Residents Enlist Molina in Fight for Lower Density

Residents of Elysian Heights have asked the Los Angeles City Council to call a temporary halt to apartment and condominium construction in their hilly neighborhood northwest of Dodger Stadium.

An informal group that recently defeated a proposal for 13 condominiums--only to have the developer proceed with a plan to build eight apartments instead--has submitted about 300 signatures to Councilwoman Gloria Molina asking for a downzoning review.

The petition covers 29 specific blocks within the area bounded by Scott Avenue, Alvarado Street, Landa Street and Elysian Park.

Those blocks were selected because they are zoned for greater density than now exists in the area of mostly older homes, said Valerie Tuna, leader of the drive.

Molina reacted favorably to the petition, spokeswoman Alma Martinez said.

She plans to introduce a motion in the City Council as early as Friday to place a temporary ban on multiple-family projects in the area and order a Planning Department review of its zoning, Martinez said.

The review would be aimed at establishing zoning “to reflect the existing community,” Martinez said.

She said the councilwoman praised the community initiative as “a proactive way of dealing with overdevelopment.”

“If the residents are willing to downzone, that’s usually what it takes,” Martinez said.

The area is part of the Echo Park/Silver Lake community plan adopted in 1984.

The petition said the area has “suffered major growth pressures in the intervening period and some inconsistent zones remain.”

Tuna organized the neighborhood group in response to the proposal of Seabreeze Development Co. to build condominiums on a steep parcel opposite Elysian Park. Under community pressure, the Planning Commission denied the builder’s request for a variance to allow the condominiums. Instead, the firm has made plans to build an eight-unit apartment, which requires no variance, Tuna said.