A lawsuit is being planned by the Coalition for Veterans’ Land to oppose the proposed construction of two FBI offices in place of the Federal Building in Westwood.
Los Angeles City councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Jack Weiss have introduced a proposal that the city council join the lawsuit, said Laura Lake, copresident of the coalition.
Construction of the two new buildings, which would serve as the FBI headquarters for most of Southern California, could add up to 900,000 square feet of space, said Gene Gibson, the General Services Administration spokeswoman.
The GSA is a branch of the federal government in charge of contracts and acquisitions and is responsible for the project proposal.
The Federal Building currently stands 17 stories tall at the Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue intersection.
Plans for the FBI buildings are still being finalized, with several alternatives being considered.
“One of them would be to build the two FBI towers and leave the Federal Building in place,” Gibson said. “The second is to demolish the Federal Building entirely and then build the FBI towers (in their place), and the third is to leave it how it is and change nothing.”
The coalition’s lawsuit will oppose any construction or demolition.
Individual veterans also plan to join the lawsuit, according to a letter on the coalition Web site.
Lake said the coalition is concerned about potential for a dramatic increase in both traffic and security risk in the area, as well as construction and air-quality issues.
She also said she believes the land should be used for veterans.
“This land was part of the original 600 acres donated to soldiers in 1888,” Lake said. “Our elected officials agree that this land should serve the veterans.”
There are nearly 1 million veterans in the community that also oppose the FBI’s project, she said.
But the FBI determined Westwood was the most practical site for the new headquarters.
Parties for and against construction of the headquarters await the release of the environmental impact statement, which will outline the environmental effects of the project.
“When the final environmental impact statement is released, the coalition will have only around 45 days to file a legal challenge,” Lake said.
Once the statement is released, there will be a minimum 30-day public comment period.
“We have done a draft (of the statement), but the final statement will come out by the end of April, beginning of May,” Gibson said.
During the comment period, community members will have a chance to voice their concern.
The coalition Web site encourages veterans and citizens to send letters and e-mails to elected officials explaining their opposition to the project, and asks for donations to assist the coalition’s efforts.
The lawsuit will be formally filed once the impact statement is released, Lake said.
GSA maintains that the coalition disapproves of the project regardless of the environmental impact.
“They just don’t want it, regardless of the impact statement, and that’s the bottom line,” Gibson said.
The project was proposed by the GSA nearly three years ago, according to Daily Bruin archives.
Construction will not begin until the impact statement is released and all legal actions are settled, she said.
The coalition maintains that it is simply looking out for the good of the Westwood community.
“Students, faculty and staff will all be major beneficiaries if we are successful in our legal efforts,” Lake said.