Local News in Brief : Rail Station Talks Continue

Los Angeles County Transportation Commission staff members have agreed to continue talks with a developer who opposes their plan to move the terminus of the Norwalk-to-El Segundo light-rail line to Compton Boulevard.

Cloverleaf Group Inc. favors the original location, half a mile north of Compton Boulevard in a Hawthorne redevelopment area, where Cloverleaf hopes to build a $200-million “urban village.”

Company officials said they counted on the light-rail station when they designed plans for their massive condominium, retail, hotel and office development. The 20-acre site is at Rosecrans Avenue and the San Diego Freeway. Hawthorne city officials also favor the original location.

Representatives for the county, the city of Hawthorne and Cloverleaf met Monday to discuss the proposed move, which the commission staff recommended to the commission’s rail construction committee late last year. The issue, which was to have been discussed by the rail committee this week, has been put off until the panel’s Feb. 10 meeting to give Cloverleaf time to provide more information on its proposal, said commission spokeswoman Mary Lou Echternach.

The transportation staff suggested the change to attract riders, particularly from TRW, just south of Compton Boulevard in Redondo Beach. Redondo officials and the El Segundo Employers’ Assn. have endorsed the plan. The 19.5-mile Norwalk-to-El Segundo line generally runs along the Century Freeway and turns south at El Segundo.

The original station location fell into disfavor with the staff last year when Watt Investment Industries dropped its plans for a $200-million project in the redevelopment area. Because of a glut in office space, Watt could not obtain financing for the project, which was to include 1 million square feet of office space. The loss of the project was a disappointment to Hawthorne officials, partly because it would have generated an estimated $800 million a year in revenues for the city.

The Cloverleaf plan for the 20-acre site came to light Dec. 27 when the Hawthorne City Council approved a 180-day exclusive negotiating agreement with the Century City-based developer. The council would have to approve a plan before Cloverleaf could proceed.

The Hawthorne City Council is expected to take a stand against the station change at its meeting Jan. 23 because the change might jeopardize Cloverleaf’s plans.

Cloverleaf officials said they will meet with transportation staff in the next two weeks to argue in favor of keeping the original site.