Judge Blocks Habitat for Humanity’s Plan to Build Duplexes in Wilmington

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has blocked a Habitat for Humanity plan to build 13 duplexes for low-income families in Wilmington because issues of how the land should be used and who owns the property are unclear.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien ruled last week that ownership of the former railroad property and its history need to be clarified before the project can proceed. The ruling was made in response to a lawsuit filed in April by Wilmington residents who felt that the land should be used as a park.

Confusion over who owns the land and how it should be used have stalled the project for nearly a year. In 1977, the property was donated to the city by Southern Pacific Railroad and was designated for use as a recreational open space. But the city never accepted the donation and the property remained a vacant lot for years because the city did not have the money to develop a park.

In August 1995, the City Council voted to change the area’s use from recreational to residential. Residents have fought the plan, maintaining that the undeveloped area would better serve the community as a park.

Deputy City Atty. Julie Downey said the city will comply with the court ruling and make the issues pertaining to the site clear. The council approved the project in March, and in May voted to pay Southern Pacific Railroad $300,000 to remove the part of the property deed that stipulates that the area must be used as a park.

Wilmington Homeowners Assn. President Joanne Wysocki said Habitat could rehabilitate dilapidated apartment buildings instead.

“This land was promised to us as a park years ago,” she said.

Habitat officials maintain that the land could not be used as a park because the city doesn’t have the money for it. Habitat attorney Ken Bley said the housing project would bring 26 new homes to the area, which would sell for about $70,000.