In a unanimous decision, the Los Angeles City Planning
Commission voted to continue consideration of a $100 million
construction project proposed for a vacant Westwood lot.
The commission will vote again March 11, when a more definitive
result is expected.
The project, Palazzo Westwood, would be a mixed-use facility,
with residential apartments and commercial spaces. The proposed
site for the project is located at Weyburn and Tiverton
avenues.
Westwood residents and Casden executives have been at odds over
the building’s proposed dimensions since the project’s
conception. Developers are asking the city to amend 18 provisions
of the Westwood Village Specific Plan in order to accommodate their
building.
The specific plan is meant to regulate the size and character of
new construction projects.
Residents oppose developers’ plans to demolish historic
Glendon Manor and to close Glendon Avenue for up to three years
during construction.
Laura Lake, co-founder of the community group Save Westwood
Village, said the outcome was a surprise.
“We expected a thumbs up or a thumbs down,” said
Lake, who added she was moderately encouraged by the results.
“I think (Casden Properties) is getting the message that
they better start giving,” she said.
Before gaining permission to begin building, Casden Properties
must submit plans to two bodies other than the planning
commission.
Lake’s group provided buses to transport concerned
residents to the meeting, which took place at City Hall downtown.
At least 50 residents attended the meeting, many of whom spoke
against the project.
Before voting, the commission heard statements for and against
the proposal.
Ellen Berkowitz, a representative from Casden Properties, said
the firm seeks amendments to the specific plan to create a project
that meets the needs of the community.
“The type of project that the specific plan allows for
would be more hotel space or another 652 seat movie theater. We
don’t feel that is what Westwood needs,” she said.
She cited the abundant residential space that the project would
provide ““ the building could contain up to 350 apartments
““ as one of its main advantages. Casden representatives
believe residential space could revitalize Westwood’s weak
retail economy.
City Councilman Jack Weiss voiced opposition to the project,
citing strong disapproval among his constituents and calling the
project “inconsistent with the goals we have in
Westwood.”
Weiss recalled a time when Westwood was a vibrant cultural
center and said Palazzo Westwood would not restore that atmosphere
because it would not benefit the general public.
A representative from the city planning department, Jon Foreman,
recommended the commission approve the project after making changes
to the building’s original design.
Foreman briefed the commission on these changes, including a
reduction in the building’s height and the use of diagonal
street parking instead of parallel street parking.
In her address to the commission, Lake said the specific plan is
generous to developers, permitting structures of greater density
and height than other comparable plans.
By making exceptions to the specific plan to accommodate the
building, the commission would be setting a dangerous precedent,
she said.