Hawaiian Gardens : Lakewood Elks Lodge Asks City to Buy Its Property

The Lakewood Elks Lodge has formally asked the city to buy its Carson Street property after the collapse of a $1.8-million sale to an Artesia church.

The Hanmaum Presbyterian Church withdrew its offer to buy the building after the City Council in a 3-2 vote denied a conditional-use permit for the church. Approval had been recommended by the Planning Commission, but the council majority said the site is prime property that should be commercially developed.

The vote was strongly criticized by Councilman Domenic Ruggeri, who said the city prevented the Elks from selling to a ready buyer while having no plans of its own to buy the property for redevelopment.

In response to the Elks’ request, Mayor Kathleen Navejas said she will name two members of the city Redevelopment Agency, which consists of City Council members, to consider development possibilities for a stretch of Carson that includes the Elks building.

“It would be an asset for us to do a proper development of the whole area,” she said. The committee is expected to be named Tuesday. The area is about seven acres and includes two vacant stores, a car sales lot, a dog kennel and a residence in addition to the Elks lodge. The city already owns slightly more than half an acre behind the residential property.