- NEW OWNERS FOX HILLS PLAZA: PLAN FOR A FEW HUNDRED HOUSING UNITS!
Since the Community Forum meetings held by Culver City’s Community Development Department the FHNA has been in contact with them for any new updates. According to the Culver City Community Development Department, as of March 16, 2017, no plans have been submitted by the new property owners of the Fox Hills Plaza. The HSH Management Company, the new owners, did reach out to the FHNA and wanted to set up a “focus group” meeting to be comprised of around 10 people from our community to obtain input as to what they would like for the property. D. Wallace and J. Sherman met with the new property owner from HSH and their architect on March 15thto plan this meeting. They proceeded to show us what they are proposing and are as follows:
- Community Room
- Some retail
- A few hundred housing units
- Approximately one parking space per unit to discourage car use (He was informed by FHNA that the people would then just park on the streets with their extra cars and that we have been working for a long time with the Traffic Engineer to increase parking for our present residents)
- Possible zip cars and possible shuttles
(The new owner also stated that CVS and Marshall’s “were not doing well”, which surprised us. On a follow-up by D. Wallace with CVS, she was told that in fact CVS is very busy.)
Although these plans have not been submitted as of March 16th we felt that it was important to bring them to the attention of our neighbors and to get your ideas, impressions and any input you have as we move forward.
Wallace and J. Sherman outlined the impact of developments surrounding our area to include:
- Altitude Apartments ( off Howard Hughes Pkway)- 545 units
- Milcreek ( off Howard Hughes Pkway) – 375 units
- Sheraton Planned Extended stay – 163 units
- Doubletree Hotel- 4 story office building plan
The new owners were also informed that Fox Hills has the most density of housing in Culver City with 26 complexes/over 2800 housing units.
- CROSSWALKS/SIGNALS FOR DOVERWOOD/BRISTOL AND GVC/FOX HILLS DRIVE IS STALLED AGAIN
On March 9th, a conference call with Gabe Garcia, Culver City Traffic Engineer, and the FHNA board yielded little progress on getting crosswalks in the above areas mentioned due to the latest data obtained on the traffic flow in these areas. According to Gabe the decision makers in his department are strictly “data driven” and look at only the data. The fact of accidents and continued requests from residents are left out of the mix when it comes to decision making. According to him if the data does not support such crosswalks, his hands are tied due to CA law. They do plan to re-do the traffic count in September. He did feel that with future redevelopment in the area, the traffic and pedestrians would increase. End result, need more congestion for crosswalks to go in.
- BIKE LANES /DECREASE LANE BETWEEN BRISTOL AND BUCKINGHAM on GVC
There is a plan to remove traffic lanes in both directions between Bristol and Buckingham on GVC, which would yield more parking, add bike lanes and calm traffic. Calming traffic is needed because Fox Hills is being used as a short cut to get to Centinela and Slauson. Gabe mentioned that if the new developer felt that the lanes we have now would be needed, removal of the lanes would be reversed as well. Possible Result: voiding of FHNA work with Traffic Engineer to gain parking for the neighborhood.
- RE-IMAGINE FOX HILLS
According to Elaine Gerety-Warner of the Culver City Economic Development Department, talks are continuing with the property owners for this project, which is between GVC and Hannum on Bristol. She promised to get back with us with any progress.
*** Might want to read the article from LA Times, March 2, 2017: “LA Keeps Building Near Freeways Even Though Living Makes People Sick” – link
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW…. YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM US VERY SOON!!!!! And WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!
Compiled by J. Sherman with FHNA Board.