Culver City : Developer Guts Factory

The developer of the proposed Marina Place shopping mall is gutting the inside of the helicopter factory at Washington and Lincoln boulevards in “anticipation of getting our approvals for the project,” according to the project manager.

Culver City officials have preliminarily approved the project to the dismay of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and the Venice Town Council community group, both of whom sued Culver City because of the potential negative impact on the adjacent areas.

Culver City officials have scheduled a public hearing for Jan. 31 in which critics of the 1 million-square-foot regional shopping center are expected to argue that its construction would clog traffic at surrounding intersections that serve as gateways to Venice Beach.

The hearing was triggered by the release last November of a revised environmental impact report mandated by a Superior Court judge in response to the lawsuit.

Marianne Lowenthal, general manager of the Prudential Property Co., the mall developer, said there are no immediate plans to demolish the factory. Lowenthal described the work at the site as removing partitions, carpeting and other interior items.

“The work we’re doing now will save us time if we get our approvals,” she said.

According to Lowenthal, revised plans for Marina Place will be unveiled at the hearing. The revised plan contains elements that make it more inviting to pedestrians on Washington Boulevard, Lowenthal said. Additionally, the structure’s design has been modified somewhat to make it appear less massive to its residential neighbors, she said.

The public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Linwood Howe Elementary School Auditorium, 4100 Irving Place in Culver City. For more information, call Culver City planner Carol DeLay at (213) 202-5777.