L.A. Probes Plan to Turn Condos Into Apartments

Los Angeles city officials are investigating whether the developer of a luxury condominium complex being built in Warner Center can legally rent the units as apartments instead of selling them.

Officials of the city’s Planning, Transportation and Building and Safety departments said they are evaluating the altered status of the 760-unit Summit project in Woodland Hills after complaints from Councilwoman Joy Picus and nearby homeowners, who said their property values will drop if the units are rented.

In a letter to the three city departments, Picus said that the project had been approved as a condominium project and that the change in status raised questions about whether the project’s approval should be withdrawn.

Right to Alter Project

Picus asked the departments whether the developer, G. H. Palmer Associates, could legally alter the project from condominiums to apartments. She also asked whether the firm had addressed traffic and parking impacts and other issues, such as providing adequate access to the handicapped, before allowing the project to go forward.

Picus also asked whether the development’s zoning restrictions are being observed.

“This has understandably raised a great deal of concern in the community and raised a number of very legitimate questions,” Picus wrote.

City officials said no determination on the project would be made for at least a week.

Ray Willbaum, a Los Angeles city transportation engineer, said apartments would generate more traffic than condominiums.

He said 339 vehicular trips an hour would be generated by the project between 7 and 9 a.m. if the units were condominiums, contrasted with 405 vehicular trips an hour during the same period if the units were apartments.

Vehicular Trips

In addition, Willbaum said, 405 vehicular trips an hour would be generated between 4 and 6 p.m. if the units were condominiums, as opposed to 512 for apartments.

G. H. Palmer representatives were unavailable for comment.

Area homeowners said more apartments near the Woodland Hills complex will reduce property values and generate more noise and traffic. They said the developer had deceived them.

Palmer announced two weeks ago that economics and an analysis of real estate conditions indicated that it was impractical to sell the units, even though they had been advertised for sale as luxury townhouses. Palmer spokesmen said the firm had never promised to sell the units.

Zoning for the property allows condominiums and apartments.