Condominium project faces tough questions

Lolita Harper

Habitat for Humanity officials received crowning approval Monday

of a project to convert a blighted Westside apartment complex into

owner-occupied condominiums, but not without last-minute warnings

from city leaders.

Planning commissioners unanimously supported a necessary lot

subdivision for the Habitat for Humanity project, which will

construct six low-income condominiums at 1925 Pomona Ave., while

using the final public hearing as a venue to air their lingering

concerns about the project’s success.

Prompted by a handful of neighbors who have consistently spoken

against the project, which they say packs too many families into an

already crowded area, planning commissioners again called into

question the amount of parking and open space included in the project

design.

Planning Commissioner Eleanor Egan, who voted against the project

initially and lobbied Councilman Chris Steel to appeal the

commission’s approval, said she still had reservations about the

project. Egan added that she supported the minor parcel division

Monday because the project was well underway, but she lamented that

the city made such drastic deviations from usual development

requirements that could have hindered the project.

Egan said she had “serious concerns” that concessions were made in

regard to parking and open space and that she worried about the

safety of children playing in an area where cars would be coming and

going.

She added that she wants to see the project succeed.

“I am crossing my fingers,” Egan said.

Mark Korando, who represents Habitat for Humanity, assured Egan

and the commission that the project has been well-designed and well

thought out.

“We want to have the nicest properties on the street and present a

face to the community that will enhance the area,” Korando said.

Korando added that he wants the project to prove to other

developers that good-looking, high-quality projects can be

successful, even at some of the most rundown sites. If others follow

that lead, more property improvements may pop up on the Westside, he

reasoned.

Korando was not as optimistic, however, when the current

maintenance of the property was called into question by audience

members.

Resident Janice Davidson described the apartment complex, which

was bought by a subsidiary of Habitat for Humanity for the project,

as rundown, laden with litter and full of drunks hanging out on the

front lawn.

“Habitat for Humanity has quite a reputation, and this pulls it

down a long way,” Davidson said.

Korando apologized for the appearance of the property for the past

few months and said the tangible changes in the complex will come

only after the existing tenants move and the project is underway.

Things would be different if he had an on-site manager, Korando said,

but he must rely on the tenants to regulate the area and their

guests.

“Obviously the tenants don’t care because they don’t have

ownership in the property,” Korando said.

Once construction begins, there will be additional lighting,

fences and a 24-hour security guard, Korando said.

Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins also expressed concern with the

current status of the property and asked Korando for immediate

solutions.

“What can be done today, right now, so that those people who live

over there don’t have to put up with those things?” Perkins asked.

Korando did not have a solution but asked the community to “bear

with it” until the project is well underway.

“Not going to say it is going to look great right off the bat, but

we will have volunteers out there on a regular basis and full-time

security during the remodeling process,” Korando said. “When we are

finished with this, it will be a totally new structure.”

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.