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Hawthorne readies suit over Del Aire apartment plans
By
Ian Gregor - December 01, 2004
Hawthorne attorneys are preparing a lawsuit against a big apartment
development slated for land directly south of the Airport Courthouse.
The
Hawthorne City Council last week unanimously authorized the start
of litigation against the $100 million, 430-unit project in unincorporated
county turf southwest of La Cienega Boulevard
and Imperial Highway.
The site is across the San Diego
(405) Freeway from Hawthorne.
The
project by Trammell Crow Residential has evoked considerable concern
among residents of Hawthorne and the unincorporated
Del Aire community, who fear that an influx of renters would crowd
local streets and schools and compromise the character of their
neighborhoods.
A
lawsuit would challenge the adequacy of the project's environmental
reviews, City Attorney Glen Shishido said. It cannot be filed until
the county Board
of Supervisors approves the project.
"We
intend to protect all of our rights and the health, safety and general
welfare of our residents" under the California Environmental
Quality Act, Shishido said Tuesday.
He
said Hawthorne will ask for support from county Supervisor
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, whose 2nd District includes the development
site.
Burke's
spokeswoman, Glenda Wina, said the supervisor does not have a position
on the project because it likely will come before the board on appeal
of a county Planning
Commission decision.
Michael
Genthe, managing director of Trammel Crow Residential, said it's
premature to comment on threatened litigation, but added that he's
disappointed that the city "would consider moving in this direction."
He said his company has addressed surrounding residents' concerns
by agreeing to cut the size of the project and contribute hundreds
of thousands of dollars to local communities.
"We
believe strongly that this development is the right development
for the site, the right development for the neighborhood,"
Genthe said. "It delivers much needed housing for the work
force that lives in this job-rich part of this county."
The
four-story, 5-acre "Alexan Pacific Concourse" will offer
units ranging in size from 550-square-foot studios to 1,500-square-foot
three-bedroom apartments with lofts, with monthly rents running
from the high $1,300s to about $3,300, Genthe said.
The
complex will feature two swimming pools and spas, a clubhouse, underground
parking, fitness and business centers, and barbecue areas.
Trammell
Crow assuaged Del Aire's neighborhood association by agreeing to
slice off 20 units and contribute more than $320,000 to the local
library, park and schools. Another $1.3 million in legally mandated
development fees will go to local schools and libraries, and the
project will generate about $1 million a year in property taxes,
Genthe said.
The
county's Regional Planning Commission approved the project in early
November. The matter comes back for final approval this month, and
is expected to then be turned over to the county
Board of Supervisors.
Hawthorne officials have not discussed whether they would accept
a scaled-back development, Shishido said.
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