You are on page 1of 2

~

~ .. ., .. ... ..
, i8!All ' i ' ..... ... ... . .
~ ~ ... , ..__._:_ .. _._
PLEASE POST
Sallie W. Neubauer, President
No. 107- September 2, 1992
$40-60 MILLION POLICE ACADEMY EXPANSION
The city has finally issued the Draft Environmental Impact Reports (DE!Rs) for the proposed new Police Training
Academy & Police Drivers Training Facility (June, 1992), and the 45 day comment periods have expired. As might be
expected, the Police Academy DEIR is rife with fallacies, omissions and improper conclusions, the worst of which is that
it identifies the Elysian Park site as the Environmentally Superior Alternative. CCSEP prepared 4 separate submissions
containing extensive criticism regarding the 2 DE!Rs. To summarize in a nutshell, we complained that:
The noise studies were totally inadequate and unrepresentative of the disturbance created by Academy target shooting.
The traffic study conclusions were ridiculous. Almost doubling vehicle trips per day to about 4,598 would obviously
cause significant noise and air pollution impacts.
The current Academy is inconsistent with .and incompatible to the surrounding land use. This is denied in the DEIR
even though it makes reference to language in the Silver Lake-Echo Park Plan that states the opposite. The Land Use
section does not address open space and the fact that the proposed plan would eliminate virtually all open space on the
buildable area there. Police Cadets interviewed for this DEIR complained that there is not enough open space on site
now for eating lunch or exercising. The proposed plan calls for buildings to cover existing parking lots, excavation for
3levels of underground parking to accommodate 1000 cars, and 2 additional25 yard open firing ranges, as well as
destruction of the tenrtis courts and their surrounding open space to put up yet another building. This scenario would be
nothing short of an audiovisual assault to the park. The fact that this proposal would leave no room for future
expansion is not mentioned.
Criteria for the proposed square footage of buildings is conspicuously absent. For years CCSEP has asked the LAPD to
provide a detailed analysis of its training programs' staff and space requirements. The City Council even mandated that
these details be included in the DEIR. Three studies and reports were performed in this field in conjunction with the
DEIR but they are only referenced in a footnote in the DElR, and they were not available at the libraries for public
review.ln October of 1989 LAPD claimed that 420,000 square feet of buildings were needed; In July, 1991 the Notice
of Preparation (NOP) for this DEIR had pared the figure down to 286,457 square feet; the current DEIR has reduced it
even further to 216,000 square feet (or 160,000 square feet at the current site). How these figures were arrived at
remains a mystery. Training needs must be specifically delineated ifLAPD is to be held accountable.
A comparison of total costs for each alternative site including mitigation measures and land acquisition was supposed
to have been included in the DEIR per City Council mandate but was not. Instead, "a separate public document" is
being prepared "to discuss such matters as the availability and cost of the alternate sites."
The selection of alternative sites for the DEIR was inadequate and perhaps even illegal. Furthermore, training criteria
for selecting a proper size site remains totally lacking. Two Deparunent of Water and Power (DWP) parcels in Sylmar
were included in the study even though DWP sent a letter (in August 1991 in response to the NOP) stating in no
uncertain terms that these parcels were not available for LAPD training facilities. Two other sites in the Atwater area
(the Taylor Yard and the old Franciscan Pottery site) both need well publicized expensive toxic cleanup. It is also well
known that the dollar value per acre at either of these sites is very pricey. In reality, the only true alternative site studied
in the DEIR was Olive View Hospital East in Sylmar. CCSEP never received an adequate explanation of why certain
vacant industrial sites outside the City boundaries could not have been considered.
Although the DEIR chapter on Cultural Resources contained excellent accurate detail on the existing campus, it
concluded that altering, adding to, and obscuring the historic campus would not be culturally or historically significant!
The DEIR identified 8 cultural and/or historic resources on the site, 2 of which are eligible for inclusion on the National
Register of Historic Places. It also noted that the 1937 Schabarum designed cam pus remains largely intact. No other
alternative site would be so significantly impacted with regards to inextricably altering a culturally and historically
significant compound.
LAPD claims it will continue to use the Elysian Park site for training and firearms qualification but at a "reduced level"
even if another site is chosen for the new Academy. The DEIR does not address this scenario, nor does it explore
alternate reuse of the site. CCSEP envisions a restored campus reclaimed by the people of Los Angeles as youth camp,
job training, day care, senior center and more.
The final EIR is expected in early November. !fit is certified, the Police Commission and then the City Council will
select a site for the new Academy. We must not let them choose Elysian Park! We need people to attend those meetings
to show solidarity for Elysian Park. Please call to be notified of these important dates- (213) 666-9651 or 222-8050.
ELYSIAN RESERVOIR- MEDIATION UPDATE
CCSEP continues to participate in the mediation process between the Department of Water & Power (DWP) and the
Coalition to Preserve Open Reservoirs (CPOR) to resolve the fate of Elysian Reservoir. Currently, the proposed aluminum
roofis on the back burner. DWP has agreed to prepare individual E!Rs for each of the lO reservoirs initially targeted for
covers or filtration plants when proposed projects are planned. Hopefully, CCSEP and DWP will produce an agreement
document by March, 1993 when the mediation contract expires that will ensure environmentally sensitive treatment at
Elysian Reservoir, should enclosure or tiltration be necessary in ti1e future.
ClTIZJiNS SAVE ELYSIAN pARK
1so1 c<lr!l . cA.?ooi6(2I3) m,so5o/666-9651
ALARM & CCSEP TO APPEAL CCW LAWSUIT RULING
.,...

....
In February of 1991, the City passed the Central City West Ordinance. For2 1;2 years CCSEP attended planning
meetings and hearings regarding the huge new downtown area west of the Harbor Freeway known as Central City West.
Our concern was threefold. Firstly, the developers wanted to realign the Hollywood Freeway entrance and exit ramps at
Glendale Blvd. Their plan would take considerable acreage from Echo Park including the oldest childrens playground in
the city and heavily used tennis courts. Secondly, the proposal, which calls for 25-35 million square feet (or double the size
of the current downtown) new commercial building, has planning and funding for public transit and street
improvements. The anticipated increase in commuter traffic would be devastating to both Glendale Blvd. and Elysian Park.
Thirdly, CCSEP was concerned the developers had planned this huge project to have virtually no recreational open space.
Throughout the process until that fateful day several other community groups including a Local and Regional Monitor
(ALARM) protested various aspects of the proposed development. At the final public hearing, ALARM's representative,
attorney Sabrina S. Schiller, asked CCSEP if we would be interested in joining a lawsuit. When she said it would not cost
us, we jumped at the opportunity. Her basic case was that the ordinance would not conform with the General Plan as
required by law because Los Angeles does not have an adequate General Plan as required by law. The suit, with plaintiffs
ALARM, Inner City Alliance, CCSEP, Concerned Property Owners of Temple Beaudry, Laurie Gamer and Sallie W.
Neubauer vs. LA City, City Council and Planning Commission, was f!led on March 25, 1991.
Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian, who appeared to be a first class misogynist, presided over the case which
stretched out an agonizing 21 days. The opposition usually had 8 attorneys in attendance to batter and try to discredit
Sabrina. After all those days of testimony, arguments and responses Judge Sohigian, on April22, ruled not only that
CCSEP did not have standing but also that the city did indeed have an adequate General Plan. The motion was denied.
Sabrina left the law firm that did not want her to appeal. Now she is on her own and has filed an appeal on all our
behalves, confident that she will win. The decision will very likely take at least a year.
DEVELOPMENTS PLANNED ADJACENT TO ElYSIAN PARK
Elysian Park's southerly neighbor, Barlow Respiratory Hospital, is planning a major 3 story expansion of their main
hospital building. An additionallOO parking spaces are also planned. CCSEP has met with Barlow staff and expressed
our desire to preserve as many of the mature trees and green/garden areas as possible.
Plans are not quite as friendly for the 17 acres ofland adjacent to the northwest entrance of Elysian Park. A local
company, Secretary Coffee, has been trying since 1989 to build a huge warehouse/office.complex at Riverside Drive
and Stadium Way. Current plans call for five buildings. Four of the buildings would front on Riverside Drive and total
537 feet in length. Furthermore, they would cut approximately 149 feet into the hill. The building up the hill would be
over 260 feet or almost as long as a football field. Roof heights could be anywhere from 37 to 57 feet. The current plan
is in violation of the Planning commission's directive of July, 1991; but the developer plans to appeal. CCSEP hopes
the appeal will not be granted. Secretary Coffee should either scale down its proposal or look elsewhere to build it.
SHIRE-DESIGNED MEMORIAL GETS GO AHEAD FROM CITY
CCSEP's steering committee is extremely pleased to report that world renowned Echo Paik artist, Peter Shire, has
designed the Angels Point memorial sculpture/gazebo for Frank Glass and Grace E. Simons, CCSEP's beloved founder.
Mr. Shire, who was born and continues to live and woik in Echo Park, agreed to design and build the memorial for
virtually no fee because of his respect for Grace and love for Elysian Park.
The piece consists of various steel, copper and color enameled geometric cutouts atop a grid supported by 12 foot high
cement columns. It was designed in such a manner as to emphasize the thrust of the promontory as well as comment on the
downtown skyline in the distance. To take in the spectacular views afforded there, seating will be provided underneath the
sculpture by several strategically located cast cement "easy chairs." When improvements to Angels Point are completed
with Mr. Shire's self-described "exclamation point" installed, the area will be a real showcase for Elysian Park, a
destination for visitors world wide.
New Member ($1) Renewal ($1) Donation (No limit)$. ____ _
Name Address Zip __ _
CITIZENS COMMITTEE
TO SAVE.EYSIAN PARK
1501 Cerro Gordo ..
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
. PAID
Los Angeles, Calif.
Permit No. 30167

You might also like