Halt in Demolition of MTA Properties Urged by Group
A coalition of community groups that wants to use MTA properties for affordable housing while the Red Line subway is on hold must first convince the MTA Board of Directors to halt demolition, MTA staff members said.
The Eastside group proposed rehabilitating vacant buildings that are scheduled to be demolished for subway station construction and using them as temporary housing in the densely populated neighborhood.
In a meeting Friday, Habib Balian, deputy assistant chief executive officer, told the coalition that its proposal could not be considered unless the board agreed to postpone the demolition schedule.
Coalition members said they will ask Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre--both MTA board members--to consider writing a motion to suspend demolition for the project. However, both officials have said they oppose restoring the properties while the subway is in limbo.
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