South Bay Echo for Feb 12
Sea Lab project rejected, AES conflict revealed, Piccini's best pizza, The Spot restaurant closes after 43 years.
Welcome to the 49th edition of South Bay Echo, your source of local hometown news with a real estate angle.
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Redondo denies Sea Lab redevelopment
There was nothing surprising about the outcome earlier this week when the Redondo Beach City Council unanimously denied a 35-unit mixed use development at the site of the former Sea Lab. The public hearing, however, revealed more about the motivation behind the application.
The Sea Lab project, like the proposed redevelopment of the AES power plant site, is headed by Leo Pustilnikov and company. They know full well, based on zoning, that a 35-unit residential development is not permitted at the southwest corner of Harbor Drive and Yacht Club Way. And neither is a 12-story, 2,300 unit residential tower on the power plant site. Both properties would need public votes to change the zoning, which likely isn’t happening.
The point of putting these projects forward is simply to set up Redondo Beach for a court fight, the method being through the Housing Accountability Act and the so-called “builders remedy.” Leo and company will argue that even though the state certified Redondo’s housing element, it’s too restrictive, and therefore the city must grant these projects.
With some gamesmanship, the city on Tuesday refused to even receive and file the application, which was the developer’s ultimate aim here in setting up a lawsuit.
The question before the courts will be whether the Coastal Act trumps the Housing Act. I’m not a lawyer, but I do know there are few laws in California as strong as the California Coastal Act. It is often the regulation of final approval. It played a pivotal role in ultimately defeating the waterfront project and will likely do the same here.
More light shed on AES conflict
Since writing in recent editions about the AES foreclosure proceeding and a subsequent public auction later this month, information has been brought to my attention that sheds more light on the situation.
At the time of the AES property sale to Leo Pustilnikov and company in 2020, there were five commitments AES succeeded in obtaining for Redondo Beach. One of them was a $14 million contribution from AES to accelerate development of the land should a three-year operating extension be granted.
At issue is that little stickler about a three-year operating extension that Pustilnikov is referring to in the Easy Reader. While the plant was technically awarded an extension for three years, it was first awarded a one-year extension and then a two-year extension. It’s likely due to this technicality that AES is refusing to cough up that $14 million, leading the developers to rethink the whole deal.
The City Council last week talked in closed session about the auction. It could be they are cooking up something, possibly together with the county, should it move forward in 10 days. The auction too could be postponed.
Best pizza in the South Bay
With this being Super Bowl Sunday and all, my mind is on pizza. What better time to tell you about what’s become my favorite pizza place in the South Bay, and that’s Piccini Italian Takeout in Torrance.
Located at the corner of Anza Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard, this fourth generation South Bay restaurant comes from the family that brought us Gaetano’s.
For lunch I often pick up one of their hearty salads. But the pizza (man oh man) this is an artisan pie to die for — a really nice cook with hand tossed dough topped with super fresh ingredients. For more visit EatPiccini.com.
The Spot restaurant closes after 43 years
For 43 years it was The Spot in Hermosa Beach. The spot for vegan dining. The spot for fresh ingredients. And the spot for a veggie burger before there were veggie burgers everywhere.
Another long-standing staple of South Bay life came to an end this week when The Spot Natural Food Restaurant closed its doors for the last time. The restaurant first opened in 1977 and moved to Hermosa a few years later. When The Spot first opened, Hermosa was just a sleepy little beach town.
You can still enjoy their recipes with The Spot cookbook by owner and creator Tonya Beaudet. To order visit WorldFamousSpot.com.
That’s all for now… Thanks for reading… And how ‘bout those Chiefs?!!
I am thrilled that the RB Council rejected the project! The land is polluted from byproducts from the power plant. And is toxic to human residential use as explained when the initiatives were passed over the last 10 years.