The long and winding story of the Millennium Hollywood took another twist last Thursday when a judge issued a ruling to halt the $1 billion project, likely forcing the developer to go back to the drawing board and create a new environmental impact report (EIR).
A rendering depicts how the Millennium project was proposed to have been configured around the Capitol Records Building. (photo courtesy of Millennium Partners)
“We got everything we wanted,” said George Abrahams, who was the plaintiff in the case and a member of Stop the Millennium. “The things we won on were very solid.”
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant said the city disregarded concerns by Caltrans that traffic on the Hollywood (101) Freeway would be significantly impacted by the development. The judge also noted that the project’s description was overly vague. The decision invalidates the project’s EIR.
“An injunction shall [be issued] enjoining the city from granting any authority, permits, certificate of occupancy or entitlements for the project pursuant to the city’s prior actions, and enjoining Millennium from undertaking construction on the project pursuant to the set aside approvals,” Chalfant said in the decision.
The Millennium Hollywood project was approved by the city council in July 2013. It would be built on two sites on Vine Street just north of Hollywood Boulevard. The proposed project would have had 492 residential units, 200 hotel rooms, 100,000 square feet of office space, 35,000 square feet of restaurant space, 40,000 square feet of sports club use and 15,000 feet of retail space. It would be built while preserving the Capitol Records building. The maximum height of the two towers would be 39 and 35 stories.
Last fall, a new California Geological Survey (CGS) map outlined the Hollywood Fault zone, which overlaps portions of multiple projects in the city, including the proposed Millennium Hollywood.
Abrahams said it was a victory that a new EIR would have to account for the study. Proponents of the Millennium interpreted the judge’s decision differently.
“We are gratified by the judge’s ruling on seismic issues acknowledging the appropriateness of our studies,” said Philip Aarons, of Millennium Partners. “We are considering our options for addressing [all of] the issues cited by the court and are fully committed to moving forward with our project.”
The Millennium was strongly supported by now-Mayor Eric Garcetti, who at the time represented the 13th District. His successor, Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, has also been a supporter, as has the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
“I think nobody wants to see two empty parking lots,” Garcetti said. “It’s important that we get something done there. Sometimes taller, thinner things become more of a lightning rod, literally, than flatter shorter things that block views and take every last space. I hope we can get something that is reasonable there, something that is good.”
The Millennium project proposal is to build two towers on vacant land around the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. (photo by Jonathan Van Dyke)
“Today’s ruling was mixed and we won’t know the ultimate outcome until the appeals and various causes of action are heard,” O’Farrell said in a statement. “This proposed project has garnered a significant amount of attention since it was first announced, none of it helpful to the economic health, future and job growth in Hollywood. I am glad the judge relied on data in determining the site does not sit on an active earthquake fault and I applaud the city’s department of building and safety for its rigorous review of the geology reports. This will eventually clear the way for development on parcels that have been surface parking lots in the heart of Hollywood for at least 60 years. I will continue working hard to make Hollywood a safe, vibrant, high quality neighborhood and world-class tourist destination.”
Ultimately, city officials and the developer said it would be up to local geologists.
“The California map only concludes one thing … that the lines are an estimate from the state geologist,” said Luke Zamperini, chief inspector of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. “It’s why we require the developers to bore holes and dig trenches to demonstrate whether there is an active fault there. Just because the state drew a line doesn’t mean that’s where it is. At the end of the day, you’ll have physical proof whether it is there or not. Before they could get a permit from building and safety, they have to prove there is not an active fault under the building.”
Abrahams said he is not in favor of building anything major on the land due to seismic concerns, and added that the city should consider installing a greenbelt there, similar to what has been done in Loma Linda and Signal Hill.
The judge’s 46-page document was a tentative ruling that was later ruled as final except for the plaintiff’ fifth cause of action, which asked the judge to order the city to develop a “fair” hearing policy for its procedures relating to land use appeals. Another judge will hear that part of the lawsuit.
Millennium Partners may eventually appeal the decision when it is entirely final. If the decision stands, the developer would have to conduct a new EIR for a new proposal.
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For an example of good city planning see the excerpts below from the Loma Linda Conservation and Open Space Element:
9.1 Purpose
Open space for public health and safety including areas that require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions, such as fault zones, unstable soil areas, steep slopes, high fire hazard areas, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs, and floodplains.
9.2.10.2 Guiding Policy for Open Space
Acquire, preserve and maintain open space and its natural resources for future generations.
Implementing Policies
f. The San Jacinto Fault Zone area should be preserved as open space through easement dedication during the review process of applicable new developments.
http://www.lomalinda-ca.gov/PDFs/General%20Plan/May%2009/Chapter%209%20-%20Conservation%20&%20Open%20Space%20Element.pdf
Let’s cut to the chase.. Millennium money got both O’Farrell and Garcetti elected. They both will go to the mat for Millennium dangerous projects and say anything, no matter how many lives they put at risk. Millennium threw money around here for years, and is top of list in expenditures lobbying, in any city, for their projects.Millennium’s two puppets have both lied throughout the whole process and at hearings. O’Farrell is delusional. The Judge never said anything about an EQ fault not being there. He needs to pay attention and shut up. Not the first time he totally lied in an official statement. The active EQ fault IS there,but was not part of this ruling. He is dangerous and irresponsible and should be recalled. If their game of russian roulette continues and Garcetti green lights these projects after all is re-done, he must be recalled too. Both the State Geologist, Dr. Parrish, and seismic expert, USC Prof. Dolan all confirmed it is sitting on an active EQ fault and ‘no one should build there..the buildings will split in half and bodies will be strewn all over’ And yet their mantra continues to be it’s in the city department’s hands, all those Garcetti appointed and promoted (Ray Chan at LADBS) all his yes men.
The day O’Farrell led city council to a unanimous vote for Millennium,ignoring warnings from Caltrans and the State Geologist, to NOT VOTE YET.. he lied the projects were ‘safe’.. according to his research. THEY ARE NOT SAFE. And lied they were supported by Caltrans. THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTED BT CALTRANS.
Anyone who votes for Garcetti after everything that has come out about HIM, is certifiably insane! How many more law suits, he is responsible for, won by the people of L.A. he continues to thumb his nose at,can this city afford?
Early on, Dept. of Planning was calling these projects “A Universal Theme Park on Vine” so massive and with not much specific. The Judge wisely said it was not specific enough. It could wind up to be ANYTHING which was what everyone said at every hearing, in addition to the warnings from caltrans and the State Geologist but it all fell on deaf ears. And Garcetti started campaigning for mayor so had his assistant dramatically announce/LIE at the Planning Commission Hearing he was against the projects. NO HE WAS NOT.. and they were about to vote for them, since they are all appointed by the mayor and villaraigos was funded by Millennium too. But that is how opposed the projects were..he had to lie lest he alienate too may voters. With a bogus traffic study at best, Phil Aarons lied to The Planning Commission his projects would not contribute to the traffic since everyone residing in them would ride their bikes. His ‘benefit to the community’ was a bicycle repair shop! You can’t make this stuff up! Only the Planning Commission did not laugh. DELUSIONAL. And every Dept. and every one who voted on them allowed this nonsense. The three member PLUM Committee, Huizar, Englander, Cedillo, all funded by Millennium, The Planning Commission, appointed by the Millennium funded Mayor, the city council, many funded by Millennium..
This is such a black mark on this city council and this mayor…they should all be apologizing to the populace, and hanging their heads in shame. But no, arrogant Garcetti is already out there saying it will be built.
*Caltrans May 11, 2013 Letter to CD13 Councilmember Garcetti Regarding Millennium Unsafe Traffic and Inadequate Study..One of many IGNORED letters to Garcetti.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/715653/col-mill-calt-may-7-letter-to-city.pdf
“….the project impacts will likely result in unsafe conditions …unsafe queing, difficult maneuvering.
As mentioned in our PREVIOUS letters, these conditions have not been adequately addressed in the EIR..”
CD13 Councilmember O’Farrell led city council to a unanimous vote to approve Millennium projects:
“There is no opposition to the project from Caltrans”….
July 24, 2013 City Council Millennium Hearing
http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=129&clip_id=12019 …..2:12:49
* ‘Caltrans Waves Red Flag on Millennium Hollywood Project’..June 19, 2013
.http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/19/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20130619
These two snakes both need to go and bring Millennium along with them. Like skycrapers so much? Go live in NYC..See how far you’d get THERE. And BTW Mr. Garcetti…no matter what size or height, the monster projects still will BLOCK HISTORIC CULTURAL MONUMENT #857 from View. Nice going..What crazies invite, ALLOW, a developer to build in front of a historic iconic building like Capitol Records Building? Nowhere else in L.A. they can build?? Before the inadequate traffic studies, before the EQ fault under the site, back in the beginning, who thought this was OK? Oh, someone who is so politically ambitious he would sell his soul to Millennium for his political career, and he did.. and Vine St., and Hollywood. All the preservation orgs are wrong, all the over 40 orgs and 7 or 8 Hollywood neighborhood councils opposed to Millennium,all the thousands who signed petitions, from all across L.A. are all wrong. Big bucks can make everything right for this Mayor. Visit Hollywood Heritage website and read their letter about all the many reasons they oppose Millennium, and blocking out that iconic building from view is one of them. People, wake up! This kind of leadership is dangerous and SHAMEFUL and abusive to the people, the residents, of Los Angeles…and must be stopped, before he destroys our city..