Army land sale has officials up in arms
CITY HALL — Officials here are outraged over the Army’s attempt to auction off 10 acres of prime real estate in West Los Angeles without properly notifying the public.
Beyond concerns about possible commercial development at the site and what that would mean for traffic congestion on the Westside, Councilmember Richard Bloom and U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, said they were deeply troubled by the lack of warning by the Army, which scheduled the auction for June 12, with tours of the property beginning Wednesday.
Bloom and Waxman said they were not aware of the auction until being informed by residents who read an advertisement for it in the Los Angeles Times over Easter weekend.
“For the military, with no process, no discussion with political leaders … no discussion whatsoever, to remove this facility this way, in my opinion, is a terrible thing,” Bloom said. “This project must be stopped in its tracks.”
In addition to the possible elimination of a staging area for a terrorist attack or natural disaster, Bloom said a cold-weather shelter for the homeless, which is located on the property, could also be in jeopardy, leaving the Westside without 150 beds.
This would be a significant loss, homeless service providers said, for West Los Angeles is seriously lacking in shelters for the homeless.
There is also a concern that officials in Culver City will not renew a lease to operate their cold-weather shelter, which is set to expire in 2007. While officials in Culver City said they are working to extend the lease, homeless service providers are still worried. If the two shelters were to close, that would mean the loss of 300 total beds during the winter months.
“This would seriously jeopardize our homeless delivery system,” said Mona Miyasato, acting human services manager for City Hall.
“This would seriously jeopardize our homeless delivery system.” — MONA MIYASATO ACTING HUMAN SERVICES MANAGER, CITY HALL
Waxman is also deeply troubled about losing the homeless shelter, but even more so by the Army’s failure to keep his office informed of the auction. While he expected to receive advanced warning of any decision by the Army, along with a detailed timeline for the land transfer, Waxman’s staff said he did not find out about the auction until after an advertisement was posted.
Waxman said veterans should be given the right of first refusal for the property, considering the land is part of a 300-acre gift in 1888 by a private family, who wanted the land to be used as a home for disabled veterans.
Representatives for Waxman said they are involved in daily communications with the Army and have expressed the concerns of residents and elected officials here, but so far, the auction has not been called off.
Calls to the Army were not returned. The property on the auction block is located at the Southeast corner of the Federal Building in Westwood, just south of Wilshire Boulevard. The land, comprised of two, five-acre parcels, was first acquired by the U.S. Army Reserve in 1956 from the Veteran’s Administration at a cost of $60,000. In 1976, the Army acquired the additional 5-acre portion from the Air Force at not cost. That portion was originally owned by the VA, according to an information paper prepared by the Army.
The auction is technically a real property exchange. In exchange for the land, which is home to the West Los Angeles U.S. Army Reserve Center, the buyer would be required to build replacement facilities at existing government facilities elsewhere in Southern California. If the new construction is not worth the total value of the property, the Army can accept a cash payment to cover the balance.
Los Angeles County has zoned the 10 acres for institutional uses only, which include schools, fire and police stations, hospitals, parks and government offices. This could make the property undesirable to some developers, but they can appeal for a zoning change from the county.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said he would fight any zoning change.
Santa Monica City Council members voted last week to have city staff continue lobbying efforts to get the auction stopped and allow more time for the public to weigh in on the sale.
“God only knows what they (developers) will put on this land,” Mayor Bob Holbrook said. “It doesn’t look like a lot of land when you drive by, but we’re talking about 10 acres.”
Those who wish to bid on the property must register on-line at www.westlarpx.com before June 12. The auction will run until June 23 at 3 p.m. The minimum bid is $1.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 2, 2006. Read the original PDF.