Expansion Plan ‘On Hold’

Pressed by a $1.6-million investment loss and a lawsuit challenging the city’s controversial plans for a $4.2-million expansion of its civic center, the Lawndale City Council last week voted 5-0 to reject all bids for the project.

In addition to putting the civic center expansion on hold while it attempts to cope with losses from a speculative securities deal, the council was advised to rescind its decision to approve the project without an environmental impact report.

Members of the council indicated that now that they have shelved plans for the civic center, they do not want to spend more money to fight the lawsuit, filed in September by a residents’ group called Friends of Lawndale.

The suit attacks the council’s ruling that the project would not have sufficient impact to warrant an environmental study. It claims the project would create traffic and parking problems that should be subject to an environmental review.

City Atty. David J. Aleshire on Thursday advised the council that if it were to rescind its environmental decisions on the project, it would avert costly litigation. “Then there would be nothing for the lawsuit to go ahead with,” he said.

Meanwhile, the county is verifying signatures on petitions seeking to put on the April ballot a measure requiring voter approval of public projects costing more than $1 million.