Judge Blocks Airport Firm’s Eviction

A judge barred the city of Los Angeles on Tuesday from seeking new tenants for a massive World War II-era hangar at Van Nuys Airport, giving the current tenant a temporary victory in its lengthy fight to stay.

But city lawyers also claimed partial victory, saying the order leaves the city free to evict the longtime tenant, Syncro Aircraft Interiors.

Syncro attorneys said they had no choice but to seek the order, granted by Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs, after airport commissioners on Aug. 3 authorized the department to evict Syncro.

The department is trying to replace non-aviation tenants at Van Nuys Airport with aviation users by advertising for new lease proposals for three hangars and adjoining ramp areas.

Airport officials said there is a growing demand from aviation businesses for more space at all of the city’s four airports. The department also is seeking ways to increase lease revenues and provide improvements to airport buildings.

Although Syncro’s main business is restoring and refurbishing private jet aircraft, the airport department in the past has criticized the company for subleasing portions of its massive hangar for filming. The department also has targeted Galpin Motors, which stores hundreds of new vehicles on some of the ramp areas.

Syncro President Barbara Cesar said many airport tenants are disconcerted by plans to seek new lease proposals, which she said is “shaking up the whole airport community.” She said other tenants fear they, too, may lose investments in their business.

“The impending danger to the airport businesses has been creating a great deal of alarm and uncertainty,” added Cesar, who has operated Syncro with her husband, Ed, for 18 years.

Syncro has been struggling since 1993 to obtain a long-term lease, but has been repeatedly rebuked by the city.

In filing the suit, former Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, who represents Syncro, accused Assistant City Atty. Bret Lobner, who represents the airports department, of carrying out a personal vendetta against Syncro’s owners.

“The ultimate goal of [Lobner] is to get Syncro out,” Reiner said. “He has tried over a period of time to poison every well from which Syncro might try to drink.”

Lobner could not be reached for comment, but his assistant, Kevin Ryan, said the court order does not block the city from issuing a 60-day eviction notice to Syncro prior to a court hearing on the restraining order, scheduled for Sept. 20.

’ The city says it needs to evict Syncro and another tenant in order to undertake repairs to the hangar, damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The city earlier agreed to allow Syncro to remain while repairs were underway, but city officials said negotiations on those details failed.

In court papers, Syncro argued that after years of negotiations, the city in May finally agreed to grant the company a 10-year lease. But it accused the city of reneging on the promise by coming up with a plan to seek new tenants at three hangars on the airfield.

Late last month, airport officials gave Syncro a listing of other buildings for lease or for sale around the airport, all of which the company said are not suitable.

Syncro argued that the filming is only a side business and that it needs the large hangar, with direct access to the airport, to conduct its primary work involving large jet aircraft.

The company, which has 28 employees, completes an average of 300 aircraft interior projects annually, according to the suit.

“Unlike many businesses, Syncro cannot simply move its business to another location and continue its operations,” the suit claims. “If Syncro’s lease is terminated, their entire business will be terminated.”