L.A. Seeks to Reclaim Firehouse It Sold

An investment group--which paid the city $59,000 for an abandoned firehouse last November,then listed it for sale for $575,000--stands to lose the property under an action taken by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday.

Under an agreement with the city, Old Fire Station 45 in the mid-city area was supposed to be demolished and 21 low- to moderate-income rental units were to replace it on the site at 947 S. Norton Ave.

But the council voted unanimously Tuesday to have the city attorney rescind the sale to the Norton First Corp. and return the property to the city.

Councilman Nate Holden called the purchase a “get-rich-quick” scheme by land speculators that violates the intention of the council.

The action to regain title was taken as an emergency measure and no members of the corporation were present at the council meeting. Holden said the managing partner, Christian Pak, reportedly was in Korea and had not responded to telephone calls.

But several people involved in the deal told The Times on Tuesday that the property had been listed with a real estate office in error and that the listing had been rescinded when the error was discovered.

“It was a mistake. I think the councilmen overreacted,” said Elvin Moon, a former city building and safety commissioner and a partner in Norton First. “How can they do anything when the managing partner is in Korea?”

Christfer Pak, the operator of an automobile body shop and brother of Christian Pak, shouldered the blame.

Christfer Pak said his brother owns several pieces of real estate and asked him to list them with a Century 21 office about three weeks ago before leaving for Korea.

“I mistakenly put up the Norton property instead of the Highland Avenue property,” Christfer Pak said. “I just did it over the phone and I didn’t understand clearly it was Norton.”

He said his brother is still in Korea, but the two have spoken by telephone and his brother is upset with him.

An employee of the real estate office confirmed Tuesday that the property is no longer listed for sale.

Steve Pinkney, another of the investors, said Tuesday that he was unaware that the property had been listed for sale. He said he intends to go forward with plans to construct affordable housing on the site. Financing has been arranged and a considerable amount of money already has been invested in the project, he said.

The matter is now in the hands of the city attorney, Holden said, but he left room for the investors to maneuver.

“They’ve got to come in on their hands and knees and do a plea,” Holden said.