ELYSIAN PARK : Coffee Warehouse Wins Final Approval

The City Council approved construction of a $10-million warehouse complex that some residents had fought for several years.

In approving Secretary Coffee Service’s proposal for a distribution center at 1800 Riverside Drive at the northwest entrance to Elysian Park, the council also approved a zoning change to allow commercial manufacturing as well as low-density residential housing in the neighborhood.

In a compromise negotiated with some of the project opponents, the company agreed to reduce the size of its buildings and leave 9.5 acres undeveloped for potential use as a community garden.

The project approved Nov. 30 includes three buildings with 141,000 square feet of warehouse and office space--a reduction from five buildings and 182,000 square feet. Secretary’s President Don Stoulil said the complex will include a child-care center for his 70 employees and would serve as a distribution center for the 21-year-old company, which supplies coffee, machines and related items to commercial offices.

Secretary was in the neighborhood for 20 years before moving to Downey last year, Stoulil said.

The Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, the Elysian Valley Residents Assn. and the Echo Park Renters and Homeowners Assn. fought the project for more than five years on the basis that it was too big and too close to the park entrance, as well as being incompatible with the residential area.

One of their concerns was that the warehouse could set a precedent for other large construction projects. Some opponents remain suspicious that the company intends to sell the property to another developer now that the zoning change has been approved.

But Stoulil insists that he is committed to the warehouse.

The original plans were approved by the city Planning Commission in 1991. To allay opponents’ continued fears, newly elected Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg coordinated community meetings last summer, during which Secretary agreed to scale back the buildings and leave a plot undeveloped at the top of the hill, near Landa Street, that could later be used as a community garden. But Stoulil said he was only willing to allow public access to the land if liability concerns can be addressed.

Stoulil said that he still needs to secure financing for the project.