A New NFL Stadium: Competition Abounds
Early reports indicate that Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which has a certified EIR for a stadium, and Sportstown Anaheim are the most viable of the four sites being considered by the National Football League franchise. However, Catellus Development Corp., led by Nelson Rising, has assembled a strong team, including developer Ira Yellin and Dodgers' owner Peter O'Malley, to lobby for a stadium in downtown L.A. And a recent study for Hollywood Park by Kosmont & Assoc. compared the four sites and found that Hollywood Park was the leading candidate. Insiders in Inglewood feel like it's a no-win competition: "We're the tail at the end of the NFL dog."
Largest Apartment Owners…
The National Multi Housing Council recently released its annual compilation of the 50 largest apartment owners. Leading the list was Insignia Financial Group in Greenville, South Carolina. Southern California firms that made the top fifty were: National Partnership Investment Corp. in Beverly Hills ranked 11, with 52,753 apartments; Los Angeles-based Sunamerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc. at 25; R&B Realty Group in Los Angeles at 29; and Goldrich & Kest Industries in Culver City at 30.
A New CEO at the MTA
The MTA in March unanimously voted to hire Joseph Drew as the new Chief Executive Officer. Drew had been the acting CEO since Franklin White's ouster in December, 1995. Management changes have happened so fast that even the MTA doesn't have everything straight: MTA 's publication "Metro Business Outlook" in March accidentally named L.A. "Kim" Kimball the agency's new CEO.
The Board approved the Pasadena Blue Line at the Feb. board meeting, however, selection of management consultants for the Eastside Extension at the March meeting was pulled from the agenda after questions were raised about the selection process.
Burbank Airport Expansion: Crash and Burn?
Litigation is almost certain over the planned $250 million terminal replacement/expansion of the Burbank Airport on an adjacent piece of land owned by Lockheed Martin Corp. Although a compromise has been suggested by Lockheed, Burbank's City Council continues to oppose the purchase until the size of the new terminal and nighttime curfew hours are resolved.
El Toro Airport Proposal Grounded
Measure S, the referendum to ban development of a commercial airport at El Toro, polarized Orange County voters between north and south county, but was resoundingly defeated. The results put the El Toro base closure on the fast track, with the county's EIR and reuse plan scheduled to go to the Secretary of the Navy for approval by December 15, 1996.
Local Help for Planners
A new program called the Community Development and Design Forum, initiated by the School of Planning and Development at USC, contracts the services of graduate urban planning students to local agencies, cities, and community-based organizations. The students provide technical and research support and apply economic development techniques as part of their classroom training.
Legislative Watch
Long Beach Freeway Assemblyman Bill Hoge has launched a series of bills to stop the contentious Long Beach Freeway expansion through Pasadena, South Pasadena and El Sereno. The legislation would also make it easier to buy surplus houses no longer on the route. Construction on the freeway is planned by Caltrans to begin in 2005.
AQMD Assault
Two Republican Senators from Orange County have begun their promised assault on the AQMD by introducing or amending a series of seven bills which would strip the AQMD of any control over its own affairs.
Among the bills Senator John Lewis (R-Orange) and Senator Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove) have introduced are: SB 836 (Lewis) eliminates AQMD's Rule 2202 (commuter rule replacement); SB 1518 (Hurtt) requires AQMD to transfer all revenue to the stale treasurer; SB 160 I (Lewis) prohibits the AQMD from increasing its budget or any fee.
Construction Defect Litigation
Arguing that construction defect litigation is one of the causes of a 40% decline in multifamily housing construction, the California Building Industry Assoc. is supporting Assembly Bill 3289 (Miller, R-Diamond Bar), which would limit attorneys' contingency fees on specialized defect cases, as well as SB 744 (Calderon, D-Whitter), which establishes a new definition of construction defect and standard of liability.
EPA Appropriations
During three days of Senate debate on the fiscal 1996 omnibus appropriations bill (HR3019), Democrats won a key concession that would increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but they failed to resolve the stalemate on policy questions including timber and endangered species that the environmental community is watching closely.
People
The Southern California Housing Development Corporation (SCHDC) has formed a new division covering the City of Los Angeles. Mark Adams, previously Director of Public Affairs for Fannie Mae in Pasadena, will become the Director of the new division. L. Gail Gordon, a partner with Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, was named to the Board of Directors.
David Friedman, an attorney, economist and writer, joined Catellus Development Corp. as Vice President of the newly formed Resources Group, responsible for the firm's extensive land holdings in the California desert and Central Valley.
Jell Lambert, previously Manager of Property Acquisition for Kaiser Permanente, will be the new Planning Director of Santa Clarita.
Richard Amador, CEO of Charo Community Development Corporation, was named to the Consumer Council of the Federal Reserve Board.
The Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH) elected it 1996 Board of Directors: Paul Zimmerman of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation was named President: Karen Flock of the Cabrillo EDC was named Vice-President; Ruth Schwartz of Shelter Partnership was named Secretary; Joan Ling of Comm. Corp. of Santa Monica was named Treasurer.
Donald Maddy, Executive Director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, was reappointed by Governor Pete Wilson to the California Housing Partnership Corp.
Arlene Moody, previously with Design I in Marina Del Rey, has been appointed the Director of Business Development with McLamnd, Vasquez & Partners, an architectural and planning firm in Costa Mesa.
The Metropolitan Transportation Agency Board voted to rename the plaza outside their new Gateway Center headquarters in honor of its visionary, Nick Patsaouras, also an alternate Board Member.
Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Corporation is searching for an Executive Director to replace Andy Raubeson, who is leaving in July.
Eastside-based Charo Community Development was chosen by the L.A. Community Development Department as one of five agencies to receive a$1.5 million (total) to manage Business Assistance Centers. Other winners include: USC Business Expansion Network (South L.A.). Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (Metro Central); Valley Economic Development Center (Northeast Valley) and American Women's EDC of Calif. (Harbor).
Alis Calusen, formerly News Director with Jones Intercable, was named Press Deputy to Michael Antonovich.
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