Torrance City Council OKs Hotel in New Business Park

Construction of a 146-room hotel in a new Torrance business park has been approved by the City Council, despite concern that the move could open the area to other commercial enterprises.

Neighborhood Inn Corp. will build the hotel at Prairie Avenue and Challenger Street. The site is part of a 56-acre business park that once housed a Union Carbide plant.

Mayor Katy Geissert objected to the proposal, saying it could increase pressure for other commercial operations, including restaurants, in a development zoned for offices and research and development companies. “This is a distinct departure from my concept of what the business park was to be,” Geissert said.

Proponents of the hotel, including Councilman Dan Walker, said it is compatible with the office park zoning. Others noted that the hotel does not contain a bar or restaurant that could generate additional traffic.

The project was approved on a 4-2 vote. Councilman Bill Applegate abstained because of his financial involvement with the office park project.