CommentsEASTSIDER-As we shall see later, I think that the Coronavirus just may do what citizens have not been able to do -- kill off the odious Casitas Lofts Project which seeks to destroy the old Bow Tie Yard over by the LA River, and give special “access” to the river for the wealthy who buy.
The History
For those who have forgotten their history, this turkey goes all the way back to the race between Joe Bray-Ali and Gil Cedillo for CD1, before Joe self-destructed during the runoff back in 2017.
Joe was a bike guy, an environmentalist, and most definitely a friend of the LA River. As his campaign website once indicated. . .
“Housing
- Assist property owners of empty lots along major boulevards to build at the scale and use of neighboring property;
- Citywide land use reform on: transit-oriented Accessory Dwelling Units, Rent Stabilization Ordinance reform and protection, increased construction of subsidized housing, implement value capture for discretionary up-zoning.
- Close the equity gap between well-financed real estate speculators and community land trusts, co-ops, buying clubs, and other collective ownership mechanisms
Green Space and Environmental Protection
- Protect open space, wildlife corridors, and hillsides.
- Fight to protect the LA River.
- Protect Elysian Park and invest in the Park’s needs.
- A vision for the Arroyo Seco Greenway”
His opponent, Gil Cedillo, was and is the very opposite of Joe. As Joel Epstein wrote in the Huffington Post in an endorsement piece of Bray-Ali:
“The Times’ endorsement is a striking rebuke to the current, in-the-pocket-of-developers councilman. Joe has also won the endorsement of the LA League of Conservation Voters for his commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. For example, Joe supports a styrofoam ban in Los Angeles and an official ban through punitive taxation on drilling and fracking within 2,500 feet of residential zoned communities.
Fact: Nearly half of Joe’s opponent’s contributions come from developers, and only 15 percent of Joe’s opponent’s contributions are from in-district donors. How can a candidate like Joe’s opponent be trusted to represent CD 1 residents? Fact: He can’t!
Fact: CD 1 is home to most of the hideous developments of LA embarrassment and Trump-like opponent of walkable communities, Geoffrey Palmer. Palmer’s monstrosities include the arson-targeted DaVinci, the Piero, and the fortress-like Orsini. To gain needed variances for these eyesores Palmer has maxed out to Joe’s opponent. Nationally, Palmer is one of the largest contributors to the Deplorable in Chief, Donald Trump. Are you with Joe, or with a major backer of the Deplorable in Chief?”
Not to be revisionist, I ultimately endorsed Gil Cedillo, mostly for his absolutely unwavering support for our oft-maligned undocumented Latino community, dating all the way back to his stint in the California legislature. Not to mention some very unfortunate remarks Joe Bray-Ali made about same, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Voila! Ze Lofts
A look at the actual Casitas Avenue Project Case File, shows that the case was opened in 2016, before Cedillo’s re-election in 2017.
It’s over by my favorite local Indian Food joint, Curry King, right off Fletcher Ave by Casitas. The project area is nearby, and I can still remember going to Joe Bray-Ali’s announcement meeting at the Bow Tie Yard, where he had bicycled all the way from Highland Park. Heady days.
So as soon as Cedillo won re-election, subterranean work kicked in for what we now call the Casitas Lofts. Total destruction of the 5.7 acres adjacent to the LA River, well over 400 condos, with commercial built in, and parking for something like 600 cars.
Along with -- hold your breath -- “special access” to the LA River for those wealthy enough to buy. That’s right. As I wrote in an earlier CityWatch piece:
“In a Glassell Park area adjacent to Eagle Rock Blvd., the LA City Planning Commission has just approved a 370-unit apartment building on San Fernando Road, right on the 2 Freeway, which will put a huge new load on both San Fernando and Eagle Rock Boulevards. (Photo of rendering above) This one’s in CD1, god love them.
The cost -- other than whatever the Council offices and PLUM get? A taste of affordable housing. As CurbedLA
‘The project would replace a warehouse and a two-story office building with 370 apartments, 31 of which would be available to very low-income households, plus about 1,900 square feet of coworking space and parking for nearly 600 cars.’
Groovy. This is like TOT on steroids, without the transit. The truth is that the only transit we’re talking about is arterial roadway transit. For cars and some bus lines. And unmentioned is the fact that this monstrosity is going to be right by an elementary school and the Ribet Academy. I’m sure they will appreciate the 600 cars.
By the way, why do they need 600 cars for 370 apartments? Do the people who can afford these units all have two cars? And I wonder how much pollution the apartment dwellers themselves are going to suck in between the freeway and San Fernando Road.
And I would really, really like to know on what basis the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council used to recommend this project to the City. Really.”
So, in 2020 the Draft EIR is in, and it is a fantasy right in there with some of my favorite Science Fiction writers. In their nightmares.
I have no doubt that the City intends to ram this sucker through. After all, Gil Cedillo is termed out in 2022, after winning an extraordinarily long term in the 2017 runoff against Joe Bray-Ali.
Friends of the LA River
You can, however, still make a difference. The main hub for all the stakeholder activity trying to stop this madness is called FoLAR (Friends of the LA River).
The blog is a great source for all things about the LA River, including these days, Casitas Lofts. There’s a very good color picture of the proposed site that shows exactly where and how big this project would be. The site also points out the specific defects in the proposed project’s Draft EIR.
Michael Atkins is the go-to person for the group, and he recently posted that the group was able to get an extension to the public comment period on the Draft EIR until April 13. Please go to the website, read the information, and consider participating so that more Angelenos can speak out against this project before it’s too late. There’s a link to post comments, and I know they would love to have you join the cause.
The Takeaway
I know, the teaser was in the header. Here’s why: Right now, it looks like we will be coping with the COVID-19 virus and its effects for a really long time. First, there is living (or tying to) through the main cycle of the virus and its awesome devastation of ourselves and our health care system.
After the infection cycle has moderated, however long that may be, we will all crawl out from our shelters/homes and try and rebuild our economic lives, if any. I will make a prediction that the real estate market in Los Angeles, California, and who knows where else, will be in the serious tank for a good long time.
No real estate market equals nobody is going to be interested in funding a zillion-dollar high end real estate project abutting two major freeways. No money equals no bakeesh to the electeds, equals no project.
Not to mention the possibility that more lobbyists and developers may roll over on more incumbent City Councilmembers. We haven’t heard squat from Jose Huizar, although I have heard rumors that he may be cooperating with the Feds. Fascinating thought, if true.
God, I love LA! But not the Casitas Lofts.
(Tony Butka is an Eastside community activist, who has served on a neighborhood council, has a background in government and is a contributor to CityWatch.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
