Month: May 2020

Public Comment Ends June 1, 2020

The Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for the Hollywood Center (aka Millennium Project) is available now and the public comment period ends Monday, June 1.  

All requests to have this comment period extended have been met with resistance. An official request made to the City Planning by attorney Robert Silverstein was simple – request denied!

Eclipsing our historic Capitol Records Building

Article Published 5-18-2020 by CityWatch

It is essential that all public comment on the Draft EIR be submitted to the City by the end of the day on June 1.
 

Email your comments to mindy.nguyen@lacity.org or send them by mail to:
 
Mindy Nguyen Dept. of City Planning
 221 N. Figueroa St, Suite 1350 
Los Angeles CA 90012 

Please reference case no. ENV-2018-2116-EIR

The full Draft EIR can be viewed and downloaded here:

DRAFT EIR

Many of you remember the first generation of this effort to build two huge towers next to Capitol Records and on an earthquake fault. 

That version failed because the developer tried to skirt around CalTrans. The traffic generated by such a huge project would overwhelm all the onramps to the 101 freeway. Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association shares that concern and is also well aware that this same traffic will clog all of the streets in Hollywood. 

The project involves two multi-use towers 35 and 46 stories adjacent to and across the street from the Capitol Records Building.

The issues that were present with that first rendition are the same with this new one. New name – same issues: 

Emergency Response: We know that such a monstrosity of a development will tap the already thin emergency response resources we now count on.

Traffic/Parking: Parking on every street near the development will be impacted and overflow cars will be driving into neighborhoods nearby in search for parking. Parking throughout Hollywood is already a nightmare and these extra cars will only make it worse.

Hollywood Earthquake Fault: This project is planned right on top of the Hollywood Earthquake Fault and all studies point to the expectation that these towers will collapse.

Infrastructure: Imagine the amount of water that will be siphoned off to support this development not to mention the sewer and other services. 

It’s hard to trust a developer that allows condo owners in their Millennium Tower San Francisco to risk their lives while that development moves every day. They cut corners and the tower is leaning – it’s a joke to all those who didn’t invest in it. Let’s not let this developer have his reckless way with Hollywood!

Please express your concerns and do it before Monday, June 1.


Project Rears its Ugly Head

REQUEST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENSION

The Hollywood Dell Civic Association, along with the Neighborhood Councils and other community groups are asking residents to write letters asking for the LA Department of City Planning to extend the public comment period for the proposed Hollywood Center Development (aka: Millennium Group).


The proposed project is of great concern to our community and we were alarmed to hear that the City had only provided the minimum comment period (April 16 – May 31st), despite our being under a “Safer At Home” order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a huge project that will have a major impact on the entire city and should be carefully considered.

We have asked that the public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Report be extended to a minimum of 90 days AFTER the city and state “Stay At Home” order has been lifted. Please join by sending your own letters (via email). We need a LOT of people to make this request so that they cannot ignore it.

But PLEASE frame your comments to show your position on this project clearly! Then ask for the extension of time. We must assume that the window of comment opportunity will be short as designed by the City and the developer. Let’s JUMP INTO THAT WINDOW and still ask for an extension for those who have no way to speak out.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was completed and was released for public view on April 16th. 

Read the Complete DEIR (Draft environmental Impact Report)

The DEIR is a complicated and lengthy report that will take even the most committed residents time to read through and understand before thoughtful comments can be made to the Department of City Planning. 
The Project Features:

Multiple buildings including two enormous high-rise towers (46 stories) 1,005 residential unitsA 220-room hotel Over a million square feet of floor area30,176 square feet of space for commercial use1,500 parking spaces
Direct your letter to:

Mindy Nguyen – City PlannerCity of Los Angeles Department of City Planning221 North Figueroa Street, Suite 1350Los Angeles, CA 90012Email: Mindy.Nguyen@lacity.org

Please cc the Hollywood Dell Civic Association ( alexa@hollywooddell.com) and the following:

Eric Garcetti, LA City Mayor (mayor.garcetti@lacity.org)
Mitch O’Farrell, LA City Council Member District 13 (councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org)
David Ryu, LA City Council Member District 4 (david.ryu@lacity.org)
Vince Bertoni, Director of City Planning (vince.bertoni@lacity.org)
Kevin Keller, Officer of City Planning (kevin.keller@lacity.org)

CityWatch Article on the Project