City planners give polarizing Culver Boulevard project a favorable ruling
By Gary Walker and Joe Piasecki
A July 2013 rendering of the Legado project planned for 138 Culver Blvd.
The largest and most controversial development proposal in Playa del Rey has won a favorable ruling from city planners, forcing opponents to launch an appeal by Monday or prepare for a very big change along Culver Boulevard.
Critics say the height and density of the Legado project, planned for the expansive triangular parcel of undeveloped land between Culver and Vista Del Mar, would be out of character with the neighborhood.
But on March 16, Los Angeles Planning Director Vince Bertoni cleared a coastal development permit for a four-story, nearly 80,000-square-foot residential complex with ground-floor retail and subterranean parking.
Benjamin Reznik, an attorney representing Legado, said developer Edward Czuker resubmitted plans last year that responded to project critics by giving up one of what were two levels of underground parking and reducing the building’s height from 56 to 48 feet.
Underground parking is controversial, in part, because removing water for excavation could possibly disturb toxic pollutants detected underneath a former dry cleaner nearby.
Word of Bertoni’s ruling after the project appeared dormant for more than a year took many locals by surprise.
“I’m not sure how that got through with all the community pushback and environmental risks,” said Maria Reyes, who lives a short walk from the Legado parcel.
Representatives of Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who came out against the project in 2015, say he has talked to neighbors who are in the process of filing appeals and that the council office is “supporting the effort to make sure this project adheres to the area’s specific plan” for growth and development.
“While there is likely some sort of project that the community would support at this location, this project is not it. It is simply too tall and out of character with the small-town beach community feel of Playa del Rey,” Bonin wrote to Playa del Rey constituents on March 22. “My staff is still reviewing the Planning Department decision and will be working closely with community leaders to challenge this decision.”
Reznik, for one, isn’t surprised a challenge is forthcoming.
“It’s likely that there will be one, based on the area’s history,” he said.
What they have applied for even at 37 feet is just not in keeping with our community. Carol Kapp The Jungle
Message to Legado Executives: Come on down to Culver Boulevard between 4:30 and 5:00 on a Thursday, like I did today to get to the local post office — MAJOR TRAFFIC JAM AS FAR AS I COULD SEE. When you finally get to the beach and find a parking place, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SHOVEL AND DIG A HOLE IN THE SAND — NOT TOO DEEP UNTIL IT FILLS WITH WATER — SO TAKE YOUR SUBTERRANEAN PARKING STRUCTURE ELSEWHERE — Sorry, but we like our little beach town just the way it is.
Please think of how amazing this town is and not your profits legado . This is not playa vista and we do not need an expansion of playa vista here in playa del rey . You have such an amazing opportunity to contribute to the neighborhood and this is not the right way . Keep it local
Seems like lots of racists don’t want diversity in their area. This project has affordable housing and the traffic impact would be minimal as since most locals know, the traffic on Vista Del Mar is coming from and going to the South Bay. How about the business opportunities for small business owners? Lots of this “pushback” is from people who brought their home 40 years ago and enjoy the recent surge in housing values. Most who’ve “EARNED” their money the “old fashioned way” support the project.