Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - August 18, 2016 Los Angeles Sailor Reaches Milestone for Enlisted Women on Submarines Chief Culinary Specialist Dominique Saavedra, assigned to USS Michigan, is pinned with her enlisted submarine qualification during a ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on Aug. 2. Saavedra, is the first female enlisted Sailor to earn the silver dolphins. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kenneth G. Takada. Lawndale, Developer Grapple With New Expansion By Haleemon Anderson With critical deadlines looming, a proposed retail development at Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach boulevards took center stage at this week’s City Council meeting. The sale and redevelopment of the 1.37- acre space is currently under the direction of the Arroyo Seco Development Group, since December 2015. The developer is charged with delivering a letter of intent from a restaurant by the September 3 deadline. The council has made it clear that it expects a family style, sitdown restaurant, although no specific vendor was mandated. Representatives of Arroyo Seco were on hand Monday to update the council. Steve Boss, principal representative, said the agency is in the midst of an aggressive tenant search. Boss said at least 20 restaurants have expressed interest and of those, eight are sit-down venues. “There is plenty of tenant interest,” said Boss. Nevertheless, Boss explained the complications involved in nailing down the particulars of this deal. He said site-planning options are heavily dependent on what vendors require to take up tenancy. And, inevitably, the councils’ specifications must take precedent. The council has envisioned the location as an attractive gathering place with outdoor seating, and modern architecture. Boss said the south-west corner space is in a population dense area and its location is a strength. But bringing in a “synergistic tenant mix” is the challenge. He explained that the trend in dining is toward “fast-casual.” These kinds of eateries can be more cost effective rent-wise, than large, sit-down spaces because of their quick turnover potential. He asked the council to remain patient and open-minded as he and his team continue to vet prospects. “We are going to lock up the best tenant proposal we can,” said Boss. “We absolutely want to deliver what the city and residents want.” Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles confirmed that, beyond the family restaurant, none of the other specifics are set in stone. He said there is precedent for modification to the original plan. “Hotels in this area have a 98-percent occupancy rate,” said Pullen-Miles, speaking about high-volume special events. “We may want to re-think a hotel.” Pullen-Miles, as well as other council members have been vocal about the revenue potential of the NFL franchise coming to Inglewood. That deal finalized just several months ago. When an agreed upon plan is reached, the city will sell the property to Arroyo Seco, who will develop the property to the agreed upon specifications. Lawndale stands to benefit from property and sales taxes from retail tenants in the new space, but not from the property sale. That’s because the sales revenue will need to be returned to the state, in a somewhat unwieldy formula that amounts to a payback for past redevelopment funding. The state dissolved redevelopment agencies a few years ago, replacing them with “successor agencies” and creating a new revenue platform. City Manager Steve Mandoki explained that the Council acts as the successor agency, handling the business of the dissolved redevelopment agency and dealing with financial matters related to dissolution and other prior redevelopment matters. Several community members expressed misgivings with the project. Steve Koonz was especially concerned about conflict with another nearby community fixture. “Where is the loyalty to Spires,” he said, referring to the long-standing family eatery, just across the corner from the proposed development. Another resident, Monica, suggested Arroyo Seco may not have a good pulse on the youth market. “What millennials really want is activities,” she said. “You should be developing something recreational.” She also pointed out that youth like to frequent specialty restaurants, with more of a trendy appeal. Councilman Jim Osborne brushed aside suggestions from the audience that the council acted without input, saying, “The Council held a community meeting and the room was packed. A sit-down family restaurant—that was the consensus.” Two local developers also made comments before the council, seeking clarification on the RFP process. One asked for clarity on why his group was not chosen, saying his offer was in line with the appraised value of the location. The other developer said his company was still interested in the project and is prepared to buy the property outright. Mandoki, in prepared notes, indicated three finalists, Arroyo Seco along with Festival and Frontier, were interviewed by staff. Arroyo Seco was selected by the Successor Agency. The company has an exclusive negotiations agreement (ENA) with Lawndale which expires in November. In the bi-monthly safety report, Lieutenant John Hoking reported an officer was injured and a suspect shot after the suspect crashed a car head-on into the officer’s service vehicle. The suspect was injured when the officer fired at him as he attempted to get away. The investigation is ongoing. On August 3 a man was arrested for vehicle theft. The man was refused an oil change on a car the proprietor believed stolen. The suspect attempted to get away by stealing another car on the premises. The council agreed to continue two items, regarding park development fees and the city’s license agreement with the farmer’s market, until next meeting. The remaining eleven Consent items were passed with unanimous approval. Public hearing was opened on two agenda items. Lawndale’s congestion management program (CMP) report was confirmed and approved unanimously. The city’s disaster and local hazard mitigation plans met with public comments requesting plans specific to Lawndale. Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles asked if a handsized emergency-preparedness guide could be developed for the community. Councilman Jim Osborne said that self-reliance is key in being prepared, adding that stock-piling water and food and keeping supplies refilled is vital. The Council took action to enhance Veteran’s Day observances in the city, approving funding for a provisional installation on the library lawn to honor local veterans on the upcoming November 11 holiday. The $6500 budget was approved unanimously and will cover staffing, licensing agreements, and memorabilia and supplies for the recognition event. The Lawndale City Council will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, September 6 as the first Monday of the month falls on Labor Day. • Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................7 Classifieds............................2 Entertainment......................4 Finance..................................2 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals................................ 5-6 Pets........................................8 Police Reports.....................3 Seniors..................................7 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 72˚/63˚ Saturday Sunny 73˚/64˚ Sunday Sunny 75˚/65˚
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