Builder Runs Out of Chances to Develop Lot Near City Hall

After waiting more than six years for a debris-filled lot across the street from Los Angeles City Hall to be developed, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors finally pulled the plug on the developer Tuesday.

The lot, jointly owned by the county and the state, was originally envisioned to house an office complex with restaurants, shops and an adjoining plaza. Instead, the parcel languished, and its developers, led by Raffi Cohen Inc., fell more than $1.3 million behind in rent and property taxes.

On Tuesday, Raffi Cohen asked the supervisors for one last chance, saying he had a check for $200,000 that he would use to remove litter from the lot and to plant trees.

County Chief Administrative Officer Sally Reed, however, told the board that the county had repeatedly given Cohen second chances and that it was time to move on. The board voted 4 to 1 to rescind the agreement with Cohen, with only Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky voting to give him an additional two weeks.