Compton : Council Rejects 49-Unit Apartment Development

Reversing a decision by its Planning Commission, the Compton City Council has refused to allow a 49-unit apartment development to be built near the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and Compton Boulevard.

The vote, which came Tuesday after months of controversy, was a narrow one with Mayor Walter R. Tucker and Councilwoman Bernice Woods supporting the apartments. Voting against them were Jane D. Robbins, Patricia A. Moore and Maxcy D. Filer.

There was unanimous agreement, however, that the same developer be allowed to build 30 single-family homes nearby. The developer, Evan Williams, has been arguing that it is not economically feasible for him to build the single-family homes without the apartments.

Opponents of the apartments say that single-family houses will attract more middle-income people to the community, while apartments attract low-income renters who need services that the city cannot afford to supply.

Williams’ development company, Madison Avenue Properties, was the firm building the project. Williams also owns Dalton Construction Co., which has had several city contracts.