Monday, November 24, 2008

It's Monday, Do You Know Where Bob's Plans Are Headed?

The title of this post asks the question that I do not know the real answer to, but I would love to read what you think is coming soon.

The Ponte Vista Outreach Team suggested in a response to the report that Bob is still going ahead to the City Planning Commission with his applications and other documents.

The response made no mention of the still scheduled Harbor Area Planning Commission meeting on December 2.

That is about all I know concerning the possible paths forward for Bob and the Outreach Team.

What do you think should happen?

Do you feel as some do, that Bob was always intending to get approval for approximately 1,200-units beginning at any point since 2005?

Do you think he is or was always of a mind to sell whatever entitlements were granted to him, rather than really developing Ponte Vista using the plans advertised?

Were you always skeptical that Bob was never going to really provided the 'amenities' and 'community benefits' he publicized?

Would you still want the amenities and community benefits no matter what the density of the site becomes?

Who do you feel got 'screwed' so far? Why do you feel that?

What do you think Councilwoman Hahn will support after Bob's current plans are formally rejected by the L.A. City Council?

Do you honestly believe Bob's current applications and plans have any chance of approval? Why do you think that, if you do?

Before I continue with my questions, here is a little trivial history concerning the site.

The U.S. Navy obtained the site in 1942 and built a firefighting school in much of the area.

After the school was closed down and demolished, in 1962, duplex housing units were built on the western side of the property, with a market located more easterly of the main duplex-filled area.

Just east of the market and community room, approximately where Mary Star High School now stands, the Navy built box-like apartment structures for lower grade enlisted members of the Navy.

To my knowledge, and correct me if I am incorrect, I contend that there has never been any development of single-family, detached residential units on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet on any of the property currently known as Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

There may certainly have been several ranch-type houses sprinkled throughout the area before the Navy built it up, beginning in 1942.

The Los Angeles City Council placed the current zoning on the land while it was under the control of the U.S. Navy which never needs to follow municipal zoning guidelines.

It is a fact that the area is zoned for single-family, detached residential units on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet and the open space associated with that type of residential zoning.

Now it is time to get back to the questions.

Knowing that there was probably never a housing development of R1-type residences, and there certainly is not one on the site now, might that change any of your opinions as to what should be allowed to be built at the site? If so, why? If not, why not?

Without an objective study or survey ever being conducted regarding the need or want for senior housing or more senior housing by residents of San Pedro, do you feel that there really is a need for that type of housing?

Do you think the land at Ponte Vista will eventually be foreclosed upon and new buyers will purchase the land far below the $122 Million Dollars that was the original price for the land?

How much do you think a developer would pay for the 61.53 acres?

Would you want to see several developers purchase pieces of the site and not the whole site?

If a sports complex is really desired for the site, how much should the land be priced at and who should pay for the land?

Your answers to any and all of these questions are as important as just about everyone else. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. No score will be kept.

OUR community has been involved with these issues since 2005 and there seems to be no end in sight for when these issues will finally lead to something being built at Ponte Vista.

But as Councilwoman Hahn, Bob Bisno and many others in OUR community firmly believe, something WILL be built at the Ponte Vista site.

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