Jim is right in that the developer of the Elroy site
is attempting to change the original proposal to add
housing units on top of manufacturing in the proposed
development project. Keeping light industrial at
street level will satisfy the requirements of the
federal miles funds ($500K) that were invested in that
site.
Neighborhood association staff and board members have
had many conversations with CPED staff over time about
this project. The neighborhood wanted to do an RFP and
solicit proposals from new developers based on the
fact that the current developer wants to change the
original plan. The board passed a motion during the
last project change presention stating that they
supported the original plan but if the plan was
changing they would like to see other developers given
the opportunity to bid on the site.
There problem is there was never was an RFP issued to
solicit proposals for this site. While there is $150K
of NRP funds in this site in addition to the $500K
federal MILES money, the NRP funds were earmarked to
clear the site. The Elroy site just kind of hung out
there as an available site. Any developer could have
submitted a proposal but only one did. That was Basim
Sabri. I would like to know what Mr. Sabri paid for
the lot? Did he just inherit a $650K gift from the
feds and the neighborhood for this site or did he pay
something beyond the complimentary dollar?
I believe the transfer of ownership from CPED to Basim
does have a caviat about the industrial use. As long
as Basim builds manufacturing in appropriate
proportion to the rest of the facility, he has
satisfied that legal caveat.
I am not personally convinced that placing housing on
top of an industrial site is a good example of mixed
use. Retail is one thing but industrial is another.
The area surrounding the Elroy site is riddled with
bad zoning decisions of the past that were wheeled and
dealed through one councilmember or another. Now it
appears we may be headed toward the worst example yet
if this zoning overlay is approved today.
The biggest issue with the Elroy site and its pending
development isn't the zoning overlay. It is the
parking issue surrounding Karmel Square. It is unclear
what the parking requirements are for Karmel Square.
Currently, it is an unmanaged mess. I have heard Basim
got the councilmember to get a parking variance
granted (without neighborhood review) so he didn't
have to provide adequate parking for the shopping
mall. Not sure, just unconfirmed rumor. Just for the
record, it isn't the first project the planning
commission and council waived the parking requirements
for. Karmel Square is just the poster child for why
varying from the requirement can present major
problems.
For awhile, Karmel Square customers were using the
Elroy site illegally to park on. CPED put up a fence
but they broke that down. Now I believe ownership of
the Elroy site has been transferred to Basim. The
Karmel Square customer are parked en mass on the Elroy
site lot in an unlandscaped, unsurfaced area. Even
with the use of the Elroy site, the parking is still
not adequate for the customers of the Karmel Square
mall.
If a building is put up on the Elroy site, once again
there will be no off street parking for Karmel Square
customers. I suggested at one Whittier meeting that
Mr. Sabri negotiate a parking lot use agreement with
the owners of the land that the Supervalu and K-Mart
are on as that is only 1 block from Karmel Square.
Basim thought it a great idea and assured me he would
look into it right away. I have seen no evidence that
has happened. I see no Karmel Square customers parking
in that lot and no signs around Karmel Square
encouraging customers to park over there.
The people who live in the condominium building across
the street and other residents from the area
surrounding Karmel Square are exasperated. They
believe they have provided evidence of countless code
violations in Karmel Square and evidence of the
unmanaged parking problems surrounding it. I talked to
a woman on Friday that has videotape to back up her
assertions. She was screaming mad and thinks she hits
solid brick when she tries to deal with the city and
the council office about the problems.
I would like to see fact separated from fiction here.
What are the required number of parking spaces for
Karmel Square? How many businesses is the mall zoned
for? How many businesses are currently in the
building? Based on the number of business owners
Basim packs to the Whittier Alliance meetings or
elections it appears as if there are over 100
businesses in the mall. Is that property zoned or
licensed for that many businesses? Are there
outstanding orders for code violations from
inspections on Karmel Square? If so, what are they
for? When are they required to be remedied?
A savvy reporter from the Southwest Journal could look
into this issue and do a nice story. Maybe one has
already been done and I missed it. Not sure about that
but the issue is impacting Whittier greatly right now
and we could use some help getting down to the real
truth on what is really going on in this area.
Barb Lickness
Whittier
=====
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
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