construction of the project, by January of 2008.
Well, as we look at our calendars, it is now January, 2008 and we are nowhere near any type of vote by any council on what might be built at Ponte Vista.
This year may be the year OUR community goes before the Los Angeles Planning Commission and be heard in hearings and meetings to determine what may go forward for approval by the Planning Commission, concerning the Ponte Vista matter.
IF and when the Planning Commission finally arrives at a majority decision as to what should go forward to the City Council for consideration, we all need to stand firm and clear that if anyone suggests that Ponte Vista has the number of units Bob wants now, we must state firmly and hold our ground to R1, NO COMPROMISE!
"Compromise" has been heard by opponents of Bob's plans and by supporters, too. Unfortunately, Bob has not listened to anyone mentioning that word. In actuality, probably more folks really want a compromise, in terms of numbers of units, than support Bob's current plans.
If Bob won't listen, then we must continue our fight to keep the zoning as it currently is at Ponte Vista. If the Planning Department and/or the Planning Commission favors Bob's plans, then we must fight them, too.
Your Rudderless Steering Committee will meet this month to plan for things to happen in the near future. It is time to remember what we probably chose to ignore since August, 2007 and we all need to put the issues back into focus, as we move forward.
Some folks demand R1, no matter what. Some folks see as many as 1,500 units. My "dream" is for 1,080 units, but that can't even be considered if Bob sticks to his ridiculous number of units.
Others have between 1,100-1,300 units in mind, and that is called a compromise between what Bob wants and what strong R1 proponents demand.
Everyone has a right and probably an obligation to their fellow neighbors and OUR community to let others know what they can live with, at Ponte Vista. This must be a community issue, because it will impact all of us in our own generation and generations to come.
Please continue to visit the group's Web site at: www.rneighborhoodsare1.org and let everybody know how you feel.
As 2007 was so very interesting, as far as the Ponte Vista project goes, it looks like 2008 could either be a very active and confrontational year, or a year when we all can come together as a community to create a Ponte Vista that we can all be proud of.
The quiet festive time may be coming to an end as we patiently, or as patiently as we can, await the news from the Los Angeles City Department of Planning, and what they feel is appropriate to be built at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
Bob Bisno is still sticking to his plans to build 1,950 condominiums on 61.53 acres of land in northwest San Pedro. That would give that project a gross density of 31.69 units per acre. Of course not all the land inside the fences of Ponte Vista is able to be built on and since Bob claims that "40% of the land will be open space", it seems the housing will really be more dense than one can imagine.
There is still no logical reason for many folks to demand anything other than R1 and keeping the current zoning as it is at Ponte Vista, if Bob stands firm on his outrageous number of units. Unfortunately, Bob continues to strongly refuse to compromise in any real manner.
Bob and his bunch have produced a single page flyer that shows the difference between what he wants to build and what he believes would be offered if R1 was maintained at the site.
As one would expect, the figures and notes used to create the flyer cause it to have many errors and/or omissions on both sides of the page and it uses incorrect statements to get folks to favor his plans over keeping the site R1.
Back in August, 2006, Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee met for the very first time. At that meeting, both Bob and Councilwoman Hahn made statements and predictions. Bob claimed he would work with any and all groups to try and find solutions to problems folks had with his plans, back then.
There was talk, so very long ago, that the L.A. City Council would probably get to vote on the municipal laws and codes that would allow for construction of the project, by January of 2008.
Well, as we look at our calendars, it is now January, 2008 and we are nowhere near any type of vote by any council on what might be built at Ponte Vista.
This year may be the year OUR community goes before the Los Angeles Planning Commission and be heard in hearings and meetings to determine what may go forward for approval by the Planning Commission, concerning the Ponte Vista matter.
IF and when the Planning Commission finally arrives at a majority decision as to what should go forward to the City Council for consideration, we all need to stand firm and clear that if anyone suggests that Ponte Vista has the number of units Bob wants now, we must state firmly and hold our ground to R1, NO COMPROMISE!
"Compromise" has been heard by opponents of Bob's plans and by supporters, too. Unfortunately, Bob has not listened to anyone mentioning that word. In actuality, probably more folks really want a compromise, in terms of numbers of units, than support Bob's current plans.
If Bob won't listen, then we must continue our fight to keep the zoning as it currently is at Ponte Vista. If the Planning Department and/or the Planning Commission favors Bob's plans, then we must fight them, too.
Your Rudderless Steering Committee will meet this month to plan for things to happen in the near future. It is time to remember what we probably chose to ignore since August, 2007 and we all need to put the issues back into focus, as we move forward.
Some folks demand R1, no matter what. Some folks see as many as 1,500 units. My "dream" is for 1,080 units, but that can't even be considered if Bob sticks to his ridiculous number of units.
Others have between 1,100-1,300 units in mind, and that is called a compromise between what Bob wants and what strong R1 proponents demand.
Everyone has a right and probably an obligation to their fellow neighbors and OUR community to let others know what they can live with, at Ponte Vista. This must be a community issue, because it will impact all of us in our own generation and generations to come.
Please continue to visit the group's Web site at: www.rneighborhoodsare1.org and let everybody know how you feel.
As 2007 was so very interesting, as far as the Ponte Vista project goes, it looks like 2008 could either be a very active and confrontational year, or a year when we all can come together as a community to create a Ponte Vista that we can all be proud of.
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