City OKs Land Swap With Highland Park Developer

The Los Angeles City Council has given final approval to a swap that will allow a private developer to trade land he owns in Highland Park for a city-owned parcel in Hollywood.

The swap ends a year of controversy that began when developer Brian Weiss announced plans to build a 92-unit apartment project on the Highland Park land.

Neighbors rallied to oppose the project, saying it would bring more crime and traffic to an already crowded area. That prompted city officials to come up with the swap, which was approved 12 to 0 Friday.

Terms call for Weiss to trade three small parcels near the Pasadena Freeway, between Avenues 48 and 52, for a city-owned parking lot at 1117 Wilcox Place in Hollywood. Weiss agreed to pay the city $18,000, the difference between the appraised value of the lots.

The city plans to use the Highland Park land to improve a dangerous, substandard ramp to the Pasadena Freeway at Avenue 52.

Under the agreement, Weiss will sell the Hollywood lot for $373,000 to Robertson Honda, which plans to maintain it for employee parking, city officials said.