South Bay Echo for Jan 28
Redondo denies Catalina project, Manhattan approves Highrose, police chase after robbery, next Metro C Line public meetings
Welcome to the 47th edition of South Bay Echo, your source of local hometown news with a real estate angle.
This Substack is brought to you by Rosetree Real Estate, a full service real estate brokerage dealing in residential and commercial properties to both own and lease. For more information visit RosetreeRealEstate.com. DRE# 02145024
Redondo Beach denies Catalina project
In what undoubtedly was a new record, the Redondo Beach City Council debated for nearly 10 hours this week — until 4:30 in the morning — over a mixed-use housing development on Catalina Avenue.
The five-member panel ultimately decided 3-2 to deny the multi-lot project on grounds that it violated the Local Coastal Plan for its impacts on traffic and available parking.
First off, how ridiculous to debate a project like this for 10 hours. That’s not efficient government that works for anyone. You could probably pass a UN Charter in less time. If you can’t make your point succinctly, than it’s not much of a point in my opinion.
But I can understand what’s really going on here. Members opposed to the project (Obagi, Nehrenheim and Loewenstein) were trying to get on the record, in every clumsy and laborious way possible, the legal grounds to oppose what in any other city would be a creative and exciting project. Instead, Redondo Beach residents will be left with a vacant coffee shop and a languishing city spirit.
When developer Jason Muller of Beach City Capital decided to invest in Redondo Beach, he was told by his friends in the industry that our fair city was hostile toward development, that its slow growth attitude was too pervasive. But the Torrance native didn’t listen to them and went ahead anyway. Boy was that a mistake.
After five years of planning, untold millions spent, and countless hours working directly with city staff, his team is now at a crossroads. Either give up or sue.
This project was controversial from the start. Prior efforts wanted to demolish the entire block, but Muller and his team designed a project that would enliven the block with artwork and commercial spaces for all residents to enjoy. They tried to design a mixed-use project that preserves the historic buildings while providing much-needed housing.
Perhaps the appellants and the councilmembers who opposed the project are correct the plan somehow violates the Coastal Act because it doesn’t have enough on-site parking. That fact was certainly debatable and will likely be fought in court.
But come on guys, it’s one thing to be against an enormous apartment tower up against the ocean or a giant overdevelopment of our precious waterfront. It’s quite another to be against fixing the damn place up. Instead, Redondo will go to war with yet another developer, solidifying its negative reputation among those capable of progress.
Manhattan Beach approves Highrose Project
The Manhattan Beach City Council caved to pressure from a developer and a state agency earlier this month when it reversed course and approved a five-story apartment complex in El Porto, according to the Daily Breeze.
The course correction came after the developer filed a lawsuit and the California Department of Housing and Community Development said the city was in violation of the state’s density bonus law.
Now I’ve heard opinions on this from both sides. One side says the council really has no say in the matter because the project falls within the law, while another says they are reading the law incorrectly. They could always go to court to find out.
In the end, the council figured that going to court would be a waste of valuable taxpayer resources. It seems only one city in the South Bay is overzealous for that.
Pursuit leads to arrest in Redondo
South Bay residents had some excitement Thursday afternoon when police chased a robbery suspect by car and then by foot until he was finally arrested in Redondo Beach.
The chase began in Manhattan Beach after two suspects robbed the Vons, according to MBPD. One was detained and the other fled, speeding through Hermosa and into Redondo where he eventually crashed and bailed on foot somewhere around Palos Verdes Boulevard and Irena Street. Officers made the arrest with the help of canines and recovered a large amount of stolen alcohol.
During the chase, a helicopter circled overhead while a flood of police cruisers — at least seven SUVs, two patrol cars and motorcycles — were seen racing down PCH with sirens blaring.
Residents were warned to stay indoors through text alert and social media, which is a good reminder to sign up for South Bay Alerts by going to AlertSouthBay.com or Text “AlertSB” to 888-777.
Metro sets next C Line meetings
Lastly, and I’ll keep this short because I’ve likely gotten myself into enough trouble in this issue, LA Metro is ready to hold its next round of public meetings over its proposed C Line (Green) extension into Torrance.
The subject of debate is the recently issued Draft Environmental Impact Report, which can be viewed at Metro.net. It’s extremely long and boring, so good luck.
To make your voice heard, there will be a virtual meeting Feb 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a meeting locally Feb 21 at the Torrance Civic Center and Feb 22 at the Redondo Performing Arts Center. For more information click here.
All for now… thanks for reading and have a great weekend!