Ponte Vista Blog

Back To Work Regarding Ponte Vista

2011-09-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Bob and the economy gave us all a respite from dealing with all the issues surrounding Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

That long vacation is coming to and end and it is time to sweep out the cobwebs in our collected files and ramp up our learning curves because it appears that the new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the "New Ponte Vista" is being published shortly.

According to a very reliable source and coming second hand, my source said they called someone in the L.A. City Planning Department last week and was told the new EIR would be out, "in ten days".

O.K., so maybe the 'ten days' is from the same fellow who stated just about everything was created in '6 days' and on the Seventh Day, rest was found.

But I am optimistic that the new EIR, which a group of different folks claimed would be coming out in the Fall of 2011, were pretty close to that time, I hope.

http://www.nwsanpedro.org/pontevistaindex.asp is a great site to learn about the new EIR and plans for the 61.53 acre project site.

That page was updated on April 1 and it will be updated more frequently when new information is learned and provided.

The Web page also offers links to more information about the new Traffic and Transportation Study section of the new EIR.

This is going to be a busy Fall season that will probably lead into an eventful Winter. My city, Rancho Palos Verdes is having its first ever three-seat turnover on our City Council.

Three of the current five-member City Council is 'retiring' due to term limits and that will provide one of the most dramatic sets of changes in our Council's and city's history.

What is good news about this is that most of the candidates running are truly learning about the Ponte Vista development history from knowledgeable people like the LaCombes of Rolling Hills Riviera and others and this December, our new Mayor, Anthony Misetich, once a Ponte Vista Advisory Board member will offer a different opinion on the project than he had during "The Bob Years".

*NOTE* I use "The Bob Years" frequently on this blog to denote the time frame between 2005 and 2008 when Ponte Vista's former developer, Mr. Robert H. (Bob) Bisno held court over the project.

To many of us, Bob rode into town and matter-of-factly told us we didn't know about development in our communities and that he knew what was best for San Pedro and other nearby communities.

He didn't.

In a few days, I will post a 'fact sheet' containing information about the history, geography and new developers and ownership of the site along Western Avenue.

I know there is still strong resolve among the members of the Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 to make sure that all of our residents find the best outcome for what is built and not built on the site.

It is the position of R Neighborhoods Are 1 that the current zoning of the property and lots should not be changed and that residential development at the site be kept to one single-family residential unit on a lot of not less than 5,000 square feet be adhered to on the buildable portions of the property.

Stay tuned, this is going to get a lot more interesting.

It's Not Me!

2011-05-19T22:08:00.001-07:00

I just got a chance to view an email sent out by "consernedcatholicCA" to "concernedcatholicCA" which means it is an anonymous Email sent out to folks, but I have no clue how many RPV residents and others received that Email. I didn't. It appears to have been sent out at 7:30 this morning while I was preparing to work on some large props for "Willy Wonka Jr." at Chadwick School on June 3 and 4, beginning at 7:30 PM.

Most regular readers of this blog and my other blogs know I don't play 'anonymous' in any of my writings or comments. I don't need to and I think it is cowardis to not be strong enough to create and send out comments without being identified.

Naturally if you don't know that I use one name writing these blogs and my given name that all my regular readers and others know, neither of my names are anything like 'anonymous'.

I do have some very real problems with what I have been hearing lately about conditions placed by representatives of Marymount College before they pay for the Measure P election they promised to pay for.

But any new comments on that won't be considered or created here until I get more information that is factual and able to be commented on.

Bad form, "concernedcatholicca", whoever you are.

The Clearwater Program is Back

2011-05-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

This will be a post that will be published on several of my blogs because I feel it is important enough to share with everyone.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation District Number 5 is continuing necessary and recommended processes to create a third Joint Outfall System (JOS) from its Carson, CA treatment plant to the Pacific Ocean.

Two Joint Outfall Systems (JOS), one built in 1938 and the other one built in 1958 currently provide outfall capacity between the treatment plant and outflow facilities near the Palos Verdes Shelf, offshore from Royal Palms, in San Pedro, Ca.

The capacity of the two systems is nearing full capacity and they will not be able to handle future capacity.

I have written what I feel is a fair amount about the Clearwater Program in past posts, but new information, information I need to correct, and new opinions can now be shared.

www.ClearwaterProgram.org has been bookmarked on my computers for several years and it is the first and best source of information I urge everyone to go to.

Last Monday I met with Mr. Glenn Acosta, P.E. and Ms. Leslie Winner, both representing the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County.

A new series of outreach meetings with individuals and groups is currently underway and I hope these two fine representatives meet with everyone who has any interest in the Clearwater Program and who are able to help with opinions and other observations concerning the new proposals for this very needed program.

Mr. Acosta's Email address is: gacosta@lacsd.org

With a whole new set of proposals and a new brochure available to offer greater insight into the Clearwater Program, concerned residents and others now can view new facts and opportunities that are different than what I wrote about previously.

What is not offered in the new proposals is four 'Alignment' prospects instead of over 16 first illustrated in previous information and the 50 originally offered by the Sanitation Districts.

Living doors away from the surface of Western Avenue and its subsurface containing the two original Outfall Systems, I may have a somewhat different perspective about the Program and I certainly have opinions, lots of them.

One of the first things I must offer is some corrections to some of my earlier posts.

According to the new information, the Outfall System Shafts would be approximately 30 feet in diameter and not the 'up to 200 feet' I originally wrote about. I know I heard that figure somewhere in earlier talks, but 30 feet is quite different that 'up to 200 feet', isn't it.

When I wrote that the depths of a shaft could be up to '500 feet' deep, I only got that incorrect by about 100 feet. According to the newest information, a shaft could be up to 400 feet in depth, the depths of any shaft could be much less than that.

I am also very relieved to note that there are only four remaining shaft site prospects with the new information.

As originally conjectured, there will be one shaft sunk at the Carson treatment plant's property. This will allow for one tunneling machine being places and would be one access point for the removal of dirt and debris while the tunneling is being done and the casements are being placed.

Originally, the public was informed about 16 sites between Carson and the Pacific Ocean where a second shaft might be considered.

Thankfully, very thankfully, that number has dropped to just four.

Of course and naturally, the old LAXT site is part of 'Alignment 1' proposal for a shaft that could include worker access and debris removal, all the way up to the placement of a second tunneling machine.

'Alignment 1', as currently proposed, would be the longest and costliest (on paper now) of the four alignments now under preview and review. Using this alignment would provide the Diffuser site somewhat close to the San Pedro Shelf, which is not as deep as the depth of the Palos Verdes Shelf provides.

'Alignment 2' is quite new and it probably includes a shaft at LAXT's old site on Terminal Island, it also adds another shaft at the former Southwest Marine site on Terminal Island. This alignment would be the second longest and it would provide the outfall from the plant going close to the Palos Verdes Shelf.

'Alignment 3' is considered by me right now as a 'non starter' because even though it provides an outfall end close to where 'Alignment 2' would have for its outfall, it requires a shaft be placed at the parking lot below the Korean Bell, on the Angel's Gate site. I will have more about that in a future post.

'Alignment 4' is the shortest and illustrated as being the 'least costly'. It would have the tunnel travel under San Pedro, as 'Alignment 2' also includes, but it's outfall would be near where the two existing outfalls are, near the Palos Verdes Shelf.

This alignment requires an Outfall Shaft being sunk at Royal Palms, down near the water.

I will have more about that in a future post.

I fully support the Sanitation Districts' Clearwater Program as long as the old LAXT site is utilized, no matter that is would be the most or second most expensive alignments to build.

What is most important right now, I feel, is community members for every community possible and reasonable, coming forward to offer facts, comments and opinions about this program that is truly needed for every one's future.

Please learn all you can about the Clearwater Program so you will have the best knowledge possible when dealing with a process that has already taken years and will probably take another 8-10 years to build out.

With all the opportunities, there are genuine concerns about the environment, both ecologically and when dealing with persons' environments.

The Clearwater Program: What I Like and What I Don't Like

2011-05-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, the Clearwater Program is back and going forward. I think it is better than good for all of us, but there are some significant issues I have that I'd like to address.

In my almost one hour meeting with Mr. Acosta and Ms. Winner I told them that I was very supportive of the program as long as 'Alignment 1' and possibly 'Alignment 2' becomes the recommended alignments, but that they really shouldn't bother with Alignments 3 and 4.

Yes, it is written now that 'Alignment 4', with its shaft being sunk at Royal Palms is the shortest and 'least costly' in the $500 Million Dollar or possibly less range.

Yes, there is also 'Alignment 3' with its second 'least costly' aspect and its equal distance of 9 miles as compared to 'Alignment 2'. But it requires a shaft sunk at Angel's Gate. That would be at the newer parking lot, which is used by so many visitors and local residents attending gatherings at Point Fermin Park.

Yes, 'Alignment 1' is currently written up as the most expensive and longest alignment proposed at 14 miles long and $1.4 Billion Dollars.

And yes, of the four alignments now under consideration, 'Alignment 4' might have the 'least impact' on the environment, but everyone needs to take some issues under more careful consideration, such as:

Having the second shaft at LAXT means that should a second tunneling machine be placed, debris excavated would be able to be transported by rail and truck travel and there would be the least impact on residents, residences, traffic, and access.

I offered to Mr. Acosta and Ms. Winner that there is absolutely no way I would support the placement of shafts at Angels' Gate or Royal Palms and they really need to understand how there are more environments to consider other than what happens to the ground, sea, air, animal life and plant life.

The second shaft, no matter if it was sunk at Royal Palms or Angel's Gate would require up to or more than nine months of time for 'between 10 to 40' hauling trips, per day, to occur while debris is being trucked away.

What about the environment of San Pedrans who, when they flush, shower, bathe, or drain their sinks, never use the facilities that would be furnished because of all the digging done at Royal Palms or Angel's Gate?

There are lots of good San Pedrans who have some valid feelings that those of us who 'live on The Hill' send our 'trash' to San Pedro, rather than dealing with it ourselves.

Since we who benefit from Sanitation District 5 may want to call for the placement of a shaft at Royal Palms or Angel's Gate, I think we need to understand better how those who would have to deal with the all the requirements placed on the good folks in San Pedro as far as traffic inconvenience, added noise, and other types of impacts might want to rethink that is may not be the least costly to have shafts at Royal Palms or Angel's Gate.

I would imagine that the 25,000 household Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council may wish to be one of the first to head to court to stop any incursion into their neighborhoods by the Sanitation Districts.

I also think that the city of Los Angeles might wish to impose restrictions and/or obligations on our Districts should the Districts ultimately receive approval for 'Alignment 3 or 4'.

I remember when it was said that 'over 99%' of those asked or offering opinion about the placement of any second shaft clearly stated that the LAXT site was preferred over all others.

I do think we need a new Outfall System and I support the concept and many of the options. I do not however, feel any of this needs to be placed on the backs or in other ways interfere with anyone living in San Pedro or commuting around using the major access routes around that community.

It is still understood that there are those who support an outer harbor cruise ship terminal, even with the added transit troubles between any freeway access and outer harbor cruise ship terminal.

It should be considered that should that terminal be built and become operational about the same time either the Angel's Gate or Royal Palms shaft also find approval and construction begins, San Pedrans and others could see the following:

10-40 double dirt haulers per day, traveling along at least one major route though San Pedro and then when the biggest cruise ships call on San Pedro, all that trafficking of passengers and materials associated with huge cruise ship journeys also needing crosstown transport, together require great problems with all those wishing to travel around or through San Pedro while having nothing to do with ships or shafts.

Sometimes the 'least costly' is not really the 'least costly' when compared with all factors.

I do understand that the Environmental studies require the examination of more than two 'Alternatives' and that 'Alignments 3 and 4 must be studied. But that does not mean either of them should be taken very seriously, especially when so many people have already told representatives that any second or third shaft needs to be sunk on Terminal Island.

There are many good, true, real, and necessary reasons to support the construction of a new Joint Outfall System. But none of those reasons should overcome what could happen to San Pedro and San Pedrans and others in that area, who would be impacted by a process they never fully utilize and do not pay for.

Ponte Vista Update With Shared Post

2011-04-13T22:40:00.001-07:00

I am writing identical posts on two of my blogs dealing with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council is a great source of information dealing with the project proposed for 61.53 acres in northwest San Pedro, directly across the street from homes and a very large business in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Here is a very good link to the Council's site where information can be gathered.

http://www.nwsanpedro.org/pontevistaindex.asp

It appears that when the new Environmental Impact Report is published, HOPEFULLY VERY SOON, everyone will have a better opportunity to view the details and begin greater discussions and debates about having a large condominium project with access only along Western Avenue, built.

Expected are three 'Alternatives' that will have studies considered.

The primary 'Alternative' looks to be for 1,345 condominium and/or apartment units, some 'masquerading' as single-family units, but are legally identified as condominium units.

This Alternative provides for fewer than the "2,300" units published as the proposed Alternative when Bob Bisno was the Developer.

There will probably be "Alternative 2" which might include a proposal to construct condominium and apartment units in the 800-850 units range.

As a reminder, The Gardens is a 1,100-unit development that was first offered as owner-occupied condominiums on 80 acres of land almost adjacent to the Ponte Vista site.

Using the number of units constructed and the acreage, the dwelling density of The Gardens is 13.75 dwelling units per gross acre of land.

If the figure of 13.75 dwelling units per gross acre is applied to the Ponte Vista at San Pedro site, up to 846 dwelling units, maximum, to equal the dwelling density of The Gardens.

It is true that many of the 'condominium' units at The Gardens are now rental or leased out units and that actually changes the traffic count numbers when owner-occupied units become rented or leased out.

The new developers at Ponte Vista at San Pedro have proposed one of the building being constructed to contain "392 Apartment Units" but after they breath, they will tell you they expect and/or 'hope' that those Apartment Units would become owner-occupied units.

Here is where I need to mention that I still have two acres of The Moon up for sale and if you really believe 392 Apartment Units will eventually become owner-occupied units, you are someone I really want to talk to about unloading an acre or two on The Moon I have been trying to sell for years.

Alternative 3 will most likely be the legally required "No Project" Alternative.

This Alternative is legally mandated to be studied and included with Environmental Impact Reports and it is the Alternative that uses the idea that no zoning changes are made to an existing site and what the current zoning on the site is, is what new construction must utilize.

In the case of Ponte Vista at San Pedro, it was zoned by the city of Los Angeles to be "R1" which means single-family, detached dwellings on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet in size. The other zoning existing on some of the site is O1 or OS1 (Open Space), plus there is some land that is not suitable to have new housing constructed on it.

The "R1" designation on suitable construction land at the site allows for the construction of up to 429 single-family units.

Currently there are approximately 245 'duplex' units constructed for military housing purposes and when they were constructed for the military, no city zoning requirements or restrictions applied to military housing there.

The current zoning would not allow for refurbishment of existing residential units on the site.

The current developers have suggested and stated that they do not wish to apply for any 'density bonuses' on the 22 lots that comprise Ponte Vista at San Pedro. If density bonuses were applied for and approved, the number of proposed units could be increased by up to 35%.

What they have stated in one for or another is that they will be seeking new municipal codes from the Los Angeles City Council that will change the current zoning on the site and provide entitlements on lots that they would probably try to sell to others rather than actually contracting any firm to build new housing on their behalf.

What impresses me and what impressed other opponents of over development in our area is that the new development team seems to have greater understanding and they seem to be much more willing and able to sit down and discuss just about everything related to Ponte Vista at San Pedro and local neighborhoods in all the communities near the site.

R Neighborhoods Are 1, the communities-wide organization that worked hard and helped by a weakening economy to keep Bob Bisno from going further with his plans, has not gone anywhere.

Records illustrating the fact that more people signed petition sheets demanding that the Ponte Vista site remain R1 than Councilwoman Janice Hahn was looking for to help her decide her stance, remain on file.

More information will be provided when it becomes available.

Perception and Some More Comments

2011-01-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

After pondering on the appointment of Ms. Elise Swanson as Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilwoman Janice Hahn, I have formed some early opinions about the matter.

Ms. Swanson began her current position with Ms. Hahn's staff at the beginning of this year.

As I am moderately affected by asperger's syndrome, I can place into my own vision many things as if they were right in front of me.

I 'saw' a newspaper headline, actually more than one that seems to be working for me at this time.

"Freshman Congressman appoints K Street lobbyist to a key staff position" This doesn't sit well with me at all and I feel it doesn't sit well with many others, either.

"Termed out Councilwoman appoints former Vice President of condominium project located in her District, to key staff position"

Perception.

Ms. Swanson, after leaving the staff of Councilwoman Hahn, spent about five years aggressively supporting, leading, and lobbying for a change of zoning on a site within the Councilwoman's District.

Now I have read what I feel is a promise that Ms. Swanson would not be working on Ponte Vista at San Pedro issues. However, as Vice President of Ponte Vista at San Pedro, it was Ms. Swanson's job to do her best to have the zoning changed at the site to allow for "2,300" condominiums, or fewer numbers of condominiums being approved for entitlements on the site in northwest San Pedro.

I sent out an informational Email, with a few short comments, to a large number of community members, about Ms. Swanson's recent appointment.

I have received a surprising number of replies, both individually back to me and as a "reply all" to the original Email I sent out.

"Conflict of interest" has so far been viewed by me in the majority of the replies I have received.

I am not too sure that there really is a conflict of interest at this point, but I can certainly consider there could be.

Perception.

I think from here on our, even though Ms. Hahn and all of her representatives might state that Ms. Swanson's appointment would mean nothing regarding Ms. Hahn's responsibilities regarding Ponte Vista, it can very well be perceived by many that just having a former Vice President of an operation that seeks to have entitlements granted for building within Ms. Hahn's District COULD smack at a potential conflict of interest, I feel.

The appointment also make it more difficult, I believe, for Ms. Hahn to get beyond having problems with her vote on the City Council on any and all matters related to Ponte Vista and the entitlement sought for that site.

I do not doubt the abilities Ms. Swanson brings to the position as Deputy Chief of Staff. I doubt that it was a wise and truly thought out appointment by Ms. Hahn.

Ms. Swanson was an active, concerned, and remarkable representative on the Western Avenue Task Force. She was a strong force when working for Bob Bisno.

During "The Bob Years" as I refer to the period of time when Bob Bisno first brought the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project to northwest San Pedro and up until he was sent away, Ms. Swanson, myself, and many others were participants in activities that brought about probably the most divisive period in our community's history.

I know none of us want to go back and do any of that in the future, while we are all still considering whether or what entitlements would be allowed on Ponte Vista's 61.53 acres.

Perception.

Now that Ms. Swanson is a key member of Ms. Hahn's staff, how might that really affect the Councilwoman's position now and into the future? is there enough perception of trust for the Councilwoman's position?

It is reasonable to equate part of Ms. Swanson's former position as a lobbyist for a particular development within Ms. Hahn's sphere of influence.

I have been under the impression that there is a growing call for former lobbyists not being hired to the staffs of elected representatives and that lobbyists who represented interests within the representative's voting area, should not be hired.

In the history of dealing with Ponte Vista at San Pedro issues I learned that when a development or project is backed by the Council person where the project or development is located, it usually gains approval by the majority of the City Council.

Similarly, when the Council person whose District contains a development or project that Council person does not support, the majority of the City Council will not support the project or development. This has been true in the vast majority of cases but it is not set in stone and some projects and developments have been approved without the support of the Council member in whose District it is located.

We have been told that Ms. Hahn is not supportive of having entitlements granted for the 1,135 units the current developer is asking for.

We don't yet know the number of units Ms. Hahn might agree to.

At this point I feel that as long as Ms. Swanson remains on Ms. Hahn's staff, Ms. Hahn must recuse herself from all official debate, voting, or most other things associated with the site Ms. Swanson has been a Vice President of, for about five years.

There will be a strong and probably growing call for the site to remain with its current zoning. That zoning already allows for the construction of up to 429-Single Family, detached housing on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet. (This is commonly known as R-1 or R 1)

There would be no conflict of interest concerns or perception issues relating to Councilwoman Hahn and her appointment of Ms. Swanson if Ms. Hahn states that she supports keeping the site with its current zoning and there being no vote coming before the Los Angeles City Council.

*NOTE. I have stated and written that I can live with not more than 831 total units being constructed at the site. That is many more units than R 1 allows.

I do not doubt that Ms. Swans is qualified to be a Deputy Chief of Staff to any L.A. City Council member other than Ms. Hahn.

If you are going to use a former paid lobbyist as a key member of your staff, you should not appoint a lobbyist to your staff that worked for years lobbying for something in your own District.

A New Year. A New Job

2011-01-24T10:56:00.001-08:00

Ms. Elise Swanson left serving Councilwoman Janice Hahn back in 2005, to become a Senior Vice President for Ponte Vista Partners, LLC when she Joined Bob Bisno in the development of Ponte Vista at San Pedro. Ms. Swanson was in charge of the onsite operations and local community events while employed there.

Ms. Elise Swanson is now the Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

Ms. Swanson's position will take her away from dealing with almost all of the issues surrounding Ponte Vista at San Pedro, according to one source.

I don't know how I feel about this news.

Beginning in 2005, Ms. Swanson was a local participant in attempts to bring "2,300" condominium units to northwest San Pedro and she was among those who worked for a developer who divided us as a community, rarely in a good way, I feel.

Ms. Swanson was one of the women who was attacked in writing by an elderly person who was scolded severely by those of us who know him and she and other women should have never been commented on in that way.

With the number of units now proposed for the Ponte Vista development and an observed tiredness within our community to deal as we have dealt with the previous plans, I remain troubled that Councilwoman Hahn and others within our community might want to just 'give up' and allow the new plans to gain approval by the full City Council.

It certainly doesn't look good to me that the former head of the on-site marketing unit for Ponte Vista now holds a high position in Ms. Hahn's office, as far as how much Ms. Hahn is willing to deal with the Ponte Vista matters.

This is concerning because Ms. Hahn will be termed out of her position most likely after the entitlements are granted for the 61.53 acre site.

I have no information at this time, as to who has taken over the position at Ponte Vista or whether the position still exists.

New Ponte Vista Web Site

2011-01-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

The marketing arm of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Development published to the World Wide Web, its new Web site.

The URL is http://pv2011.eatsleepwork.com/ and I found it interesting, even during its first day.

Many times a Web site will be published before it has lots of primary information on it and this I find to be the case with Ponte Vista's new Web site.

On the right side of the homepage are a list of articles. I am going to put the titles of the link pages down and then copy/paste what I found under the links.

Please remember that the editors of the Web site published it to the Web before much of the information was edited.

"Visit or new Ponte Vista blogat YourPonteVista.com"

Maecenas eget diam in mi sagittis mattis quis aliquam elit. Pellentesque nec nibh urna; ac dignissim tortor? Vivamus sollicitudin adipiscing malesuada! Duis a consectetur nulla. Curabitur magna libero, elementum eget tempus et, mollis id erat. Integer sagittis neque vel purus malesuada non tristique ligula auctor. Mauris et nisi augue, ut sagittis est. Fusce pulvinar varius scelerisque massa nunc.

***This blog has been around for several years and it looks just about what it looked like when its most recent post was published.

"Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Supports Ponte Vista"

Aliquam nisl est; tempor eget suscipit iaculis, aliquet sed orci. Nulla pellentesque imperdiet consectetur. Duis augue libero, interdum at egestas ut, elementum in tellus. In aliquet sapien id turpis pellentesque luctus? Pellentesque sem nibh, vehicula vitae elementum id, posuere ut purus? Praesent lobortis lacinia dolor, id mattis lectus dictum vel! Nulla bibendum dapibus tellus, at blandit amet.

***I think before somebody publishes the title of a post, they should be able to post the body of the post, don't you?

"East View Little League Finds New Home at Ponte Vista"

Etiam semper consectetur adipiscing. Proin ut tincidunt leo. Aenean elementum, nisl et mattis tincidunt, dolor elit posuere massa, nec ultricies turpis ante sit amet neque. Vivamus mi massa, viverra sit amet adipiscing ac, semper eget nibh. Morbi hendrerit congue augue vel auctor. Morbi a purus vel risus elementum laoreet ut et justo. In mi lectus; varius a faucibus vel, pulvinar at velit posuere.

***Perhaps the editor of the new site is just using the link title without regard to whether it is true or not.

"City of Los Angeles Releases Final Environmental Impact Report"

(Empty Space)

*** This page of the link is empty of body. I suspect the editor forgot to copy/paste the wording used in other links.

What got me to the original page was an Email about the Traffic Study now being conducted for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

The following can be found under the larger heading of "Transportation" at the top of the site.

Then click on "Traffic Study" at the bottom of the "Transportation" heading.

"Traffic Study"

Intersections to be evaluated as part of the traffic study are determined by LADOT (Los Angeles Department of Transportation) as well as from public comments received during the scoping period of the Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report).

Proposed study intersections include the same intersections evaluated in the traffic study contained in the November 2006 Draft EIR for the prior Ponte Vista project, as well as additional intersections identified as areas of concern by the public during the previous Draft EIR process (for example, Western Avenue/Peninsula Verde Drive).

For a full list of study intersections, please click here [link to list of intersections, Board 6-3]. For a map of the study intersections, please click here [link to map from Board 6-2].

In traffic engineering practice, and as required by LADOT, potential impacts due to development projects are assessed by evaluating changes to operations at intersections.

Intersection traffic counts were conducted in September and October 2010. Weekday counts occurred on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday when local schools were in session. Based on LADOT requirements, weekday counts were conducted in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and in the afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday counts were conducted from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The peak hour is determined from the 3 hour counts at each intersection based on the 60 minute period with the highest amount of traffic.

As required by LADOT and based on traffic counts, intersections will be evaluated during the weekday commuter morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) peak hours. In addition, intersections along Western Avenue near the project site will be evaluated during the Saturday midday peak hour corresponding with the peak shopping period.

***Thank you very much for providing this information. It allows folks to learn what has been going on and answers questions some might still have about the Traffic Study.

I tried to sign up for the 'eNEWSLETTER' on this site, but it would not work.

Now folks, please don't go thinking I now endorse the latest project plans, by reading this post.

I do believe that information is critical when making decisions on such a large project as Ponte Vista at San Pedro is.

I don't feel we need to be at such odds as so many supporters and opponents of previous plans were.

I have real problems with '1,135' units and the fact that the developer stated to me that the majority of the traffic mitigation supported by Bob Bisno during "The Bob Years" will not be on the table going forward.

I have been told that there is nowhere in the developer's budget to offer the traffic mitigation we all were looking at, back in the earlier years of the project.

When I looked up the developments old Web site, "www.pontevista.com" I found an under construction mention on a site maintained by Network Solutions. It appears that "pv.com" is also under the umbrella of Network Solutions.

Maybe the site I am writing about will migrate to "www.pontevista.com" in the future. That would be a good thing for the folks at Ponte Vista at San Pedro and me.

When you 'google' "Ponte Vista", I come up first followed by their Your Ponte Vista blog.

I signed up for Google Alerts using "Ponte Vista" as key words. That is how I found out about the new site.

I haven't tried Bing or other search engines, but I bet I will be at or near the top and that should not be what the marketers for Ponte Vista at San Pedro would want you to see.

So we start of the new year with a new site and I hope a much better discussion that is open and honest on all sides.

I'll write more and I hope to end the hiatus of my "Odds and Ends" posts.

Happy New Year!

A Long Dry Spell Must End For Me

2011-01-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

This post is written for several of my blogs because I have taken an extended absence from writing on any of my blogs for quite some time.

So much has happened in our extended communities since I stopped writing on the blogs and I want to get back to pondering, questioning, commenting, arguing, and dealing with many issues common to the communities I live in and events and conditions in and around the communities most of my readers live in.

Nothing is more common in all of the communities we all deal with than John and Muriel Olguin. Right now, nothing is more important for all of us in those communities.

Most of us know that a great gentleman, very long into life and even longer in adventures would pass from us, far too soon.

We all knew the day would come that we would make us sad and drive our memories into overdrive.

We all knew none of us can and could measure up to the personhood we all now honor with the passing of John Olguin.

Muriel was and always will be the 'winner' of my writings about our community members who were closer to being "more like John Olguin" than the rest of us. She is in our hearts as she and the rest of us remember John.

Starting 2011 with the new adventure of working on ways to honor John's memory and try to be more like him in the acts of kindness and teachings he showed us, is a task we need to do. It is the first task of what is going to be one heck of a year for all of us.

As we move forward, please include in your visions and dreams the smiles your remember beaming from John's face as he taught you something you didn't know or how he was so happy when you understood how he regaled in your learning.

Let's work towards a public memorial that includes contributions of whatever you can provide to those in need and a clear demonstration that we all 'got' the fascination, wonder, and joy John offered, all supported by Muriel, a true inspiration, artist, and gift to all of us as she was to John.

One way to honor John and all those who volunteered for us is to volunteer to work on issues and projects that interest you in ways that promote those things that benefit 'community'

Not only are your acts, deeds, thoughts, comments, and wishes important, your means of demonstrating those things are also important on many issues you might want to concern yourself with.

Here is just a partial list of things that I am pondering about and I hope your list is at least as long as mine:

John's public memorial, the U.S.S. Iowa, Charter City status and vote in Rancho Palos Verdes, Ponte Vista, SRHS #15, downtown San Pedro, protecting our environment, Western Avenue, community goals, park lands, politics, arts in communities, good citizenship, the local economy, working for those less fortunate, San Ramon Canyon, Marymount's Expansion Project, educating everyone, recession recovery, working for peace, celebrating, family, neighbors and friends, contentious issues, common goals, fun, faith, play, and experiencing a full and productive life. Grandchildren, perhaps someday.

I hope to get back to writing on a much more regular basis on several of these blogs.

I know Ponte Vista is important and should see posts and comments from others throughout the year.

I live on the eastern side of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro in heart, Rancho Palos Verdes in thought. I feel strongly that residents of Rancho Palos Verdes need to be better informed and more able to deal with and comment on their government and city.

There are "Issues to Ponder" regarding San Pedro. It may have a continuing set of problems in its downtown area but it has a growing vibrant aspect in its arts and entertainment and there will be new things popping up in the future throughout the community.

I know that "R Neighborhoods Are 1" and there is more to be considered in our community, for our community, and with our community.

As I am still a caveman, my 'dairy' needs to be updated with stories and learning this caveman has encountered over the last couple of years.

Whether I can manage to work harder to be more like John is something that I don't yet know, but I really need to try.

I hope readers will learn or argue or agree or disagree or ponder or rant or rave or just read. But with all blogs, it is truly more for the writer to write than the reader to read. If that was not the case, there would be no blogs and just look how many there are now compared to when I first wrote, in September, 2006.

Thank you and please return from time to time.

Mark Wells
aka M Richards
mrichards2@hotmail.com

Odds and Ends 195

2010-11-19T22:31:00.000-08:00

We are all down to the final ten days to submit comments to the Initial Study.

I have not done a very good job so far and reading my copy and creating lots of comments.

This is the final weekend for "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

On December 3 at Little Fish Theatre, also in San Pedro, a hilarious comedy that has elements of The Marx Brothers meet "Home Alone" bumbling robbers entering the world where there may be some "Importance of Being Earnest".

The two shows have eaten up quite a bit of my time in the recent weeks and several months and I hope you all take the opportunity to attend a performance of both shows.
_____________________________________________________
Terri and I are very sad to see a vacant storefront where Z-Pizza used to be.

It sat between the Egg Roll King and Coldstone Creamery and we enjoyed the thin crust pizza and other food offerings.

I guess their pricing structure could not compete with the often discounted prices offered at Little Caesar's, Pizza Hut, and other similar businesses.

I am pleased that there are few empty businesses along Western and I hope the economies of both San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes improve in the coming months.
__________________________________________________
I have no new news to report concerning what might happen with motor vehicle traffic along Western Avenue associated with Marymount College and their off-campus housing facility along Palos Verdes Drive North, between Five Points and Western Avenue.

There is some speculation among some R.P.V. residents that a slate of candidates supporting on-campus housing at Marymount College will run in the 2011 election for three of the five seats on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council that will have current members termed out.

I have been reassured that the Marymount College Traffic and Parking Section of the college's Expansion Project will be included in the new Traffic and Circulation Study Section of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Environmental Impact Report.

With or without on-campus student housing at the college's Palos Verdes Drive East campus, daily trip generation will continue to increase between the 'Palos Verdes North' off-campus student housing site and the college campus.
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If you drive south along Western Avenue, near First Street and there is water in the roadway, you usually have the chance to see an optical illusion.

Between First Street and the intersection of Weymouth Avenue, there is sometimes a gathering of water just next to the southbound fast lane and center median.

If you stop at the First Street intersection and look at the puddle, it appears to be on the incline portion of Western Avenue.

Since stopping or driving along through the First Street intersection means you are going downhill, your eyes tend to fool you into thinking that the water is not at the bottom of the decline/incline, but it really is.

There have been other optical illusions in the area, especially on that has been gone for some time on Miraleste Drive/9Th Street.
____________________________________________________________

Odds and Ends 194

2010-11-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

The Wednesday evening Scoping Open House for Ponte Vista at San Pedro was fairly typical of other Scoping meetings/Open Houses, including the first one for Ponte Vista.

The one remarkable thing I am taking away from the event is seeing Mr. David Shinder returning as the project's Traffic Engineer.

Even though there are a few representatives of the new development company who may not belive what I told them, I really did ask Mr. Robert H. Bison why his originale number of "2300" was the number of units he orginally applied to build.

Bob and I were seated next to each other on the return trip from an 1100-unit Apartment complex that was the model for the Bob's original designs.

As we rode south on the 110 Freeway to view another complex as a comparison, I asked Bob Bisno directly my question of why was the number of "2,300" selected.

His response directly to me was that he asked his Traffic Engineer, Mr. David Shinder, what was the most number of units that could be built at Ponte Vista at San Pedro by doing every one of the traffic mitigation elements proposed.

Bob Bisno said that according to Mr. Shinder, 2,300-units could be built as long as all traffic mitigation was applied.

Now I heard the word "lie" used by an unnamed representative of the current development team as to the truth of Bob's statements to me.

But I was sitting next to Bob when he offered what he offered, and I didn't feel I needed any more questions about the number of units he was considering at that time.

I do have photos of the group that toured the Newport Beach complex and Bob is in some of the photos.

One of the most heated parts of the debates concerning Ponte Vista was, is, and will be traffic.

There was little, if any, respect for the numbers generated in the first Traffic and Transportation Study part of the first Environmental Impact Report.

Why the new development team continues to use Mr. Shinder and his firm as their Traffic Consultants does not work with my considering the explaination I got on Wednesday night as to why Mr. Shinder is still around.

After Bob Bisno's departure and Mr. Alan Abshez's departure, I would have thought Mr. David Shinder would have been and maybe should have been, the third departure.
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Most of the folks who attended the Open House I would refer to as, "the usual suspects".

Naturally I am a proud member of that group and it seemed revealing just a bit that the majority of those I saw in the auditorium were opponents of all of the previous plans coming during "The Bob Years" and Mr. Ted Fenton's tenure as developer.

There were some familiar faces of those who supported whatever the plans were for Ponte Vista as far back as 2005.
_____________________________________________________
Please remember that you have until November 29, 2010 to get your comments on the Initial Study and Scoping Session to the Los Angeles City Planning Department.

No matter what your opinions and comments are, they are important and will be published in legal documents regarding the project.
____________________________________________________
Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council has a new site address. It is www.cspnc.org and that goup was opposed to the plans coming from Bob Bisno.

I do not believe that Council has taken a position on the newest parameters of the project.
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Mr. Shinder did confirm to me that the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project's Traffic and Parking Section of its Environmental Impact Report will be included in the new Traffic and Transportation Study for the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Development.

This is a good thing for all of us because it means that newer dialy trip counts along Western by those driving to and from Marymount's campus will be studies and this was something that could not be done for either the Marymount E.I.R. or the original Ponte Vista at San Pedro E.I.R.
__________________________________________________
I was very pleased to find a much more supportive attitude towards community members by everyone representing Ponte Vista at San Pedro at Wednesday's gathering.

I do think that the new Director of Communications for the Project might have his hands full trying to deal with R Neighborhoods Are 1, which has its Steering Committee back into having meetings. I also think challenges and issues by those stakeholders of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council might test the new fellow a bit.

It is still quite apparent that all five local Neighborhood Councils have the history and information to work with the folks at Ponte Vista towards having a nicer and better relationship between them and the new development team.

I it still to be determined whether the Communications Director would be invited to and/or accept an invitation to attend any meeting of the Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1.
____________________________________________________________

I'm Still Looking

2010-11-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

Now where did I leave my "Major Ranting Elitist" button I last wore during "The Bob Years"?

This post is my way of informing readers that the Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 is back to the business of working to find ways to support the best Ponte Vista at San Pedro development for the entire community and not just developers of the 61.53 acre site.

Tonight many members of the Board will be at the Peck Park Community Center for the Scoping Meeting, and you should be there, too.

We all need the best and most complete information possible to determine whether the new plans for the site could benefit or impede our community's movement forward in peace and harmony.

While we appreciate the much lower number of units planned that what was attempted to be forced on us during "The Bob Years" the number is still too high and the types of housing are problematic and some are far too tough to swallow.

I wonder if Ms. Linda D'Ambrosi will attend and speak at the meeting. She was recently featured in a Daily Breeze article and she was the one who stated, matter of factly that; "Bob Bisno is going to save San Pedro"! It would be interesting to see if she speaks about the new plans or is too busy representing more Trump housing in the city where she actually lives, Rancho Palos Verdes.

I leave this post with the reminder that 831-total units at Ponte Vista would be equal to the dwelling density of The Gardens, so very close to Ponte Vista's Western Avenue address.

Odds and Ends 193

2010-11-05T21:23:00.001-07:00

We have been informed that the Email address to send in your comments to the Notice of Preparation was incorrect.

The correct Email address is: Hadar.Plafkin@lacity.org.
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This is what has been consuming all my waking hours and some of my dream time this past week:

Click on image to enlarge.

Our production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will star Ms. Kristin Towers-Rowles, the granddaughter of the late Ms. Kathryn Grayson.

The cast is fantastic, if I write so, myself and the role of "The Preacher" is played by a fellow who was last seen onstage as "The Dominee", another cleric part.

This production can be enjoyed by the entire family and I hope to see you before a performance as I greet you in my costume, probably holding a Bible.

Incidentally, there is a free performance at Noon on Thursday November 11 for folks like me who are 55 year's of age or better.
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The Scoping Meeting is still planned for Wednesday November 10, 2011 inside the Peck Park Community Center's auditorium/gym/big and stuffy room.

It is an important meeting for all of you who are interested in learning more about the newest plans unveiled in more detail last week.

If you haven't been through any of the "rounds" during "The Bob Years" and want to know more about the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA) and how the processes should work beginning with this meeting and potentially ending with a vote by the members of the Los Angeles City Council granting or not granting approval of plans via a new municipal code that includes zoning changes, this meeting is even more important for you to attend.

This meeting is also the physical event in conjunction with the creation of comments by you and others to the Notice of Preparation which is probably online now and you will get more specific addresses to view or download the document, this coming Wednesday.

Historically, the Notice of Preparation and other CEQA documents can be viewed at the public library.

If I don't post a link to a site where you can read and even download a copy of the Notice of Preparation, please remind me sometime early Thursday morning.
___________________________________________
I hope Councilwoman Janice Hahn attends the meeting and provides for all of us her initial views on the new plans with its 392 'apartment flats' and other types of condominiums and apartment flats.

I also hope to find supporters and opponents learning more about the plans so we can find better common ground to discuss all of the issues using much better forms of education and communication that we all suffered through during "The Bob Years."
__________________________________________
I have nothing official or unofficial to report with regards to R Neighborhoods Are 1, at this time.

Whether I begin again posting on my www.rneighborhoodsare1.blogspot.com in the near future remains to be seen and determined by me.

Please stay tuned.
_________________________________________
I've written all that I wish to write about my personal views on the newest plans, until I get much more education on more of the elements of the plans to construct 1,135 total units at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

If anyone reading this blog is new to the issues or wish to learn more about the plans, you are welcome to Email me at: mrichards2@hotmail.com or at the address listed at the top of this blog.

You should be able to also gather educational resources by visiting the one Web site for Ponte Vista I know is up and running.

You can get information at www.yourpontevista.com
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We "fall back" this Saturday evening/early Sunday morning.
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Odds and Ends 192

2010-10-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Click on image to enlarge.

I think it is important to demonstrate resolve to get the tanks moved.

There are places they can have their contents moved to and if the steel is not moved, it should be recycled for use in many different things.

I also think it is important for the good folks representing Ponte Vista at San Pedro to also become involved with getting the tanks moved.

They could show a real civic support and it would be a good marketing move that would show they are all concerned with the health and safety of all those who may eventually move into what might be built at Ponte Vista.

___________________________________________

The numbers of units in each product type that now would make up 1,135 total units remains very troubling to me and others, I am finding out.

I do think we all need to sit in the dugout to learn as much as we can prior to the November 29 deadline for comments on the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study.

I can feel there will be some stiff opposition to some of the units being considered for development and I can see that having such a large percentage of units that could or would be rentals or leases makes what I was hoping to find a somewhat trouble-free discussion and debate period, now looking more like a period of hot debate and difficult discussions.

__________________________________________
I think what we have with this latest plan is a carrot and stick approach of a carrot and stick plan.

Offering up to 143 SFR, detached units and then stating that 392 of the 1,135-total unit count would be 'apartment flats' suggests that the development team is using the detached houses as the carrot for the 392 'sticks' of apartment flats. And that's not even counting the other condominium building of four-stories.

But the overall carrot and stick plan could be that should too much opposition to the current development plans emerge, the developers may pull all their sticks out and head for offering up to 20% of the units for "low income" owners or renters and then applying for the almost certain approval of a density bonus that could add up to a total of about 1,532-total units, with at least 33% of those units being rentals or leases.

It could be that the housing market determines what, if anything will get approved, according to the current plans.

The developers have to gain a huge sum of money unless they allow the land to go back into the hands of the primary and secondary lenders.
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Sunday is Halloween and Western Avenue will get even spookier than it normally is during the evening.

Please remain careful and take it from me, you don't want to be walking along the Avenue carrying uncooked eggs in your shirt pockets.
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The vote on Measure P is Tuesday, finally.

The facts are now available for everyone to view and one of the facts contained in the measure is that a new library, maintenance building, athletic facility, residential halls, and a gallery "MAY" be built on the campus of Marymount College, but any or all of them may NOT get built, according to the actual language of Measure P.

If you have suffered with all the "Yes on P" mailers that contain factually misleading information, rest assured, we are only about to end the beginning of the saga and fiasco and a population of somewhat affluent residents (I am definitely not affluent) can do wonders should they not get what they want during Tuesday's election outcome reporting.
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Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report

2010-10-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Click on images above to enlarge them.

This is the official public notice of the seconf Public Scoping Meeting for Ponte Vista at San Pedro and the first public meeting dealing with the new Environmental Impact Report now undergoing studies.

The Public Scoping Meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2010 at the Peck Park Auditorium and it is important that everyone who has concerns either in support of the new plans or now having some opposition and those who just have questions and want to learn more, to come to the meeting and listen, learn, comment, and become active.

Also a very important date to remember is November 29, 2010 which is the ending date for submission of written comments to the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study.

Your imput is important and youre comments have weight and will be reviewes.

As for the actual plans of what MAY be built at Ponte Vista, more information will certainly be available at the meeting and throughout the course of the time between now and when the Los Angeles City Council finally votes on what will be approved or not approved at the 61.53 acre site.

More Than 1/3 "Apartment flats" and Only 143 Single Family Detached Residences

2010-10-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

Click on images to enlarge them.

I must admit that I was caught off guard by the illustrations and Product Type Diagrams because I was at first delighted to see that 143 of the units MAY be single family, detached residents on basically no lot at all.

But when I got to the bottom and read that over one third of the Project is slated to be "apartment flats" in a four-story building, it demonstrated that all is not as well as it should be, in our community.

Like everyone, I need to learn a lot more about the proposal and product types. It is a really tough thing for me to have to swallow the idea of "apartment flats" even though I know many other townhouses and condos will also become rentals and leased residences.

It is not really now a stretch to consider than SHOULD Ponte Vista at San Pedro be built out as it is diagrammed right now, more than half of the residential units could be leased our or provided to renters.

This is a very real and big problem because the the more transient nature renters have and there could be an almost non-stop view on weekends of moving vans, pickup truck, and other vehicles specializing in moving renters in and out.

I do wish that some of the units were designated for seniors but I do understand the problems with trying to supply them in this day and age and housing problems.

I will continue to contend that Ponte Vista at San Pedro should have no more than 831 dwelling units to make that area equivalent in dwelling density to The Gardens.

Perhaps I am just frustrated with these new plans and I am remembering "The Bob Years" while I looked at the "392- apartment flats" and thought that here we go again with a great deal of opposition to these new plans.

I think it is a poor thing to see that over 1/3 of the planned units are scheduled to be "apartment flats" and I am hopeful that this time, the new development team of Ponte Vista will listen and learn.

I do have a feeling though, that should the "apartment flats" be taken out of the mix, the new Ponte Vista at San Pedro development team will then seek a density bonus, which is not a good option either, for our community I feel.

Please plan on attending the Public Scoping Meeting on November 10. I am sure we will all learn new details about Ponte Vista at San Pedro and we should be willing to listen before any real overt opposition shouts out.

But please do not be misinformed, there will be more than a little opposition to these new plans now that everyone now has the opportunity so see the product types and the numbers of each type.

Odds and Ends 191

2010-10-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

With my focus on other issues like Measure P, The Marymount Plan, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "And To All A Good Night" and just trying to work through the almost never ending wet weather, I've got nothing this week for Odds and Ends.

Odds and Ends 190

2010-10-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

The following is on the Agenda under the Consent Calendar portion of this Tuesday's Rancho Palos Verdes City Council meeting:

3. Grant Application to Develop a Western Avenue Corridor Strategy
(Schonborn)
Recommendation: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2010-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, THEREBY APPROVING THE FILING OF A GRANT APPLICATION THROUGH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (SCAG) “COMPASS BLUEPRINT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS” PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CORRIDOR AND STREETSCAPE STRATEGY FOR THE WESTERN AVENUE CORRIDOR.

Western Avenue is State Highway 213 and beautifying it is simply a good thing to attempt and then do, in my opinion.

Naturally I and others support the city of Rancho Palos Verdes filing a Grant Application and if I am not at a rehearsal, I will head towards Tuesday's meeting and encourage all other supporters of the Grant Application, no matter where they live to attend and speak on the item.
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For Rancho Palos Verdes residents who received yesterday's mailer from Marymount and all those who viewed the full page advertisement in The South Bay Daily News, isn't it remarkable that Marymount chose not to use any information about the 'assessed home values of residences adjacent to a College campus that has on-campus student housing?

Either they just 'missed' supplying Mr. Auerbach's opinion on dorms near houses, he didn't offer a quote on that subject or more probably, Marymount's campaign continues to use misdirection, and misleading misinformation in its (so far) $1,566,000 expenditure to get Measure P, The Marymount Plan passed by voters.
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Fondness of this current weather pattern north of Ninth Street near Western Avenue is not something I am enjoying at the moment.

I need to build a huge 'Pontipee House' for November's "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at the Warner Grand Theatre and the fog, drizzle, and recent rain is not helping.

Of course we need the moisture and cooler temperatures. I just want to implore Mother Nature to let the wetness fall during the nighttime, if she pleases.
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I don't have anything specifically to report concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro on this post.

I do feel that is now acceptable to compare Ponte Vista's current Management, current dealings with the public, and potential to offer a great Development based on community involvement with what is happening with Marymount College and what seems to be approaches similar to what we all suffered through during "The Bob Bisno Years".

I haven't found a single supporter or opponent of Ponte Vista's plans during "The Bob Bisno Years" that had even a 'good' time, some years after Bob was shown both sides of the door by way of a really large boot, I bet.
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Odds and Ends 189

2010-10-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here is an article from the Thursday October 7, 2010 Palos Verdes Peninsula News:

Ponte Vista owner presents new plans
By Ashley Ratcliff, Peninsula News
Thursday, October 7, 2010 11:20 AM PDT

The proposed Ponte Vista housing project, located on Western Avenue in San Pedro, is situated on a 61.5-acre site that formerly was used for Navy residences. Developers iStar Financial Inc. recently released a scaled-back project with 1,135 units.
SAN PEDRO — A project that seeks to develop homes on a parcel land, vacant since 1997, has undergone yet another transformation — units were reduced to less than half of the figure originally proposed.

In its first iteration, the proposed Ponte Vista project — located on the site of 245 former U.S. Navy houses in San Pedro — included 2,300 for-sale residential units for an estimated 4,300 people. Its most recent proposal, recently presented to Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, includes 1,135 homes on a 61.5-acre site that borders the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

“For years, I have joined with the community to push for a smaller project at the Ponte Vista site, and I was encouraged by my recent meeting with [developers] iStar [Financial Inc.],” Hahn said in a statement. “They have been listening and it looks like the concerns of the community, and the recommendations of the planning department, have finally been heard — as this number is much closer to what makes sense in this part of San Pedro.”

“It’s a step in the right direction,” added Mark Wells, an eastern RPV resident. “I prefer no more than 831 units there, because that’s the dwelling density equivalent to The Gardens, which is the large condominium development next to it.”

The L.A. Planning Department had previously recommended a density of 775 to 885 units on the property, located at 26900 S. Western Ave., directly across the street from Green Hills Memorial Park in RPV, just south of Palos Verdes Drive North.

Developers in L.A. are granted a “density bonus” if affordable housing is offered. With the bonus, the Planning Department’s number would increase to 1,195 units, according to Hahn.

However, Hahn said she is working to ensure that a density bonus will be prohibited at the site, limiting the total number of units to a maximum of 1,135.

Steve Magee, iStar Financial’s vice president, said the development will include a mix of housing types, such as townhomes and condominiums, which will be “accessible to a variety of households and income levels.”

While the plan, previously under the direction of Bisno Development Co., specified that 575 units would be reserved for senior housing for those ages 55 and older, the new proposal has eliminated that component altogether.

“The idea that older San Pedrans would move from their larger homes into condos at Ponte Vista [has] basically vanished,” Wells wrote in a blog post. “I don’t like that at all.”

RPV residents whose homes are adjacent to the proposed development are concerned about Ponte Vista because Western Avenue would be the only major thoroughfare for the project.

RPV Mayor Steve Wolowicz attended a June 2008 public hearing to speak on behalf of his constituents, which he called “the neighbor most affected by all of this.” He urged the developer to maintain RPV homeowners’ quality of life.

“This is not a NIMBY response on our part. It is not in our backyard — as a matter of fact, it is in our front yard,” then-Councilman Wolowicz said.

Wells said residents should be concerned about the Ponte Vista project for four reasons: traffic, the density bonus, the stability of iStar Financial — which, according to Bloomberg News report, may be on the verge of filing bankruptcy — and a general question of whether the new development will benefit or hurt the San Pedro community economically.

According to Wells, the climate has changed dramatically from prior interactions with Bob Bisno of former developer Bisno Development.

“I do appreciate very much how iStar Financial is trying to work with the community,” Wells said.

A new environmental impact report and traffic study currently are under way; however, the conceptual drawings have not been released and there hasn’t been any word of a public meeting concerning the latest project updates.

“We know the community shares our desire to improve this blighted piece of property with a development that addresses San Pedro’s needs for high-quality and mixed-income housing, while employing local workers to build the project,” Magee said in a statement. “As we finalize the site plans and begin the process of getting Ponte Vista built, we look forward to ongoing conversations with our neighbors, Councilwoman Hahn, and the community.”

aratcliff@pvnews.com
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For those who may not know, I served along with three other Rancho Palos Verdes residents on Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee regarding the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Development several years ago.

Ms. Leah Marinkovich, Ms. Lucie Thorsen, Mr. Richard Brunner, and I were approved to serve on Ms. Hahn's Committee by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council.

I am one of Ms. Ratcliff's 'go to' persons for comments and quotes about Ponte Vista at San Pedro and I appreciate her always correct, insightful, and most importantly, fair reporting concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
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I believe that the ongoing new studies that will lead to a new Environmental Impact Report do not need a new Notice of Preparation or Initial Study because they have already been written and commented on, about four years ago.

There will be ample time for interested parties to read and offer comment on the new Environmental Impact Report mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

I will continue to post more information about the sequences that will be followed between now and the date the final vote by the Los Angeles City Council regarding any zone changing municipal codes that may or may not be approved for Ponte Vista.
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It looks to me as if Dr. Michael Brophy and others representing Marymount College may have taken a marketing course from one Robert H. Bisno.

Throw money at a really bad idea and you end up with a really bad idea having money thrown at it.

Marymount has spent ninety two times the number of dollars the opposition of Measure P, The Marymount Plan has spent, according to required financial statements.

At this point, with the publications of a full page ad and a half page advertisement stating "The Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce endorses Measure P" I have reached my point of utter disgust with the misleading, deceptive, and false statements coming from the Yes on Measure P campaign.

The heading is deceptive, misleading, and utterly false because of several reasons.

It is clearly an attempt to single out Rancho Palos Verdes residents who are not aware that there is no such entity as The Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

The campaign wants potential voters to remain uneducated that the majority of businesses represented by membership in The Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce do not have addresses in Rancho Palos Verdes.

They probably don't like you to know that the Director of Communications of Marymount College sits on the Board of Directors of The Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce or that the Chamber endorsed The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project about two years ago.

I support The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project as does The Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

During "The Bob Years" we all saw the damage caused by Bob Bisno's marketing practices that created the most divided population of the San Pedro community.

What we see today is a virtual repeat of "The Bob Years" with "The Michael Years" and how one entity attempting to have its way over the residents and government of a community can tear the community apart with little regard for any resident or the future of the community.

The simple truth about Measure P, The Marymount Plan is that it seeks to rest control and authority from the people of Rancho Palos Verdes and provide an overwhelming revenue stream to a College that has been on academic warning in the past and which has seen harassment, death, and underage drinking all too common on too many campuses.

It's all about changing municipal codes just like what Bob worked so hard and poorly trying to do.

Thank goodness we have new leadership representing Ponte Vista at San Pedro and can only wait until Dr. Brophy is handed his papers and he flees the area, just like what happened to Bob Bisno.
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Also for Rancho Palos Verdes readers of this blog, the election to determine whether Rancho Palos Verdes becomes a Charter City has been set.
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Denny's on Western Avenue is conducting a petition drive which I am also helping out with via an unscientific poll on my www.eastrpv.blogspot.com site.

The owners, managers, and lots of other people want the restaurant to remain open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

According to at least one manager I talked with, longshore workers want more options with 24-hour restaurants.

Carrow's has either begun or soon will begin remaining open 24 hours per day, 7 day's a week as I have been told.

Do we want two nearby restaurants remaining open 24/7?

I don't object to either or both being open around the clock and I live extremely close to Denny's.

It would take a vote by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council to allow Denny's to remain open 24/7 and that may be a very, very complicated thing.

There are only 4-7-11 stores out of over 263 in the greater L.A. Basin that are not allowed to remain open 24/7. Rancho Palos Verdes has two of the four stores.

If Denny's wins its wish to remain open 24/7, I think the Southland Corporation and the 7-11 L.A. area management would be right on the heels of Denny's, should approval for Denny's to remain open all the time is successful.
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Odds and Ends 188

2010-10-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

I will devote another post to my major concerns with the new plan.
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Someone wrote a comment to something written in a newspaper questioning what some people were doing with computers while sitting by some intersections on Western Avenue.

Those folks were probably counting the number of cars passing through the intersection and how many and which direction drivers turned into or out of the intersection.

It is quite normal as a part of any full traffic study which we have learned will be conducted for the new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that will be produced as the major study of the new Plan or Application to build 1,135-units at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I talked with Ms. Elise Swanson, the Vice-President in charge of the Ponte Vista site and the Team Leader of the Project and she confirmed to me that the traffic study for the Ponte Vista at San Pedro is now going on.

Not only will we be seeing folks counting vehicles at intersections, we will also see traffic counting tubes across many of the roadways in the area. You might even see some counters on streets you would not think need traffic counts for.

Personally I am pleased that the study is taking in traffic information at this time. All the schools are in session, just about every business along Western Avenue is open. There are a couple of temporary businesses now open for Halloween and I don't know if or how that might be a factor in the counts.

What I will be looking for in the Ponte Vista Traffic Study is an indication or counts related to the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project approved by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council at the end of this past March.

Neither of the two traffic studies for Ponte Vista and Marymount could have been incorporated with each other, but since the Marymount Traffic Study is published and approved, I think it needs to be incorporated somewhere in the pages of the Ponte Vista Traffic Study. I fully expect it will.
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I am somewhat amazed that the roadway on Capitol Drive right over the long-lasting water seepage has not caved in.

Water has been dribbling out and onto the surface of Capitol Drive for quite some time and I would have expected the ground under the asphalt to get so wet that is would not support the weight of the asphalt thus creating at least a pothole.

It's a wonder for me.
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Now here is a reminder to please check out: http://www.pedrocalendar.com/ which Ms. Kristina Smith offers our community a great deal of information. Naturally I have it bookmarked so I can just click it and head there.

Look for the link on this blog.
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Congratulations!

You survived the hottest day. The fact that the hottest day was not during the Summer doesn't really matter because there are usually days long hot spells in September and October every year.

On the hottest day Terri and I were enjoying being in the surf of the Pacific Ocean at about 1:45 PM. On our way home from the beach I watched the thermometer in her Saturn as it reported different temperatures as we went north of 9th Street and the relative coolness (81 degrees) along Western between 19Th and 9Th headed back towards a more normal 106 degrees on the street we live on.

Eastview and northwest San Pedro share the same weather which is usually hotter, smoggier, and dryer than the rest of San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes.
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The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Plan or The Marymount Plan, that is the question.
"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?" (Thank you William Shakespeare)

The answer for me, Terri, and I hope the majority of voters in Rancho Palos Verdes is to vote "No" on Measure P, The Marymount Plan.

I usually support on-campus housing at just about every College or University that wants them. I support the Salvation Army's Officers' College which has on campus student housing in Rancho Palos Verdes for students and even the family members of some students.

With Marymount College, I consider that on-campus housing of students would be unsafe and could not be mitigated to a level I would consider safe enough.

The case that there should not be an Initiative on the matter does not hold water for me. While I don't like local initiatives I continue to support the allowances for State-wide Initiatives.

I don't like the motto of Save RPV or Save Our City III. I do believe that The Marymount Plan provides special privileges to one particular business over other businesses and all residents on Rancho Palos Verdes. I just think "RPV is not for sale" could have been changed to something else.

Please vote "No" on Measure P, The Marymount Plan. Safety. Everyone. Everywhere. Every hour.
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My Four Concerns About The New Plan

2010-10-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

The day before The Daily Breeze published the article about the new plan for Ponte Vista at San Pedro, Councilwoman Janice Hahn called me and we talked about some of the new plans for the development.

Some of what I said to Councilwoman Hahn was also used by Ms. Donna Littlejohn in her article.
Since the calls and some more investigation about iStar Financial on my part, I started really considering what my thoughts, concerns, and considerations are.

So this post begins my contribution of those thoughts, concerns, and considerations.

First and before we begin, I need to clear up some misinformation repeatedly posted in print and mentioned.

Ponte Vista at San Pedro is a 61.53-acre site and NOT "62.5" acres Yes. it is a really petty thing to mention, but unless the site grew one acre since it was surveyed, then it is still 61.53 acres. Let's move on.

My four major areas of concern are:
Traffic
Density Bonus
iStar Financial
New Residential Support To San Pedro Versus The Costs By The Community.

Traffic will require its own post.

Density Bonus

A Density Bonus of up to a 35% increase in the number of units planned has been encouraged for developments where some 'low income' or 'affordable' housing is offered.

As of today, there has been no indication that the developers of Ponte Vista at San Pedro will offer 'low income' or 'affordable' housing that would qualify the Project for any density bonus.

An example of the number of units that could be built using 1,135-units as a base number would allow for up to 1,532-units actually being approved for construction.

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa and many others have strongly encouraged developers in Los Angeles building more projects using density bonuses to offer more housing to people.

Since iStar Financial and just about everyone else affiliated with Ponte Vista at San Pedro have made statements that iStar would not seek a density bonus for Ponte Vista, that part I am fine with.

I was encouraged during my talk with Councilwoman Hahn when she told me she and her staff would work with others in the city to try and find a way to block any density bonus from ever being applied to the Ponte Vista at San Pedro site.

Ms. Hahn worked with a group of wonderful residents of the Vista Del Oro neighborhoods to place onto commercially zoned lots a "Q" qualification classification that would permanently ban multi-unit residential construction on those lots.

It was the first attempt by Councilwoman to apply that type of building restriction on lots and it passed the full City Council unanimously.

A "Q" qualification classification is a very rare zoning classification in Los Angeles and the rest of the country.

Unfortunately, I am finding it harder to find where a density bonus restriction could be permanently applied to any development the size Ponte Vista at San Pedro is now.

Concerns that once entitlements are granted for the (about) 22 existing lot at Ponte Vista, they could be sold to other developers who might want density bonuses on the lots they purchase.

Note* There are approximately 245 duplex units currently standing at Ponte Vista. The most recent surveys of Ponte Vista, done for the original project list (about) 22 different lots at Ponte Vista. Technically, one or more lots or even all of the lots could be sold by iStar Financial once that Company receives entitlements to build.

This is not all that uncommon that developers receive entitlements then sell them without actually building anything the original developer states they would build.

My contention that Ponte Vista should have not more than 831-units is based on the dwelling equalivancy with The Gardens and the fact that there is no outlet for Ponte Vista traffic onto or off of Gaffey Street.

So for me, any density bonus by any developer is a major concern that I feel needs to be dealt with by a municipal code that would permanently restrict a density bonus on all of the 61.53 acres now known as Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I think should no such restriction be applied to the property, then I am leaning very heavily toward having the zoning at Ponte Vista at San Pedro remaining what it currently is.

iStar Financial

Although I am favorable towards iStar Financial, the financial backers of Ponte Vista at San Pedro, recent education by me has placed this company as a major concern of mine.

The majority of more educated former opponents of Bob Bisno's original plans continue to believe that once iStar Financial receives entitlements to build at Ponte Vista, they will sell those entitlements and the land and be gone with whatever loss or gain they can get.

In complete defense of iStar Financial I need to educate those that do not already know that the original bid for 41.95 acres of land at auction was purchased by Bob Bisno's business interests for two hundred fifty two percent of the opening bid for that portion of Ponte Vista at auction.

Bob's winning bid was $88,000,000.00 which equals $2,097,753.40 (approx) per acre.

Bob was required to purchase the remaining 19.58 acres from the Volunteers of America for $34,000,000.00 which equals $1,736,465.78 (approx) per acre.

In a nutshell: 61.53 total acres for $122,000,000.00 equals $1,982,772.63 (approx)
Per acre.

Today, the land is worth nowhere near 1.99 Million Dollars per acre.

There have been articles in Bloomberg News and other sources that offer information that I find conflicting and I need more information about.

A Bloomberg News article offered the question whether iStar Financial is close to bankruptcy. I found another article on the Web that illustrated that iStar Financial just bought the common areas of a large condominium development back east.

In doing further searches related to iStar, different pictures seem to surface.

I used the post from Your Ponte Vista on this blog that has information from an iStar Manager.

I gave a tip to Ms. Donna Littlejohn that ended up being a useful and great article Ms. Littlejohn had published in The Daily News.

Will iStar Financial continue its participation with Ponte Vista until entitlements are granted?

I don't know and because it may take a year or so for the Los Angeles City Council's voting on entitlements and a new municipal code changing the current zoning of the Ponte Vista site, I don't know if anyone else knows, either.

What I can write is that I am so pleased that "The Bob Years" are over and that as long as iStar Financial is in the picture, that is a good to very good thing, in my opinion.

Should iStar Financial have to rid itself of the huge dept that Bob Bisno built prior to the vote by the City Council, I have no idea what would then happen. I don't know who might know, either.

Should iStar Financial receive entitlements for Ponte Vista, looking at the prices Bob paid, the current land values, and wondering how iStar could make any money, the prospect of iStar Financial selling pieces of Ponte Vista or perhaps the whole site to another development entity, provides a great deal of concern in me.

Bob ordered the anchor lowered and then unfortunately it looks like iStar got its neck wrapped around the anchor's chain.

iStar Financial representatives have repeatedly stated that they will not seek a density bonus. I hope they are still around when any building begins.

New Residential Support To San Pedro Versus The Costs By The Community.

Original studies conducted my me and others found that a huge development at Ponte Vista at San Pedro would cost more to the San Pedro community than what the community could afford.

Because there are no major shopping areas like malls, multi-screen theatres, large car dealerships, huge furniture and appliance stores in San Pedro and particularly in its downtown district, a large development at Ponte Vista would tax the San Pedro community in several ways.

It is wonderful that Target is here and it provides benefits we all need and want. it wasn't around during "The Bob Years".

Home Depot, American Furniture, Nader's, and other small furniture and appliance stores are in San Pedro.

But would residents of Ponte Vista go to many of the smaller stores in San Pedro?

Home Depot and Target supply some good and newer revenue to the city of L.A. even though very little of that revenue comes back to San Pedro.

Water continues to be in short supply and any new water requirements could affect water requirements for San Pedrans and everyone else in L.A.

Other infrastructure issues need to also be considered because our community has been consistently neglected by too many at L.A. City Hall.

L.A. takes our community's money, including our port's money and then does not really provide enough support back to San Pedro and other nearby communities. This has gone on for what seems forever.

Before the 2008 financial meltdown and the beginning of all the layoffs, only 6 out of ten San Pedro residents could go to local jobs in and around the community.

Having less than one job per working resident means that many residents have to commute.

Ponte Vista at San Pedro with its Western Avenue ONLY in and out route and the fact that there is currently only one bus line that goes along Western, along with the distance to and from the freeway and park and ride facilities prove that Ponte Vista can't really be considered commuter-friendly.

Since there are not longer plans to have a specified Senior section at Ponte Vista, the idea that older San Pedrans would move from their larger homes and into condos at Ponte Vista as basically vanished. I don't like that at all.

It has already been estimated that the vast majority of residents moving into Ponte Vista would not come from the 'local' area which consists partially of San Pedro.

What is of a major concern of mine right now is that a large development at Ponte Vista would take more from the residents of the San Pedro community than it would give back to the economy, infrastructure, and society in San Pedro.

Most new residents of Ponte Vista would not shop in downtown San Pedro because of tough access to Gaffey and Pacific. They would choose to either stick to businesses along Western Avenue or head out north and west to venture into Torrance, Rolling Hills Estates and even farther out except when they can visit Target and Home Depot, here.

I haven't seen any numbers yet about the proposed number of bedrooms in each unit of the proposed 1,135-unit Project. That could also indicate spending trends, too.

Ponte Vista will almost certainly become a neighborhood with rental units and leased units. More transitory residents may help Target and Home Depot, but the heightened number of comings and goings by renters is also a concern that adds to the major concerns I have on this particular topic.

But this is a topic I feel strongly that the community can come together with the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Development Team to work on solutions.

I have found no reason to be as contentious as I was during The Bob Years. I think 1,135-units is far less unreasonable than the previous three sets of numbers.

I have now found respect where is wasn't found during "The Bob Years" and that is a very big plus.

I have used four "R" words in considering three Developments I have dealt with:

Reasonable, responsible, realistic, and respectful. During "The Bob Years" not one of the four were thought of my me and many others when thinking about Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

That has thankfully and wonderfully changed for the better, in my opinion.

Is the current plan reasonable? I'm still a 832-units guy but I can now imagine many of the former opponents find the new plan reasonable and I now consider it (at 1,135) not unreasonable, but not all that much reasonable.

Is it responsible? Easily that is a yes in part because is now demonstrated a much more responsible view towards the community and the infrastructure.

Is it realistic? Now that is the one question I still don't know the real answer to. That is why we see traffic counters out and about. That is why we also find that other new studies are being undertaken at this time. "1,135-units" might very well be realistic, I just need to wait this one out.

Is it respectful. It certainly is compared to the previous plans, I believe.

I think iStar Financial is respectful and needs to continue to be respectful if they want to receive entitlements they seek.

The good people at Ponte Vista at San Pedro could show a thing or ten to those who support Measure P, The Marymount Plan in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Doing things differently and better could offer to those in "The Marymount Community" chances to improve their lot(s), so to write.

It is remarkable for me now to use the folks at Ponte Vista as an example of betterment towards the community and I hope Dr. Brophy and Mr. Burt Arnold read this post.

A Statement From an iStar Manager

2010-09-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a post from www.yourpontevista.com.

The site is owned by Ponte Vista and it claims to be the official Ponte Vista at San Pedro site.
I don't have any problem with that and I never have.

This blog predates the site from where this post came from and the more information everyone has about Ponte Vista at San Pedro, the better all of us can enjoy a successful new development in our community, I feel.

Statement by Steve Magee, Vice President, iStar Financial regarding Ponte Vista project
Sep 24th, 2010 by Ponte Vista

As the new owners of the Ponte Vista site, iStar Financial is committed to working with the community to ensure that the project reflects the unique character of the Harbor Area. We are committed to a high quality, residential development with a mix of housing types, including; townhomes, condominiums, and apartments that will be accessible to a variety of households and income levels. We are responding to community concerns raised over density and we will be proposing fewer than half the number of homes initially proposed by the original owner. Even at this lower unit count, the plan still provides an abundance of open space and public walking trails, a new park to serve all area residents, and a road from Western Avenue to Mary Star of the Sea High School for students, parents and faculty.

We know the community shares our desire to improve this blighted piece of property with a development that addresses San Pedro’s needs for high quality and mixed income housing, while employing local workers to build the project. As we finalize the site plans and begin the process of getting Ponte Vista built, we look forward to ongoing conversations with our neighbors, Councilwoman Hahn, and the community.

iStar Financial has a global reputation for integrity and expertise in the real estate market. We have carefully reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of the previous plans, and look forward to working closely with the community to create a new vision for Ponte Vista. Working together, we can build a project that benefits all of the residents of the Harbor area. “
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I also posted a Bloomberg News article on a previous post that mentions the possibility that iStar Financial may see bankruptcy protection in the near future.

I also read an article in these last several days about iStar Financial purchasing the common areas of a housing development back east.

It is better to work with the folks representing Ponte Vista at San Pedro than fighting against them. In these last several months I have been feeling better about being able to work with them, always remembering the battles and turmoils of "The Bob Years".

I hope we don't go back there however prepared we are to do so.

An Article From Bloomberg News

2010-09-24T23:52:00.000-07:00

IStar Said to Weigh Pre-Packaged Bankruptcy Filing Next Year
By Jeffrey McCracken and Jonathan Keehner - Sep 21, 2010 2:40 PM PT

IStar Financial Inc., the commercial real estate lender trying to restructure some of its $8.6 billion of debt, may seek bankruptcy protection after creditors blocked it from amending loans, said people with knowledge of the plan. IStar fell 13 percent.

The company expects to begin meeting with creditors in coming weeks to discuss potential terms of a so-called pre- packaged bankruptcy, which wouldn’t occur until sometime next year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan isn’t public. IStar, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Sugarman, hasn’t yet held talks with creditors on a possible bankruptcy. That process is likely to begin as soon as next month, the people said.
IStar, which has a market capitalization of about $316 million after shares lost more than 90 percent of their value since 2007, hired Lazard Ltd. and Kirkland & Ellis LLP to advise on the debt restructuring, the people said.

The New York-based company made loans on properties including the Trump SoHo hotel- condominium building in lower Manhattan.

“IStar grew as the markets shot up and concentrated in asset classes that are particularly cyclical such as hotels and construction,” said Ben Thypin, an analyst at Real Capital Analytics Inc. in New York. “Their fortunes are closely tied to the market and their future is now uncertain.”

Bankruptcy is one option the company is weighing. It is also considering a proposal to extend maturities on its debt as well as a potential exchange offer, according to two people familiar with the situation.

Silver Point, Monarch

Andrew Backman, a spokesman for iStar, didn’t return a phone call or an e-mail message seeking comment. Sugarman didn’t return a call.

Hedge funds that hold some of iStar’s $2.9 billion of second-lien loans include Silver Point Capital LP, Davidson Kempner Capital Management LLC and Monarch Alternative Capital LP, according to two of the people. Some of the funds, which are represented by Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP, opposed iStar’s bid to amend terms of the loans to repurchase debt at a discount, the people said.

IStar withdrew the proposed revision and has begun the process of planning for a potential bankruptcy as it is faced with about $2.6 billion in debt coming due next June, one of the people said. The company also has an optional $500 million first-lien debt payment due at the end of September that it may not make, according to the person.

Foreclosures

In a pre-packaged bankruptcy, a company negotiates terms of a reorganization with its key stakeholders before filing for Chapter 11 protection, allowing the proceedings to finish in weeks or months rather than years.

Representatives of Lazard, Akin Gump and Silver Point declined to comment. Representatives of Kirkland, Davidson Kempner and Monarch didn’t return messages for comment.

The company had net debt obligations of $8.6 billion as of June 30, according to a regulatory filing last month. IStar had about $3 billion of non-performing loans as of June 30 and reported an $83.4 million second-quarter loss, excluding income from property sales.

“Convincing lenders that iStar can repay its obligations in full at some point down the road appears to be a tough sell due to uncertainty around the value of its collateral,” analysts at debt-research firm CreditSights Inc. wrote in a report last month. “Negative earnings continue to be driven by the weak credit performance of iStar’s portfolio.”

Credit Rating

IStar foreclosed on nine properties during the second quarter and said loss reserves totaled $1.18 billion, or about 16 percent of the loan volume it manages.

The company, a real estate investment trust, began in 1993 and was previously called Starwood Financial Trust.

IStar’s debt and equity plunged in the second half of 2007 as commercial-property prices fell and capital markets seized up as losses on subprime-mortgage securities spread to corporate bonds. Moody’s Investors Service in September 2008 cut the company’s credit rating to below investment grade.

While iStar shares have risen more than 36 percent this year, investors who held the stock from the end of 2007 would have lost about 85 percent.

IStar fell 53 cents, or 13 percent, to $3.48 as of 4:07 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading, after reaching $2.88 earlier today.

The firm’s $501.7 million of 8.625 percent bonds due in 2013 fell 5.6 cents to 78 cents on the dollar, the lowest since March, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. IStar’s $448.4 million of 5.95 percent bonds due in 2013 fell 3 cents to 75 cents on the dollar, according to Trace.

“The firm should not become insolvent and has ample liquidity to operate through 2010, but management faces a significant challenge with $3 billion in debt coming due in 2011 and $3.5 billion due in 2012,” Standard & Poor’s said July 30.

S&P earlier said it believed there was a “likelihood” the real estate investment trust would use a so-called distressed exchange to restructure the debt maturing next year and in 2012.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jeffrey McCracken in New York at jmccracken3@bloomberg.net; Jonathan Keehner in New York at jkeehner@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeff St.Onge in London at jstonge@bloomberg.net; Alec McCabe in New York at amccabe@bloomberg.net.

Odds and Ends 187

2010-09-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post newspaper articles before they come out in the day's newspaper, but since I am quoted in the article, I think you know that I knew what was coming out.

Here is today's article by Ms. Donna Littlejohn regarding the newest plan for Ponte Vista at San Pedro:

Ponte Vista developers offer new scaled-back plan
By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer
Posted: 09/23/2010 07:08:13 PM PDT
Updated: 09/23/2010 07:28:51 PM PDT

After months of silence, developers of San Pedro's controversial Ponte Vista housing project have announced another revision that further reduces the number of homes proposed.
They also indicated an entire new round of traffic and other studies will be conducted on the new proposal for the site, which has been vacant since 1997.

The latest incarnation - which already has a received favorable reaction from Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn - calls for 1,135 homes to be built on the 62.5-acre former Navy housing site on Western Avenue.

That's less than half the original number - 2,300 homes - proposed in 2005. But it's still higher than than the 800 to 900 homes that many critics had called for to keep the development within its current zoning.

"My thoughts are it's higher than my particular preference of 831, which is the equivalent of the housing density of the Gardens (a nearby San Pedro town house project)," said Mark Wells, a long-standing and early critic of Ponte Vista.

But he added that the scaled-down numbers may be enough to finally move the stalled project forward.

"I am certainly encouraged by the new management team's ability to work with the community and to come up with better plans," Wells said.

John Stinson of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council said the new housing proposal is "a nice place to start negotiations from" but that the issue "is still about protecting our quality of life here in San Pedro and on the Peninsula."

In a written statement, Hahn said she was encouraged by a private meeting she'd had recently with iStar Financial, the owner of the Ponte Vista property.

"... This number is much closer to what makes sense in this part of San Pedro," she said.
As part of the revised proposal, a new environmental impact report - which will include new traffic studies - will now be done. That will take about a year.

Steve Magee, vice president of iStar Financial, said in a written statement that developers were "committed to working with the community to ensure that the project reflects the unique character of the Harbor Area."

While no details or drawings have been released, Magee said the project will be of "high quality" with a mix of housing types, including "town homes, condominiums and apartments" for a range of income levels.

Stinson said whatever happens next, "it should be an open, public and transparent" process.
Ponte Vista has been mired in controversy since former developer Bob Bisno first rolled out the plans five years ago.

Bisno Development, which had become a lightening rod in the community during Ponte Vista's first few years, was bumped from the project in December 2008. Credit Suisse and DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners took over the project after that and, in April 2009, the Los Angeles Planning Commission directed developers to work more with the community to bring the housing numbers down.

Five months ago, iStar took the reins and has been reviewing alternatives since then.

Traffic and housing density have been the major sticking points with critics who say Western Avenue already is too congested.

But the project also has had its supporters in the community who contend that more housing stock, especially for seniors wishing to downsize, is needed.

Meanwhile, the stretch of abandoned Navy housing at 26900 S. Western Ave., across from Green Hills Memorial Park and just south of Palos Verdes Drive North, has become an eyesore in the northwest part of town.

In a 2007 letter published in the Daily Breeze, Wells called building 1,950 units on the property "irresponsible, unreasonable, unrealistic and, most importantly, disrespectful to the community. ..."

Will a reduction to 1,135 homes be enough to mollify critics?

Perhaps, he said, although it will depend on the new studies that are yet to be done.

"I wonder if most of us on the board (of the opposition organization) will simply kind of travel into the sunset after we make our comments," Wells said.

Others, like Stinson, aren't so sure.

When Hahn called him Thursday to advise him of the new proposal, Stinson said, "I tried to curb my enthusiasm. ... I was wondering when the issue would rise again like a monster from the deep."

donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com
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What I talked to both Councilwoman Hahn and Ms. Littlejohn about included my thoughts that Ponte Vista at San Pedro should have the same housing density as The Gardens, nearby.

The Gardens is an 1,100-unit condominium development on 80 acres of land and residents there have much greater access to Gaffey Street, thus usually avoiding having to take Western Avenue.

To have an equivalent housing density as The Gardens, Ponte Vista's 61.53 acres should have no more than 831-units, in my opinion.

My opinion isn't really going to change on the number, but I doubt that I will strenuously oppose 1,135-units at this time.

What I really need to see if that no density bonuses could be applied for by future owners of the site, should iStar Financial simply be granted the entitlements and then sell them off to other groups who could seek a density bonus of up to a 35% increase in the number of units approved for construction by the Los Angeles City Council.

A 35% increase in the now-planned Ponte Vista community could create a new neighborhood of up to 1,532-units.

I think there is still great opposition to having as many as 1,532-units built at Ponte Vista so I am hoping Councilwoman Hahn will be successful in attempting to find ways to prevent future landowners from building any more than 1,135-units at Ponte Vista, if that is the number voted approval for.

I am very encouraged that a brand new traffic study will be conducted as part of a new Environmental Impact Report for the project.

Much of the information that needs to be gathered in the traffic study will focus on the anticipated number of daily vehicle trips on Western Avenue resulting from a completed Ponte Vista project.

Since 2005 it has been estimated that daily vehicle trips along Western Avenue on portions from Palos Verdes Drive North to 25Th Street have increased about 1,900 daily trips per weekday.

The increase is based on the Western Avenue Task Force's finding that in 2005 there were about 37,500 daily vehicle trips along Western Avenue and that there will be a 1% growth each year in that rate, until at least 2025.

What is also very important to note and remember is that during the studies conducted for the Western Avenue Task Force's report, summary, and recommendations is that NO NEW vehicle trips were estimated for Ponte Vista because it was not being considered for development when the Task Force did its work.

So what we need to focus on is both the reality of what is going on today along Western and the accurate study of potential daily trips generated for a 1,135-unit Ponte Vista development.

Traffic will continue to be the number one issue regarding whatever is built at Ponte Vista.

I will write more in the future about some of the things that were talked about over the years and perhaps we can all work together to find more ways to deal with the expected huge increase in traffic.
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Personally I am becoming more and more embroiled in the Marymount College issues relating to its development projects.

A recent full page advertisement by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Marymount College has, some folks believe, singled me out for critisism of The Marymount Plan and Measure P.

Naturally I am critical of something I oppose. I really didn't feel all that bad about Mr. Arnold's inclusion of "online blogging" about The Marymount Plan in his 'letter to the editor' which was not really a letter to any editor but was actually the first of two full pages Marymount College paid for in Thursday's Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

I trudge on though, with my: http://www.eastrpv.blogspot.com/ postings. I must be making some difference if I am now considered slightly more than a nobody in Marymount's eyes.
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I want all of you to come and enjoy "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" opening on November 12 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

I know I stated that I was done being onstage focusing more on my backstage job as the carpenter in residence of the Relevant Stage Theatre Company.

But I played a man of the cloth last year onstage and the new show has a preacher's role that I just could not pass up.

Playing preachers onstage and doing ministerial duties (not often) in real life is something that takes me away from things like Ponte Vista and Marymount College.
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So, who has NOT been to Amalfitano Bakery yet? I know there are some folks out there who have not stood in line for some of their great treats.

Please visit all the shopping and dining opportunities in Rancho Palos Verdes and I will continue to shop in San Pedro, too.
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Summer has officially FALLen away and autumn is here.

The days are now growing shorter but there are still lots of activities, events, and issues to keep everyone able to participate in many things.

The next meeting about the U.S.S. Iowa is in early October and should it or another former Naval vessel (Amphibious Assault Ship/Carrier) come to our port, it could provide jobs, volunteer work, a new tourist attraction, and some very needed revitalization to the downtown area and just about all of San Pedro and eastern Rancho Palos Verdes, I believe.

We can't stop the future so we should prepare for it and be active in it when it becomes our present.
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New Plan Being Revealed Tomorrow

2010-09-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

Go away! I'm not going to steal anyone's thunder.

Come back tomorrow, please.

Odds and Ends 186

2010-09-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

It still seem a little bit remarkable that it took over 5 years for someone to touch a button right next to another button and reach me instead of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro offices.

I have received so many fewer calls during the years compared to the Ponte Vista site.

I have no idea if or how many people trying to reach Terri or me has instead, had their calls picked up by someone at the trailers just east of Western Avenue.
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If you saw an advertisement in a newspaper or read anything supporting Measure P, The Marymount Plan that just might make it appear that Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilman Anthony Misetich supports Measure P, The Marymount Plan, he DOES NOT!

Councilman Misetich was one of the five members of the five-member City Council to approve The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project and to the best of my knowledge and after talking to him on many occasions and hearing his many comments during City Council meetings, Councilman Misetich opposes on-campus student housing at Marymount College and that is really one of the only reasons Measure P, and The Marymount Plan was created in the first place.
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Today marks the end of the first week of classes at LAUSD schools, including the ones near Western Avenue.

If you travel along Western Avenue, you must have noticed that traffic got worse and delays got longer.

It is time for those of us who can use alternate routes to avoid adding to the woes of those who must utilize Western Avenue, to do so.

Any number of fewer cars and drivers on Western, especially from about noon to about 7:00 PM each weekday, helps. Thank you.
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It FINALLY Happened!

2010-09-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Many people know that my phone number is different by one digit from the Ponte Vista at San Pedro's site office.

I got my phone number in 1998 and the trailers were wired for their phone number in 2005.

When I first learned that the two numbers were so similar, I 'knew' someone would misdial the phone number for Ponte Vista at San Pedro and get me, instead.

If finally happened at about 10:20 this morning.

A pleasant woman who allowed me to inform her of her 'first ever' was trying to reach Ms. Elise Swanson, Vice-President in charge of the Ponte Vista site and also an active member of our local Chamber of Commerce.

The woman asked to speak to Elise and she chuckled when I told her that she was the first person in over five years to try and reach Elise and have me answer my phone.

Naturally I explained the difference in our phone numbers and told her about how to reach Ms. Swanson.

Since "The Bob Years" are relegated to the bad memories/sad memories/ridiculous memories area of history, I hope everyone has much better feelings and attitudes about what might eventually become of Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

The management there is wonderful in allowing first responder training and the eco-friendly method of weed mitigation.

It is amazing that it took five years for me to experience my first mis-dial and I can only guess that those on all sides of the issues are careful and pretty darn smart!

Odds and Ends 185

2010-09-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the most recent events in newspapers or on blogs, surrounding the two lawsuits recently heard, about ballot arguments for Measure P, The Marymount Plan, it gets more juicy,

Judge David Yaffe ruled on Wednesday that Marymount's Rebuttal of Arguments Against Measure P contained a statement he found false and misleading.

Judge Yaffe ruled that the following had to be removed from the upcoming voter information pamphlet for the November 2, Special Election:

(The passage of Measure P) "guarantees that Marymount College meets all City codes and obtains City permits with strict construction time limits , for every part of the plan."

Along with that ruling, Judge Yaffe, earlier in the hearings ruled the following to NOT be false and/or misleading as contained in the Argument Against Measure P:

"-The Initiative eliminates City oversight. The Initiative supersedes the Municipal Code making Marymount a land use island, preventing your locally elected leaders from addressing many issues that arise in the future. The City Council imposed conditions that allow the City to monitor the development and operation of the campus to avoid adverse impacts on the City's residents. The Initiative will eliminate these conditions. The Initiative largely exempts Marymount from the same rules that apply to all other landowners in Rancho Palos Verdes."

The attorney for Marymount argued that because passage of Measure P would 'amend' municipal code, it didn't necessarily supersede it. HOWEVER, that attorney, Mr. Gough acknowledged in open court that some elements of the Campus Specific Plan zone would supersede some municipal codes.

Judge Yaffe followed a quote from Thomas Jefferson that opined that open debate and discussion between people should prevail in determining what is believable on a level playing field. This basically means that we all have our First Amendment rights to say what we wish to say and to discuss issues and the factual merits of those issues.

But Marymount sent out a tri-fold mailer asking for support of Measure P with the following bullet point almost smack dab in the middle of the inside:

"Strict time limits for construction , from the city for every part of the plan."

The timing of the delivery of the mailer seems to indicate that it was probably mailed after both lawsuits were filed and that somebody at Marymount didn't consider that their position could lose in court and they didn't bother to hold off on sending it out before Judge Yaffe's rulings.

The only remedy persons have against receiving a mailer with false and misleading information carried in it is to tell others about the facts and allow them the opportunity to make up their own minds on whether to support something or oppose it.
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Naturally many of us who have dealt with both Ponte Vista during "The Bob Years" and who are currently dealing with Marymount College's Project and Plan during what can now probably be called "The Michael Years" have used these times to learn and become much more educated as to what is false, misleading, deceptive, not factual, argumentative, and just plain wrong.

This is a good thing from me and others to learn more about what to look for at Marymount and whatever is in store for the Ponte Vista at San Pedro site.

I think the current management and financial team for Ponte Vista at San Pedro also have learned about the fact that more folks can sniff out the B.S. and they have actually done a few things to make better attempts at not offering B.S. and I applaud them for that.

"The Bob Years" are truly in the past, it seems. As Martha might say, "that is a good thing."
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We learned that a meeting planned for more discussion concerning the U.S.S. Iowa to our harbor has been delayed.

While I do support bringing the U.S.S. Iowa here, I think you have had a chance to read about my 'better' idea on what type of Naval vessel could come to our port.
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Monday the 13th could be a bit like a Friday the 13th in that this coming Monday the 13th welcomes Dodson Intermediate, Taper Avenue, Cooper Community Day, Park Western Place, Crestwood, and other LAUSD schools beginning a new term.

Traffic along Western will again be greatly affected by the opening of these schools so let's all take our calming mantras, yoga sessions, drugs, or attitudes and use them as we try to travel along Western which has seen about a 1 percent increase in traffic since September, 2009.
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Those of us living in the Western View Homes neighborhood of Eastview and those using Trudie but not living in the neighborhood would like everyone attempting on leaving the parking lot for Western Plaza, especially the "millions" of good people swarming into and out of Amalfitano Bakery to use routes out of the parking lot other than the two driveways on Trudie Drive.

There are three other exits and entrances for Western Plaza including one with a signal at the intersection of the parking lot, Western Avenue, and Park Western Drive.

It is so much easier on everyone if folks choose those alternate routes rather than trying to get onto or off of Trudie Drive.

This is especially true for those attempting to exit Western Plaza then head north on Western Avenue.

There are remedies available through the city of Rancho Palos Verdes to have the entrances and exits changed and I hope we don't have to head the about 8 miles to our City Hall or the 12 miles to the Council chambers to seek legal relief to the added congestion now found at the intersection of Trudie and Western.
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Why Not The U.S.S. Tarawa?

2010-09-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

While the battle for the U.S.S. Iowa is being fought, I still must contend that is a battle about and for the wrong battleground.

The U.S.S. Tarawa would allow for a great many more opportunities for static displays by all the branches of the service, larger physical areas for displays in order to gather more opportunity for volunteerism and tourists as well as greater educational opportunities, all in a better-spaced warship, than the U.S.S. Iowa.

The U.S.S. Tarawa is an amphibious assault carrier with a flight deck, hangar deck, amphibious landing deck, island, and many more decks more similar to modern day Naval vessels than what is found on and within the U.S.S. Iowa.

The U.S.S. Tarawa was decommissioned by the U.S. Navy in 2009 and is moored in Pearl Harbor awaiting final disposition by the Navy. So far, no group apparently has asked the Navy for the ship.

I have never found the lure in having a battleship as a historical display compared to a carrier-type warship that allows so many greater availabilities to share all of our military branches rather than just the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corp.

However, if the U.S.S. Tarawa is sold for scrap before it could be given to a group, there are similar ships of its class that either have been decommissioned or very soon will be.

The U.S.S. Tarawa is about 834 feet long compared to the U.S.S. Iowa which is about 888 feet long. This means that the U.S.S. Tarawa might find a better fit in our harbor.

San Pedro is not and was not just a "Navy town". There has been a U.S. Army fort named after Lt. General Arthur MacArthur here for almost 100 years.

Current members of the U.S. Air Force are now residents of San Pedro in several locations throughout the area.

The U.S. Coast Guard still has an installation and housing on Terminal Island and at Point Vicente.

While the old Navy housing still exists at Ponte Vista, when it housed families, some of those families were families of members of the United States Marine Corp.

When all the branches of our great military have lived, worked, or had interests in and around San Pedro, it should make sense that all of the branches could and should be represented in a historical place that has the opportunities to celebrate and honor all of the branches.

Such a place could be a small 'flat top", one with a flight deck, flat hangar deck, and docking deck to offer plenty of space for displays and honors for all the branches of the service.

A ship the size of the U.S.S. Iowa could not probably fit well on either side of Fisherman's Slip, but that is probably not the case with the U.S.S. Tarawa.

The U.S.S. Iowa is about 888 feet long with a beam of 108.2 feet while the length of the U.S.S. Tarawa is about 834 feet long with a beam of 106.6 feet. The U.S.S. Tarawa is shorter and narrower than the U.S.S. Iowa but has much, much more deck space and hangar deck space the U.S.S. Iowa never had.

Since there are so many fewer fishing boats now berthing at Fisherman's Slip, berthing an amphibious assault ship on the north side of Fisherman's Slip offers an almost complete package of display opportunities and the parking is already built and there are more than a few great business opportunities so very close at Ports O Call that is could find an unprecedented resurgence of business and tourism.

I also feel that there would be a much greater number of volunteer opportunities having a ship in San Pedro that could offer displays from all branches because veterans from every branch may want to work on the ship in or near where their branch has displays.

The U.S.S. Tarawa and her sister vessels are warships and they did and do carry guns. The service provided to our country by each one of the ships in the class the U.S.S. Tarawa can actually be documented as being greater than the service provided by the U.S.S. Iowa.

There are most likely greater histories of different types of service by the two true warships mentioned in types of service such as rescue efforts, civilian support during disasters, as well as multiple types of warfare including aircraft, landing assaults, missile deployment and usage, gunfire, and other means of warfare.

The U.S.S. Iowa demonstrated 'big gun' and cruise missile technology. The U.S.S. Tarawa demonstrated air technology, amphibious assault technology, missile technology, bomb and lighter gunnery technology, and more.

Apart form Pearl Harbor and its battleship on display, I wonder what the visitor comparisons are between displays involving aircraft carriers like the U.S.S. Midway and U.S.S. Intrepid, versus other battleship displays or other surface or submarine displays.

I feel quite comfortable that, as attractions, warships that have flight decks find greater numbers of visitors than any other type of warship on display, other than those revered at Pearl Harbor.

Another consideration is that there are many, many more Navy and Marine veterans who have served on amphibious assault carriers than there are former sailors and Marines who saw service on the four battleships of the U.S.S. Iowa class. This is in part to the fact that there were only four battleships within the class that the U.S.S. Iowa is in that saw real service beyond the 1950s and both classes of amphibious assault carriers of the U.S.S. Tarawa and U.S.S. Iwo Jima classes had more than four ships in each class built.

I believe that except for the U.S.S. Missouri, now berthed very near the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, no other battleship currently on display as an attractions draws anywhere near the number of people who board the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego and the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York Harbor.

Another consideration is that the entire Western Museum of Flight now located at Torrance Airport could easily fit on and inside the U.S.S. Tarawa and that Museum would find a much higher number of visitors that they now get annually and the planes are already close to the harbor.

It is very true that when looking at images of the U.S.S. Tarawa do not offer as much 'might', 'power' and 'offense' that the big guns of the U.S.S. Iowa could offer, but the U.S.S. Tarawa or another ship in its class is newer and would provide San Pedro with a much better attraction, in my opinion.

Odds and Ends 184

2010-09-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

After doing quite a little pondering, I have decided to alter this blog, just a bit.

I hope readers don't mind.

One of my other Blogs is San Pedro Issues To Ponder. I haven't been good at all updating that blog and with not much going on at or with issues relating directly to Ponte Vista, I hope folks don't get upset if I meld the two blogs together, on this blog, until the time activities and issues more related to Ponte Vista at San Pedro ramp up....if they do.
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Matters relating to Ponte Vista at San Pedro should be of some importance of residents of a wide area of the communities surround the Ponte Vista site.

Both San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes have 'intimate' relationships with everything about Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Lomita, Harbor City, Rolling Hills Estates, Wilmington, and to some extent, Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills all have residents who are interested in what may happen to the 61.53 acre Ponte Vista at San Pedro property.
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To really begin this now-combined blog, I've got nothing new to report about development at Ponte Vista.

I continue to thank and wish the best for the owners and management of Ponte Vista at San Pedro for their continued offering first responders probably the best urban training facility in all of California.

I did see the Torrance Police Department's Mobile Command Post set up inside the fences at Ponte Vista and training of Police Officers from that Department was being conducted.

For those who are not familiar with the fact that training goes on there, training has been conducted by a greater number of Departments and Agencies that one might imagine.

During "The Bob Bisno Years" many locals viewed Elk Grove, California Police Officers undergoing tactical training in an urban environment at Ponte Vista.

Elk Grove is a suburb of Sacramento. Police and other Agencies from all over California and even from other states, I believe, have use Ponte Vista at San Pedro as a training site.

If the owners of Ponte Vista receive any type of tax benefits from offering their property for training, I feel it is quite justifiable and necessary to help protect first responders and all residents of every community where Ponte Vista has provided benefits for training.
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Two lawsuits will be adjudicated this coming Wednesday, involving Marymount College's attempts to have on-campus student housing built.

Mr. Jeffrey Lewis, an attorney, filed a lawsuit that includes language that could allow a Superior Court Judge to decide whether elements of The Marymount Plan and language contained in ballot Measure P provide to Marymount officials the right to have their "campus specific plan" supersede some municipal codes and some regulations and some guidelines established by and for the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Both lawsuits challenge claims by both sides of Measure P that the other side's ballot arguments are misleading and/or deceptive.

This is also an issue I hope the judge decides on Wednesday, before the cutoff time to get the ballot measure to the printers, for printing.

September 8 is the trial date for both lawsuits to be tried together and the cutoff date to get the wording to the printers in time to legally distribute all ballot arguments prior to the November 2, General and Special Elections, in Rancho Palos Verdes.

A post containing a recently published article about the two lawsuits will be posted under this post.
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All schools, school systems, and school districts are back in session with the exception of LAUSD. The largest district in the communities will welcome students back on September 13 or 14.

Let's all drive more safely than we did when Summer placed so many kids away from classes.

Please remember that traffic patters along Western Avenue will change and get worse as they always do when schools are in session.

The enrollment at all schools in the area is up, including Marymount College. Their enrollment jumped about 75 students from last semester with the implementation of the College's new four-year programs.

This means more younger drivers driving more vehicles along Western Avenue unless those students opt to do the correct thing and park their vehicles at the College's Palos Verdes North off-campus student housing facility and have trained shuttle bus drivers execute the commutes.
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The Tri-Art Festival is coming and I will create a post for it on this blog.

There will be other San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes community events I will post on this blog, from time to time.
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Has anyone else noticed water coming out of a manhole in a southbound lane of Western Avenue?

It is never a good sign when water or any other liquid is viewed coming up and over the surface of a roadway.

The continuing seepage on Westmont is bothersome and since it wasn't dealt with during schools' summer vacation time, I hope repairs don't require closing a lane or more along the important route between Western and Gaffey.
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An Article About Two Lawsuits

2010-09-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ms. Ashley Ratcliff is a very good reporter. She handles reporting on city matters of four cities on The Hill for The Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

The following article appeared in the newspaper in Wednesday September 2, 2010.

I placed this article on this blog instead of my East R.P.V. blog to offer residents of other communities a better understanding of what is included in both lawsuits.

Two lawsuits arise surrounding Marymount initiative
Thursday, September 2, 2010 10:51 AM PDT

College, electeds, and residents at odds over ballot arguments.
By Ashley Ratcliff, Peninsula News

RPV — Just days after Marymount College President Dr. Michael Brophy sued Rancho Palos Verdes City Council members to contest language used in the ballot argument against Measure P, an RPV attorney on Monday filed a similar petition aimed at the group refuting initiative opponents’ statements.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe determined on Wednesday that both cases will be heard simultaneously on Sept. 8, in time to meet the county clerk’s printing deadline for the Nov. 2 general election ballot arguments.

RPV Planning Commissioner Jeff Lewis, who filed the second lawsuit, said he objects to the portion of the Marymount supporters’ rebuttal stating that the initiative “guarantees that Marymount College meets all city codes,” an assertion that he characterizes as “demonstrably false.”

“When the rebuttal arguments came out, I thought that I would mount a challenge because if I didn’t do it, nobody else would,” he said.

The News’ request for comment from Brophy was returned by a Marymount campaign consultant, who said the Englander Knabe & Allen firm would respond on his behalf going forward.

“This lawsuit is obviously a retaliatory act based on fictitious legal theory, and we are confident we will prevail in court,” Marymount consultant Ruben Gonzalez wrote in a statement.

Named in Lewis’ suit are former Mayor Barbara Ferraro, RPV resident De De Hicks, PVP Watch newsletter co-Editor Don Reeves and Marymount board members Dick Grotz and John Murname.

“I’m surprised but not surprised,” said Reeves, declining to comment further.

If approved by voters on Nov. 2, the initiative would create a “campus specific plan” for the 25-acre college campus. Its $50-million-plus master plan would grant on-campus housing for 250 students.

Councilman Doug Stern, a target of the college’s suit filed last Thursday, said there are several places within the 51-page initiative that reference amending RPV’s general plan, zoning ordinances and municipal code, thereby contradicting the statement that the project will comply with RPV laws.

“How can they say to the voters that all the city codes apply? They said they don’t [in their initiative],” he added.

According to Page 13 of the document, “Whenever provisions of this specific plan differ either in being more restrictive or less restrictive from provisions contained in the RPV [municipal code], or any other land development ordinance, statute, regulation or policy, this specific plan shall supersede those other provisions.”

Prior to filing the petition, Lewis said he attempted to speak directly to Brophy about the language in question — to avoid going to court — but was prevented from doing so.

“I thought long and hard about whether I should file a lawsuit. … I’m not disputing Marymount’s right to have an election. I just want all the arguments to be honest,” Lewis added.

College challenges council

Marymount attorney Paul Gough said the “No” on Measure P ballot argument, penned by three councilmen and signed with two well-known residents, contains four “false and misleading” statements, specifically in the paragraph stating that the initiative “eliminates city oversight.”

According to the petition, the initiative offers many chances for RPV officials to review and issue permits for the project. The City Council, it states, has “decision-making authority” for deviations in conditions outlined in the plan that exceed 15 percent.

Gough hopes the statements in question will be deleted or amended from the ballot argument. Brophy also seeks compensation for attorneys’ fees.

Calls to Gough for further comment were not returned.

While opponents last week expressed disappointment with the legal action, Harvey Englander, Marymount’s campaign consultant, told the News that he has heard otherwise from supporters.

“The response from the community that we have is, ‘Thank you for making sure that the opponents speak the truth,’” he said. “People are also telling us, ‘Thank you for pointing out that the opponents are running a negative campaign when they issued false and misleading statements.’”

Stern said Brophy’s lawsuit runs counter to his pledge to council weeks ago to “take the high road” with the initiative campaign.

“Oh, my,” Stern said. “A half-a-million-dollar advantage already spent to try to influence the outcome of the election and every time someone tries to communicate to the public a contrary position, Marymount is coming down with an iron hammer. … What’s wrong with democracy in Rancho Palos Verdes and who’s afraid to have an open debate?”

RPV City Clerk Carla Morreale and Dean Logan, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, were named as defendants in the college’s lawsuit. The “real parties in interest” include Mayor Steve Wolowicz and Councilmen Brian Campbell, Tom Long, Anthony Misetich and Stern.

However, Jon Cartwright, president of RPV Council of Homeowners Associations, and former Mayor Ken Dyda, who formed the counter-initiative group Save Our City III, signed the ballot argument with the councilmen — not Campbell and Long.

Englander said the discrepancy was a “technical legal issue.”

“The City Council authorized themselves to publish the argument against it. They’re the ones, according to lawyers, who have to be sued,” he said.

Stern, an experienced attorney, said he will defend himself, as well as Misetich and Wolowicz, who each signed the statement against the initiative. RPV City Attorney Carol Lynch will represent Campbell and Long.

Englander said the lawsuit was the “absolute, only way” the language of the ballot argument could have been addressed, in accordance with state law. He stressed that the suit was not against the city of RPV.

Both the RPV council and Planning Commission have approved the college’s expansion project, granting various campus improvements, such as a new library, athletic facility and field. The college removed the dormitories from its application at the commission level and never were presented to council.

The City Council and Planning Commission both have adopted resolutions opposing Measure P.

Voter pamphlets containing the ballot statements will be distributed to residents starting on Sept. 23.

aratcliff@pvnews.com
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For additional comments and the truth about The Marymount Plan and ballot Measure P if interested, please go to: www.eastrpv.blogspot.com

Odds and Ends 183

2010-08-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

For readers residing in Rancho Palos Verdes who do not already know, Marymount College's President, Dr. Michael Brophy has filed a lawsuit attempting to have the wording of the argument against The Marymount Plan's Initiative, now known as Proposition P or Measure P, thrown out or re-written.

Dr. Brophy also seeks damages from the city which would mean taxpayers would have to fund any settlement granted by the court.

So much for his "The Marymount Plan will be completed at no expense to the taxpayer".

It is now time to get serious about all of the arguments for and against Marymount being granted approval to build student housing on its campus for up to 250 students.

I do understand very well that there are many San Pedro residents that would like to see Marymount do as it has promised to do and abandon the off-campus student housing called Pacific Heights. But since Marymount has claimed they would do so several times, yet has not fulfilled its statements in the past, there is really no trust that they would finally abandon the site at 24Th and Cabrillo Avenue, in San Pedro.

There also has never been any consideration of closing the Palos Verdes North off-campus housing facility, and there would not be should Marymount receive approval to build on-campus student housing.

I continue to publish information about P, The Marymount Plan, and The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project that has been approved and something I continue to support.
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We have been home since Sunday and I now have four visit to Amalfitano Bakery under my belt and in my tummy.

I learned during my first trip that cannolis and most other non-breakfast fair doesn't come out until around 11:00 AM each day.

Terri and I both ate a cannoli and to be truthful, we like most other goodies over a cannoli.

I have a Napoleon waiting for me that I am sure I will enjoy.

It is not necessary, it appears, to wish Mr. Anthony Amalfitano good luck in the survival of his new Bakery. But good luck is wished for in the bakers' ability to keep up with the demand for all the wonderful treats found in the Bakery.

Many members of our community have already found out the troubling news that, if they don't get to the Bakery early enough in the afternoon, their favorite treats may be sold out by the time they arrive.

Here's a hint. Pre-order what you want so they are set aside for pickup when you can drop by.
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I like the idea of folks visiting Amalfitano Bakery to also treat themselves to a meal, a treat, a haircut, or something from any of the other businesses in Western Plaza.

We enjoy Niccolo's Restaurant just next door to Amalfitano Bakery and Mr. Pack and his wife prepare some really great food there.

31 Flavors and the Barber Shop next door have been at the strip mall for as long as I can remember and even though Hillside Cleaners has moved, there is still a presence between Amalfitano Bakery and Hillside Liquor.

Shopping and dining in Rancho Palos Verdes along Western Avenue helps provide you with what you want and should meet many of your shopping and dining wants.
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We are all now back into the new school year this coming week with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District opening up classes beginning this coming Tuesday.

This means that traffic along Western Avenue will increase somewhat and we all need to be safe as we travel on that Avenue.

LAUSD comes back to work in several weeks and we all need to watch for traffic regarding Mary Star of the Sea High School, Rolling Hills Prep, and Christ Lutheran School.

Gone are the day of too many injuries due to junior high students crossing Western to get between Dodson and the Navy Housing at what is now Ponte Vista and it looks like it will be years before we have to deal with that, again.

There is still the problems with students crossing Western to get to several parking lots where parental units wait to pick up students attending Dodson. Please keep your eyes on the lookout for potential dangers and GET OFF THE PHONE!
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Odds and Ends 182

2010-08-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

Last Monday Amalfitano Bakery opened to what can only be described from my readings is an overwhelming success.

According to its Facebook page, the Bakery sold out of its baked goods for multiple days beginning with its openind day.

I haven't been able to enjoy a cannoli from the Bakery yet, but I suspect that I will rise very early Monday morning and stroll down to view and then purchase a cannoli to enjoy. I may also bring my camera to show the event.
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The measure on the November 2 ballot concerning The Marymount Plan has been given its own identity.

Measure P on the ballot essentially asks RPV voters to approve on-campus student housing and a new law specifically created for and to be use only by Marymount College to overcome and moot some existing municiple codes as well as silencing many city controls placed on all other developments, but not Marymount's.

No matter what you hear, read, or view, every construction request made by Marymount's representatives to the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has already been approved for construction.

The ONLY new construction the measure seeks to get approved that has NOT already been approved is student housing for up to 250 students on the main campus of Marymount College, located at about the highest elevation of Palos Verdes Drive East and above the switchbacks of that road.

I oppose on-campus student housing because I am not able to find any mitigation possible for the numerous safety concerns I have and when Marymount supporters state that having students live on campus means less traffic, that is not truthful, according to documents Marymount paid to have produced AND Marymount already uses trained shuttle bus drivers to safely transport students and have done so for years, without any reportable incidents or injuries.

Please vote NO on measure P on or before November 2, 2010 if you are a voter registered in Rancho Palos Verdes.
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I haven't found a "Ponte Vista" on the Island of Hawai'i but that was expected. The Hawai'ian alphabet in English has no 'v' or 's' as I have seen so far. The bridges I have passed over are, for the most part, very small and there are not many reasons to think that Italians would have been interested in viewing these bridges in Hawai'i.
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There are "Ponte Vista" signs and locations in Florida and other places.
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Odds and Ends 181

2010-08-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 16!
Be there for the opening of Amalfitano Bakery or be on a United Airlines flight to Hawai'i.

While I will miss the opening I have been waiting months and months for, I wish all of you joyful tastes and wonderful fare as the last of the five new eateries opens along Western between Caddington and Summerland.

There is little doubt that I will venture down the hill the first available hour it is open after we return from the Big Island and the vacation we have put off for too long.
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Recently, if you have been driving closer to downtown San Pedro, you would have noticed road work that normally is found always slowing traffic on Western Avenue.

It seems like when it is time to close a lane or two along Western, it is undertaken while schools are in session and traffic becomes more of the nightmare and daymare is usually is.

But the summer has been very mild north and south of 9th Street and I can live stopped in traffic along Western much easier when the air is cooler and tempers only flare because of the congestion and not the heat.
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Might there be coming a period of less-than-moderate turmoil along Western Avenue?
Could it be that no storm drains will collapse and not major road work lies in store for Western Avenue in the coming months?

What will it be like to have sustained relative quite and moderation along Western?
Yes, there are empty storefronts and business is not what it should and could be.

There is a new Toys-R-Us store in the same location as Kay-Bee Toys once used batteries.
Calm has come to Denny's and there seems to still be no sushi at Asaka Grill Express.

Saladish and Pavich's still provide tasty and healthier food than some other restaurants provide.
There is still little more than nothing on the horizon concerning the Clearwater Project.

The silence at Ponte Vista is broken only by the sounds of happy goats and first responders undertaking worthwhile training as various times.

So, 'all calm on the Western Avenue front' may be something we can enjoy yet not take granted in.

Enjoy it while is lasts because the only constant along Western is change.
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Odds and Ends 180

2010-08-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

The post begins with a mailer I received today from Save Our City III.

The issues revolves around simply whether Marymount College will persuade voters in Rancho Palos Verdes that everything already granted to them via The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is good enough or must voters also agree that on-campus student housing, TAKEN OUT BY MARYMOUNT's representatives must now be granted.

The ballot measure also includes language that, if approved, strips many of the city's oversight and regulatory provisions demanded of everyone else and every other business.

Save Our City III is the third group with that name to come about and all three entities had to deal with over development in the area.

Save Our City I was the original group that was created to form the structure to allow Rancho Palos Verdes to become a city.

Los Angeles County was allowing massive developments in its unincorporated areas where particular cities had jurisdiction.

Without city status, residents had very little power to stop or slow down over development.

Almost 38 years ago, voters in areas, not including Eastview voted to become residents of Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Eastview area was annexed into R.P.V. by a vote of the people several decades ago.

Marymount's representatives could have, had they wished, requested that the Rancho Palos Verdes discuss, debate and vote on whether to approve on-campus housing at their Palos Verdes Drive East, no matter what the city's Planning Commission stated in its report.

Marymount Officials also decide NOT TO REQUEST consideration of dorms on campus, from the current City Council membership.

The reasons I oppose on campus housing at Marymount deal exclusively with safety and are far different than the reasons that SOC III is undertaking their opposition to the ballot measure.

But their stance is also a great one, in my opinion and I hope you will read the information, get the REAL FACTS about Marymount (EVERYTHING MARYMOUNT ASKED FOR FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE R.P.V. CITY COUNCIL)

But now they want on-campus student housing at a site that has suffered declining enrollment for several years and is only beginning a four-year program to award no more than three different Bachelor's degrees.

Loyola Marymount College in the Westchester area of Los Angeles is also going through the processes of upgrading its campus and they have a multitude of degree programs that seem to fit many students' liking.

SOC III is lead by Ken Dyda, who is one of the founders of Rancho Palos Verdes and he is a former Mayor of that city who continues to work hard for the average resident.

In the future, expect to see a large list of individual and groups siding with SOC III and don't be surprised to see all but two living former Mayors endorsing SOC III.

There are just two former Mayors that I am aware of that support The Marymount Plan and one of them sits on the College's Board of Trustees, so you know why she supports Marymount's plans to put up to 250 17-25 year olds living in high density housing in a low density neighborhood.

But for our northwest San Pedro folks, Marymount has plans to do absolutely NOTHING with their Palos Verdes North off-campus facility as far as lowering the number of students who could live there or even considering closing it, altogether.

Naturally, I will send in a small check. I am still unemployed so I will also find time to make buttons.

I am not nor will I be a member of SOC III. While they have truly honorable, reasonable, realistic, responsible and respectful goals, I oppose dorms on campus and SOC III takes no official on whether there should be dorms at Marymount. Rather, they oppose the measure for a number of good reasons, but I wish they also opposed the dorms being constructed.

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Tick. Tick. Tock. I want the health inspector to walk. Walk that is, into Amalfitano Bakery, inspect it, give it the go-ahead to open and then walk out to go someplace else.

Mr. Anthony Amalfitano was hopeful, last Tuesday that he can open "next week" and I am hopeful for that, too. I get one cannoli. That's it for about a week. My eating plan doesn't include much wheat, but there are exceptions that I must abide by.

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I was quoted in the latest edition of The Palos Verdes Peninsula News regarding Rancho Palos Verdes becoming a Charter city.

Right now I haven't seen any interest outside those who are government or politically interested types that either support or oppose the issue.

I can't repeat enough that there is no way any current or future City Council member would ever consider doing anything like what the 'crooks' in Bell did. I know we have enough interested voters who will probably ask candidates for three seats on the Council opening up next year, about what they would do as Council members of a Charter City and after been to a fair share of candidate debates in R.P.V., I don't see any potential candidate even thinking about trying to catch residents off guard.
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There hasn't been anything new on www.yourpontevista.com in several months and I don't think we will see much in the foreseeable future what with the economy still doing poorly.

It is still amazing to me that "360" on the Hawthorne/El Segundo border is continuing development after a long delay.

I don't know if the eventual management company will have a very large apartment complex or whether it will still be considered to have various types of leases, rentals, and for sale units.
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Odds and Ends 179

2010-07-30T00:24:00.000-07:00

I guess I was too hopeful that last week's Odds and Ends would be the last before the opening of Amalfitano Bakery.
I have heard that it will be very soon though and it could even happen this weekend or perhaps this coming Monday.
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Developments and projects still are having trouble all around, it seems and Ponte Vista at San Pedro is more the norm rather than the exception.
There remains continued thankfulness among many that the first phase was not begun and that the site was not occupied by renters and residents who lease units.
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Terri and I hope all of you are having a fine and mild summer to this point. Every time it looks like the heat will be turned on and left on, the morning gloom comes back to help with our electric bills.
It may be amazing to some that summer will be over in about a month and 23+ days and then fall begins.
Whether there will be an extended period of very hot weather during the remainder of the summer is something we can ponder. If it comes, then we probably should be grateful that it came so late in the summer and remember the milder temps as we swelter on the north side of 9th Street, waiting for the fall Santa Ana winds and fires that are burning now and in the future.
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It will be interesting to learn what the new Director of Los Angeles City Planning Department thinks about large developments in the city and particularly Ponte Vista.
I feel there is much we owe to the former Director in helping our community stave off over development through a time when such developments are grinding to a halt and many of them are become debris-strewn ghost areas.
We have lived with the blight at Ponte Vista and it still seems better to me to have it rather than a partially built settlement that has both completed structures and incomplete building.
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Villaraigosa Names New Planning Director For L.A.

2010-07-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

This is from The Daily Breeze.

Villaraigosa names new planning director for L.A.
By Rick Orlov Staff Writer
Posted: 07/26/2010 06:33:32 PM PDT

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday nominated a 15-year city veteran to serve as the next planning director.

Michael LoGrande, 39, the city's chief zoning administrator, was tapped to succeed S. Gail Goldberg as the head of a department that has struggled with severe budget problems in recent years.

"What I hope I can do is get people to understand the planning process and get involved," LoGrande said after a news conference.

The nomination has to be approved by the City Council. Councilman Ed Reyes, who chairs the council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee, said he hopes to hold hearings in the next several weeks.

The salary has not been set, but Goldberg was paid more than $212,000.

LoGrande lives in Long Beach and got his start in urban planning after the Northridge earthquake, where he oversaw a land use survey of the damage and was responsible for the department's emergency response team. He has held a variety of jobs in the department, from streamlining the agency's processes, interacting with community groups and reviewing applications for conditional-use permits, tentative tract maps and parcel maps.

- Rick Orlov
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The departing Director, Ms. Gail Goldberg was a champion of reasonable growth and her phrase "planning has to mean something" worked well when thinking about Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I hope Mr. LoGrande has similar views as Ms. Goldberg and I think we should all wish Ms. Goldberg much success and happiness in her next adventure in planning.

San Pedro's Vue Complex In Receivership

2010-07-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

San Pedro's Vue Complex In Receivership is the title of an article linked below:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15593727

The real estate market is still in big trouble and I have been told that it will be at least somewhere into 2011 that we might see enough of a nudge to suggest that the nightmare may be winding down.

Some others suggest we are in for another 3-4 years of real problems.

The real point about drawing anything out of the article and then pondering Ponte Vista is the issue of unit sales versus leases and rental units.

It now looks clearer than ever, had Bob Bisno found no opposition to his original plans for Phase 1 of Ponte Vista at San Pedro, we might now be passing one completed building among a debris-strewn construction area and the completed units, originally considered to be for sale Senior Housing, would most likely be leased or rented units to any age persons.

Bob would have gone belly up sooner than he did and there would be no need for even a project trailer remaining on the site, I believe.

Yes, the 245 duplexes are a terrible sight and many of us have called on the city of L.A. to enforce codes at Ponte Vista they don't seem to wish to enforce.

But please remember, first responders from all over California and from many parts of the country come to Ponte Vista to exercise their skills in urban environment tactics. So the owners of the site are doing good while they are doing nothing and the goats don't seem to mind that, one bit.

Unless the coyotes run amok among them.

Odds and Ends 178

2010-07-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

If all goes well, the next Odds and Ends will include my impressions of the opening of Amalfitano Bakery.
An inspection scheduled for earlier this week was supposed to be the decision point activity that Mr. Anthony Amalfitano would use to learn when he would open his Bakery.
Yes, I know a cannoli is not such a great treat to consume with my new eating program. But I think we can all enjoy a treat from time to time and I don't feel one cannoli will hurt my continuing weight loss and I will make greater efforts to place more exercise into days and weeks following whatever treats I choose to enjoy.
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There is still quite a bit of construction-related equipment and items near the intersection of Avenida Aprenda and Western Avenue. With the giant pipes above ground at this time, the completion of the entire project is still some time away.
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I have published a post about the most recent San Ramon Canyon Stabilization Project Update Meeting at my: www.eastrpv.blogspot.com site and that project is of some importance with regard to transit routes that could be affected in the northwest San Pedro area and the eastern and southern portions of Rancho Palos Verdes.
The potential continues to exist that if a significant rainfall pattern comes during a future rainy season and the stabilization project is not completed or an interim stabilization structure is not placed, we all could face greater traffic challenges, even along Western Avenue.
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I have read, heard, or seen nothing of note, newly discovered about Ponte Vista at San Pedro and whether the current status of the project has been updated.
I really haven't expected to see any real updates because it continues to look like the real estate market remains bad and the most recent local residential development news has focused on single-family houses being considered in the Chandler area of Rolling Hills Estates.

Odds and Ends 177

2010-07-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

I may just be that between this post and next Friday's Odds and Ends there could be a post celebrating the opening of Amalfitano Bakery. I shall keep my fingers crossed.
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Is the fence that surrounded the Sanitation Districts pumping station still not noticeable?

I saw several K-rails on the curb and I hope if they are not gone by now, they soon will be.
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Save Our Cities III, organization opposed to the initiative concerning The Marymount Plan is looking to speak to groups of folks who want to learn more about why they oppose passage of the ballot initiative.

Save Our Cities III (SOCIII) has not taken a position on whether on-campus student housing should be built on Marymount's campus. The group is strongly opposed to the proposed new ordinance that would be created by passage of the measure that would change the General Plan of Rancho Palos Verdes, take aways some rights and responsibilities provided to the City Council by voters who elected them to represent all residents of the city and also because The Marymount Plan mandates a radical departure to land use issues that are historic to the founding of Rancho Palos Verdes and could mean a non-returnable change in how and by whom land use codes, and requirements are kept in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.
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Hot and muggy enough for you yet? Earlier this morning (Friday) we got a short downpour from Mother Nature. I guess she probably felt sad that San Pedro Hill is only about 1,260 feet tall and not really a mountain where she normally dumps late afternoon rain showers.

I guess her early morning downpour was not much more than a reminder for her not to forget the little hills who want to be mountains.
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Have You Noticed What Is No Longer Noticeable?

2010-07-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Existence as we have known it for years and through the change of decades has recently been altered in a fashion so many of us could only have dreamed about, yet thought would never happen.

Now there is no telling how long this new existence will last because we have seen at least one time when the change described in this post has been done, only to find things reverting back to the status quo.

If you noticed what can be passed by without much notice though not to notice what is no longer noticeable is probably a reasonable observation, should not be taken as any fault on your part.

For so very long the now unnoticeable had been noticed by so many that all notices were taken for granted and no real change was considered fathomable by a great number of us.

Yet in the dreams of many, noticing what is now reality, was something anticipated, hoped for, begged for, and demanded of.

The fencing around the pumping station has been removed.

Odds and Ends 176

2010-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

When my sister Ruth is amazed about the upcoming auction at Silver Spur Court, that is something quite remarkable to me.

She commented about the huge loss between the former asking prices of the units and what the minimum bids may be, when the units go up for auction.

Ruth doesn't normally comment with excitement over the prices of condos and housing so it was something of a small shock to hear her with regards to the foreclosed project in Rolling Hills Estates.

I am wondering if she gets excited about something like this, what are folks considering when and what to do regarding potential condos at Ponte Vista at San Pedro are thinking.
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We are getting wind of another 'push poll' either having begun or almost here regarding Marymount College's ballot measure and attempts to have on-campus housing at the College.

This news reminds me about the poll paid for by Bob Bisno related to Ponte Vista at San Pedro and how the outcome of that poll was immediately questioned and how Bob and the pollster he hired had a meeting with the public and press about the poll and how its results differed so drastically with what members of the community were saying out loud and in small numbers.

I remember the events surrounding the meeting regarding the results of the poll and how Bob Bisno admitted he wrote as least one of the questions asked and how he would not answer specific questions about poll results.

Bob is long gone and I doubt that any future developers of the Ponte Vista site would try something like that again.

But it looks as if supporters of Marymount's plan to have voters approve dorms and create a new code that would allow Marymount's Specific Plan zone to supersede municipal codes found in conflict with Marymount's Plan may try their own 'push poll'.

Is this deja vu all over again? I hope not but I think it is something we all should be leery of.

The press and community members found quickly that the results of Bob's poll were probably pre-determined due to the questions created and the possible responses provided.

It is going around that similar things may be afoot with the new poll and I think many of us are ready to learn whether it is an objective poll or something Marymount's pollsters already are prepared to publish due to their knowledge of what they expect to find.

Is this type of poll uncommon? No way! It is done all the time, whether we like it or not.

What should we make of it? If it is a 'push poll', one created to 'push' respondents to answers that the creators want the respondents to have, then we all need to be skeptical and on our toes.

What else might a poll of this type do? It is suspected at this point, that some questions may be geared at either defaming some groups or individuals opposed to The Marymount Plan. There could be questions and comments from those calling registered voters that may tend to allow the respondent to have a negative impression or opinion about possibly City Council members because of their 5-0 vote to oppose The Marymount Plan.

There could be negative comments steered towards having respondents opine in a negative manner about individuals other than representatives of Rancho Palos Verdes, but probably not be because I am really a nobody. The folks that may be targeted may represent homeowners or opposition groups to Marymount's Special Election ballot measure.

If you haven't followed the recently increased drama with its letter to the city regarding a potential violation of The Brown Act and a letter by a Council member to the California State Bar dealing with the law firm that wrote the first letter, then you may have been missing something that may interest you.

It looks like between now and November 2, 2010 it going to get hotter with these issues than any issue we have dealt with regarding Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
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Unfortunately, there is one particular individual who was completely rotten during a part of the discussions and letter to the editor writing periods regarding Ponte Vista and he is more than a little involved with the Marymount debate.

I hope he doesn't write what he wrote when he wrote his horrible, disgusting, dishonest, miserable, and untrue letter dealing with those supporting Ponte Vista, if he writes about Marymount. We don't need that kind of letter or individual dirtying up the whole debate.
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The time to smell the fresh baked breads and pastries wafting up from Amalfitano Bakery is approaching for us. The cases are lighted and looking ready to be filled.

Still no opening date has been posted.
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The former liquor store site on Western Avenue just north of Caddington is going to house the mattress store that will be moving from just south of Caddington, pretty soon.
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I was very happy to not hear much noise or see many fireworks in the Eastview areas as we watched lots of illegal fireworks down in The Highlands from our vantage point in the parking lot of The Terraces. There seemed to be two areas down along Barrywood that had fireworks and they didn't seem as outrageous as in years past with it looked like a fireworks war was going on closer to Barrywood and Capitol.
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At last glance, the new theatre chain now showing movies on six screens at The Terraces has not raised their ticket prices and that is GREAT!

Of course a large diet soda and a large bag of popcorn was $10.50, but being a Senior and paying only $5.00 admission to a first run movie isn't that bad for after 6:00 PM.

The theatre continues its $4.00 per ticket for non-3D movies for everyone on Tuesdays and Thursdays AND Seniors get that deal also on Wednesdays.

Please shop and be entertained along Western Avenue, either in San Pedro or Rancho Palos Verdes. There are so many choices and good opportunities to shop locally and both cities can use the sales tax revenue.
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East View or Eastview? Yes!

Another Nearby Condo Project Goes To Auction

2010-07-06T21:52:00.000-07:00

Ms. Melissa Pamer reports in the July 7, 2010 edition of The Daily Breeze that a 18-unit luxury condominium project has found no buyers and is on the auction block.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15451511

Silver Spur Court was built but unable to court any buyers to the new building at the corner of Silver Spur Road and Crenshaw Blvd.

This may be an indication of why nothing is happening quickly at all with Ponte Vista at San Pedro and it is also a great example of what could have been for the site had Bob Bisno not been stopped in his tracks before any new building could occur.

It now seem almost certain that had Bob not found opposition to his idea to place at least 2,300-units along Western Avenue, he may have begun building the first phase only to run into the economic downturn that would have stopped his development.

We could have been looking at a site similar to what is found on the corner of Hawthorne Blvd. and Rolling Hills Road and that hillside turned into a horrible non-construction site.

Yes, we still have to deal with the blight that has been at Ponte Vista for over a decade. Yes, we still have to deal with not knowing what the future holds in store or when the future plans might be revealed.

But I would rather have what we have now than a closed-down construction site with contractors not receiving pay for work they started but didn't complete. We also don't have a partially built first phase that was first considered to be built along Western Avenue.

My thinking is that if we hear anything about what may be in store for Ponte Vista at San Pedro before 2011, that may be too early. I am looking towards the second quarter of next year unless the current owners find a buyer for the site to take it off their hands, in 2010.

Odds and Ends 175

2010-07-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

From time to time over the past years, something pops up on a subscription Email alert that is part of Google.

I subscribe to Google Alerts regarding Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Here is very old information that was linked on my Google Alerts this morning:
LLG Ponte Vista Traffic Study Appedix B-1.pdf
1-05-3554-1. Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project ... Future with Ponte Vista Project. CMA Data Worksheets. AM & PM Peak Hours ...
plncts.lacity.org/.../Appendix%20IV.J-1,%20Project%20Traffi...

This is the actually from a traffic study published in 2006 where counts were taken in 2005.
The only point here is learning that sometimes Google Alerts offers links to not so current information and it is a good idea to check the information out before getting excited that something new is coming out via Google Alerts.
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Some of the information contained in the Appendix B-1 can be very slightly considered now because of counts taken in 2005 and a significant point, also published in 2005 about the studied growth in traffic counts on Western Avenue.

The Western Avenue Task Force published their exhaustive and detailed study of traffic on Western Avenue between Palos Verdes Drive North, in Lomita and 25th Street, in San Pedro.
An important conclusion was stated in that study that indicated that, EVEN WITHOUT ANY DEVELOPMENT AT THE PONTE VISTA AT SAN PEDRO SITE, traffic counts were expected to increase at the rate of approximately 1.1 percent per year.

The study also concluded that in 2005 around the time of the publication of the study, there were about 37,500 vehicle trips counted along Western Avenue in the study's area of concern and the rate of increased vehicle trips per year was considered for a 20-year period of 'normal' area growth. The study used 2025 as its final year of study conclusions and for its summary.
It is now 2010, nothing is really new at Ponte Vista and there are no longer approximately 37,500 vehicles expected to be counted along Western Avenue.

It is expected that by the end of this year there will be 39,608 vehicles passing along Western Avenue on a roadway that has seen no changes in geometry and only synchronization of traffic signals.

Next year there will probably be over 40,000 vehicles traveling along Western Avenue, again with no geometric changes on Western but hopefully, the fencing around the pumping station MIGHT be removed.
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The lights are on and the false ceiling is going up. The two new signs are up to allow folks who enjoy great baked goods to find Amalfitano Bakery.
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This blog will begin to post more information, opinion, and other issues related to Marymount Colleges upcoming Initiative vote for its Marymount Plan.

If you find the information worthwhile and I hope you do, you can always visit. http://www.eastrpv.blogspot.com/ for much more information and postings that I don't feel should fill this blog too much.

But I do strongly feel that there would be great impact to traffic on Western Avenue and to residents living in eastern Rancho Palos Verdes and northwest San Pedro should The Marymount Plan's Initiative receive approval from Rancho Palos Verdes voters.

According to the traffic study for The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project (with the on-campus student housing considered) there would be about 1,591 ADDITIONAL vehicle trips per year along Western Avenue between 9Th Street and Palos Verdes Drive North.

Since the original study was published, another Appendix was ordered and its traffic portion indicated that the number of yearly vehicle trips in the same area could actually increase to over 1,900.

Since any new on-campus housing approved by voters WOULD NOT MEAN that the college's Palos Verdes North off-campus student housing site would shut its doors and close down, traffic would INCREASE due to more students living on Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus would drive to and from Western Avenue during any hour of the day or night, something that has never been done.

The additional approval that Marymount is now a four-year institution was done after the original traffic studies were published and it means upper class persons who would live in dorms will probably look and find work at the many businesses along Western Avenue and do other business, shopping, dining, or entertaining, when they are not in their dorm rooms.
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I strongly support The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project approved by the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council with its many improvements to the Marymount College campus and with its added opportunities that could allow all students and members of the community an enhanced education and better experiences.

I strongly oppose The Marymount Plan along with its Initiative because The Plan adds on-campus housing and stupilates a new municipal law benefitting only Marymount College, at the expense of the residents and the city of Rancho Palos Verdes and offers just about everything else already approved by the City Council.

Odds and Ends 174

2010-06-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Wednesday June 23, 2010.
Time: 4:55 PM
Party: Mark and Terry Wells
Place: Denny's Restaurant's door.
Occurance: As we strolled into the new Denny's I found just two guests, both sitting at a booth, in the entire dining area.
Terri and I were the third and fourth customers at 5:00 PM.
By the time we left, at about 5:25 PM, the 'huge mass of humanity', O.K., the family of four and one added couple were sitting at booths and the rest of the place was empty.
10 Customers at 5:00 PM on a weekday.
Ouch!
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The lower half of the front windows at Amalfitano Bakery have a frosted look with etched-appearing on two of the pieces of glass.
There will be a very small area inside the Bakery where a few folks can sit and enjoy the fair, there.
I still don't have an opening date to post.
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It's a coyote. It's natural. It's nature.
Get a llama and be done with it.
I feel the llama would arrive sooner if Councilwoman Hahn was offered a photo op with it as it joins the herd of goats and sheep.

What A Wonderful Sign

2010-06-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hold on to your car keys, walking shoes, sweet tooth, and aroma senses, the Bakery hasn't opened yet!

But seeing the sign up for the first time brought happiness to Terri and I and we both stated we wanted to share the news with everyone.

I wish Mr. Anthony Amalfitano, his family, and all the employees of the new bakery, the best of openings and a strong and healthy life in the new location on Western Avenue at Trudie Drive.

Amalfitano Bakery is the last of the eateries I have been writing about for the longest time, to finally open.

I don't know an opening date for the new establishment. I hope to provide that news to the widest readership possible, when I learn the date.

I have no clue yet what my first 'treat' will be. After growing up eating delights from Ramona's Polly Ann's, Joseph's, and other bakeries in our community, picking a favorite treat I will allow myself to have is going to be a problem.

Carrot Cake? Chocolate Chip Cookies? (Now remember everyone, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE THAT CONTAINS NUTS!), One of the many bread products Ramona's was famous for? A brownie? (I can consider a brownie with nuts not being too foul)

I guess I'll have to decide once I gaze at the full display of great things.

As for my eating plan, I will make all the necessary changes that should allow me to have at least a small portion of anything I desire. Since I am closing in on a 70 pound weight loss, so far, I feel I am entitled to splurge, especially since Terri and I have waited so long to wake up to the smell of fresh bread baking only a small number of yards from our bedroom window.

Odds and Ends 173

2010-06-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

For many folks, the cloud of selling off whatever entitlements Ponte Vista at San Pedro receives will be sold off rather than having the development constructed by a single development team as told to us, during "The Bob Years".
It seems we may be watching something somewhat similar unfold with "The Marymount Plan" and its initiative that would allow the constructions of two residence halls on the Palos Verdes Drive East campus and restrict, using a municipal code if approved by voters on November 2, 2010 that would essentially strip city government oversight of the bulk of their responsibility and rights to monitor, comment, and enforce elements of The Marymount Plan, both during the construction, implementation, and school operation, into the future.
As Bob Bisno was probably considering selling off the entitlements to others rather than actually developing Ponte Vista, so too may Dr. Michael Brophy, Marymount's President and other supporters of The Marymount Plan be considering the use of 'forward selling' of the rights and operations of all potential on-campus and off-campus college-owned student housing.
Dr. Brophy and others may also wish to forward sell all rights related to any or all public and private events and ventures to an entity that would manage, produce, administer, and market things like concerts, band camps, sporting events, and other things on the Marymount Campus.
Forward selling of residence halls operations and the administration and management of events and non-academic activities at Marymount could find a huge financial windfall coming to Marymount with very large checks that could conceivably, pay for the entire expansion plan, with more large donations from well-healed supporters.
I have offered some facts, assertions, and other opinions on my www.eastrpv.blogspot.com blog.
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Along with the possibility of on-campus housing at Marymount College, no one living anywhere near Western Avenue and Palos Verdes Drive North should expect or consider that Marymount would abandon and/or sell their 300+ student off-campus housing site called Palos Verdes North, which is located between Western Avenue and Five Points, on Palos Verdes Drive North.
It is also not currently know and doubtful that Marymount would close and sell off its Pacific Heights student housing building near 24Th and Cabrillo, in San Pedro.
Naturally, Marymount could reap even more income by selling off that property. But representatives of Marymount have claimed, several times, that they would close down that site and they have not kept their word about that, repeatedly.
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So, there MAY be coyotes searching for meals at Ponte Vista. Isn't that something that is natural?
I do like the idea of placing at least one llama on the site to protect the goats and sheep.
There was a period of time, while my sister and her family lived where we now live, that she wanted a llama in the back yard to increase her 'zoo' which included two goats, cats, a dog, ducks, and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig which had the waddle of the house and slept in her own 'bed' in the master bedroom.
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I hope you are sitting down as you read this: The fencing surrounding the construction site along Western Avenue near Avenida Aprenda, is still up! I bet you were thinking I was going to write that it had been removed.
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By the next "Odds and Ends" post, it will officially be summer.
Have a wonderful, peaceful, and happy summer!

Ponte Vista APARTMENTS?????

2010-06-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

On June 8, 2009, a video was produced by Arnold Imaging showing a 3 minute and 5 second animation of what the Ponte Vista "Apartments" might look like.

Here is the text from the following URL: www.arnoldimaging.com/?=1080,

"Challenge:
The developers of a 1,395 units apartment development in 'Las' Angeles needed a way to illustrate the design of their development to local neighborhood groups so they could receive their planning approvals.

Our Solution:
Create a video that shows the improvements to the streets and the architectural design of the buildings."

It is important to note that the video was placed in the 'Portfolio' section of the Web site and that was just over one year ago and may have absolutely nothing to do with whatever current plans are afoot by the new development team.

It is also important to note that there is no way on this or any other planet that 1,395 'apartments' would ever be approved, allowed, or tolerated on the 61.53 acre Ponte Vista at San Pedro site.

The animation illustrates what many of us have seen in previous drawings and other types of illustrations with Ponte Vista, even during "The Bob Years".

Apartment complexes with either rental or leased units have a much higher turn around rate than condos or SFRs do and with Western Avenue as the sole ingress and egress road at Ponte Vista, I is not reasonable to expect that the L.A. City Council would ever allow such a large 'apartment' development there.

Seaport Luxury Homes, the former condo project that actually opened as a lease-project has 136-units and I don't believe all the units have been leased or rented out as of today.

While the animation looks somewhat impressive, I think it amounts to much ado about nothing. But even something as trivial as this little bit provides some information many of us haven't seen with the project.

Odds and Ends 172

2010-06-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

The morning sun brings light to the plastic cover-less front windows of Amalfitano's Bakery where passersby can see the new display cases clearly, under plastic sheeting.
It looks like the sign may be almost ready for placement. I found no notice when the new business will open in Rancho Palos Verdes.
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The promises, promises to remove the fencing around the still-under-never ending-construction site along Western at Avenida Aprenda. Iguess by the time that site is finally fence-less new fencing will be placed where the Clearwater Program's giant hole will be dug for the tunneling machine, dirt extraction, and tunnel construction. That may be in 2012 or 2013.
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Here is a blatant plug for all to see "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" the musical, opening tonight at 8:00 PM at the Warner Grand Theatre, in San Pedro.
I built the set in my backyard before it was transported to the theatre.
You can find information and tickets by visiting www.therelevantstage.com
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Although I voted for Janice Hahn to win the primary, it may not be such a bad thing that she now can continue to be the 15Th District Councilperson for the remainder of her last term, I feel.
Los Angeles residents won't have to have tax funds used to pay for a special election to replace her on the City Council should she have won the primary and gone on to win the general election.
We can also probably count on her to continue to call for a reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful outcome for Ponte Vista at San Pedro as she is now probably too familiar with all the issues and factions related to the 'sometimes proposed' condominium development.
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My high horse continues to eat its oats and comment that he continues to feel strongly that up to 831 dwelling units should be built at Ponte Vista.
That figure remains as a dwelling unit equivalent to The Garden's 1,100-units where residents of those units have both Western Avenue and North Gaffey Street as main ingress and egress roads while Ponte Vista will only have Western Avenue.
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Odds and Ends 171

2010-06-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

Terri and I ate at Pavich's Brick Oven 'Pizzafe' or 'Pizzaeria' depending on whether you believe the outside signage or the menu.

First, we saw no 'brick' oven cooking any pizza. There is a large ceramic tile-covered oven that may be fired by natural gas and it the tile could be shielding the bricks from view.
The restaurant was very clean and customers could observe the preparation and baking operations by friendly workers.
Our cashier was correct-handed and I appreciate owners of businesses providing jobs for some of most oppressed people on the planet.
It appears that Pavich's Manager is fluent in Croatian, as I expected and she could be related to Mr. Pavich by marriage of by birth.
I really liked the price for my 12" 'personal' Italian sausage pizza. It is the type of pizza I use to judge the various fabulous restaurants in our community that serve pizzas. My pizza was just $6.99 plus tax.
Terri said her 'personal' vegetarian pizza was the best in town and probably this galaxy. Her pizza was $10.02 and it was more than filled with great vegetables.
I prefer the more expensive and smaller Italian sausage pizza from Z-Pizza on Western in the Albertson's shopping area.
Both restaurants serve very thin crust pizzas and that is the best for folks with diabetes and who are trying to lose weight.
The problem with having a 12" 'personal' pizza, I found, was that I ate five pieces in Pavich's because it was so good and I finished the rest of the slices several hours later.
Big mistake on my part. I hadn't had more than one piece of pizza in over three months. I guess I overdid the overenjoyment.
The menu at Pavich's offers pizzas on the obverse and three choices for entrees, sandwiches, and sides on the reverse.
Because Terri and I consider the original Pavich's Pizza near 22nd and Alma, we were very pleased with the quality at the new site. The tastes of the cheese and sauce was familiar and very enjoyable.
The menu states "Salad Menu Coming Soon" and I hope the salads come sooner than later.
Of Saladish, Pavich's, Asaka Grill Express, and Denny's, I prefer those four new restaurants in that order.
I hope to find much sooner than rather later, where I can place Amalfitano's Bakery in the order.
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I again wish to share my appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Elise Swanson for allowing my friend Angela 'Romee' Romero access to the streets and the less-than-wildlife at Ponte Vista.
Angela's photos on her www.sanpedrobxb.com San Pedro Block by Block blog were wonderful and her post was informative.
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I will probably write a post when I get time about the potential ramifications of the recently passed Resolutions concerning Marymount College.
But for now I am volunteering at Miraleste I.S. Library, working on the set for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and trying to get on board with the T.S.A.

Odds and Ends 170

2010-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

I hope that readers of this blog who are registered voters in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes take a visit to my East R.P.V. blog at: www.eastrpv.blogspot.com and read about Marymount College and their Plan that would have voters step over their own elected City Council members and vote to approve what the City Council members already approved, plus on campus student housing and the potential to restrict government oversight of The Marymount Plan's activities and construction.

I have many posts dealing with my reasons for opposing residence halls on Marymount's campus at the top of Palos Verdes Drive East where it rounds a large curve and above the infamous switchbacks.

It is not that I don't feel on campus housing at most Colleges and Universities is bad at all. It is the location and student makeup of Marymount that requires me to oppose on campus student housing for safety reasons.

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Ms. Elise Swanson will begin another term as a board member of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

This means she will stay on, probably as Vice President, of the new company and team being assembled to resume building plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I think this is a good thing. Ms. Swanson certainly knows a great deal about Ponte Vista and she can offer to the new team opinions and histories about what has been happening and how to approach OUR community in much better ways than were observed during "The Bob Years".

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The construction going on at Amalfitano's Bakery continues to have fits of on again, off again, work going on.

We say more kitchen parts going into the new bakery. The windows are still mostly covered with paper or plastic. One can peer in and see some display cabinets near the front.

Although I am long past being able to buy lots of goodies and eat them at one setting, I will do my best to enjoy one cookie per visit but not more than two visits per week.

I can still eat cake. Tiny and I mean tiny pieces are all that I allow myself.

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After being inspired by a member of the Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 as I watched his amazing weight loss and exercise choices, I finally went ahead and made the change I have needed to make for a couple of decades.

Now, when I take up pen and keyboard to do battle with over development, I do it with a little more than 61 pounds less of me. Just think of the new energy I can put to dealing with any plans that are as outrageous as ones offered by a now bankrupt over developer.

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I do expect that when the new team finally emerges do offer 'new' plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro, the 1,395-unit number that was last considered will be the beginning point for future discussions and plans.

That is still far too many units for my support and it is quite a few too many to the most ardent supporters of keeping the current zoning at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I am not holding my breath waiting until the new team makes a move, and neither should you.

It still may take more months, but I think something is coming, because......

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New building is underway at 360 in Hawthorne, Ca.

360 was an ambitious construction project that was started on portions of the old Los Angeles Air Force Base on the south side of El Segundo Blvd, a few years ago.

After two buildings of condos were completed and units there were being offered for sale, all sales stopped and the entire site went into a dormant state.

The two or more completed sat silent and empty almost in the middle of a very large area that was fenced off and closed to all.

Recently however, I noticed new construction at 360 on the corner of El Segundo and Aviation Blvds.

New multi-story housing units are framed and it appears that 360 is building again.

This could portend a sooner than unexpected reemergence of plans for Ponte Vista.

But as I wrote a little up on this post, don't hold your breath.

Odds and Ends 169

2010-05-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Work is now progressing towards the opening of Amalfitano's Bakery! Yippee!

It's the last that will open of the five eateries I have been watching for months and months being constructed along Western Avenue.

The other four seem to have now settled in after their openings. We eat at Saladish more often than Denny's, Asaka Grill Express, or Pavich's Brick Oven Pizzafe.

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Now the real fight begins against The Marymount Plan for many of us.

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will finally vote to approve the two required Resolutions that will allow The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project to receive the necessary pre-permit approvals.

The Project is different than The Marymount Plan only in a very few, but major areas:

The Plan, if voted in by voters in November, after the expected qualification on that ballot, would have two residence halls for 255 students and staff, adopt an ordinance that allows Marymount and their Plan to supersede many municipal codes, and now provide a concrete center median barrier along the long uphill and downhill curve around the campus along Palos Verdes Drive East.

If The Marymount Plan is adopted by voters, the closest Paramedic Squad to that campus, the Eastview and La Rambla areas is at L.A. County Fire Station 6, in Lomita. That squad must pass by the Ponte Vista site to get to the Eastview and La Rambla neighborhoods when they are not perform emergency duties in Lomita, parts of Rolling Hills Estates, Miraleste, and the Marymount area.

Increased numbers of people living on The Hill, especially at Marymount has been cited in the Environmental Impact Report for The Project as being a potential liability to achieving the best response time for a Paramedic Squad from any area of L.A. County.

Station 83 in Miraleste and Station 53 on Palos Verdes Drive South near Abalone Cove have a certified Paramedic on their engines 24/7 but that is really does not provide the better coverage that a Paramedic Squad can provide. We need another Paramedic Squad placed at the Miraleste or P.V. Drive South Station, but there are no funds for that.

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Odds and Ends 168-1/3

2010-05-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

I don't like driving south along Western and since I have Via Colinita to Miraleste Drive/9th Street, I rarely head south past Trudie/Capitol.

It looks like Pavich's Brick Oven "Pizzafe" has been open for a few weeks and that is wonderful!

One can purchase some very interesting pizzas and there is a Croatian type pizza that has been a hit for several years at the other location.

I saw some seating from the roadway and I think I will take Terri and check it out and have a slice of pizza and a salad.

I will offer my opinion on this blog and my East R.P.V. blog.

I will also check to see if I can learn the status for Amalfitano's Bakery and when it might open.

Sadly or happily, I don't eat much of anything that comes from a bakery any longer and so far about 60 pounds of fat loss on my short frame would find the far-too-much remaining fat none to pleased with my eating baked goods made primarily of wheat.

Odds and Ends 168

2010-05-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm late again. I am building the set for the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" which will open on June 11 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

The production is from The Relevant Stage Theatre Company where I am currently the carpenter in residence.

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I have heard through sources that the folks who own the Ponte Vista site are creating a whole new team to once again, get the project moving.

My sources opine that the new team will take up where the old team left off with a plan for the 1,395 condos considered by the former development team, last year.

The consideration continues that the new team will work to get entitlement approved for the site and then attempt to form a partnership with another development company or try to sell the land, with the entitlements, and cut the losses that continue to mount.

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I did see the door open at the site of Amalfitano's Bakery but there was still paper on the door and it is nowhere near open.

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The Staff Report and Resolutions drawn up for Rancho Palos Verdes City Council voting on the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is available for download or viewing at the city's Web site: www.rpv.com.

The report is 258 pages long.

The report does not seem to include the costs to taxpayers for the proposed ballot measure Marymount is floating.

Odds and Ends 167

2010-05-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

I usually publish this post at 12:01 AM Friday mornings. I didn't today.

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This week finally saw normality arrive in the parking lots for Denny's and Asaka Grill Express.

Still, there is no sushi on the Grill's menu.

I have a new scanner and I am practicing my procrastination skills at hooking it up which I need to do so I can scan the inside of Asaka's menu and post it here. Perhaps by Monday morning I will finally get around to hooking the new H.P. up.

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I've got nothing new to report dealing with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

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I think I will publish some bits from the Traffic and Parking Section of The Marymount

College Facilities Expansion Project, now completely approved of by the Rancho Palos Verdes

City Council.

Whether anything actually get built on Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus is another story.

The other story is whether Marymount will accept The Project's approvals and try to move forward if their ballot measure does not pass.

I think if voters ultimately reject Marymount's plan to construct residence halls on the campus, Marymount will have to rethink whether it will start building using The Project's approvals or whether they will continue to seek approvals or victories in lawsuits allow them to build on-campus housing, before they begin any construction.

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Census Enumerators are out and about in large numbers and they are individually going to residential units where the resident(s) did not return their mail in Census Questionnaire in time.

Enumerators are expected to wear their I.D. at all times they are working and they should also be carrying the black bag with writing on one side.

Please, if an Enumerator comes to your door it would be great if you would kindly assist the Enumerator in completing the Questionnaire he or she has for your residence.

It takes ten minutes or less, has three fewer questions than the mailed Questionnaire, and you are helping someone who probably needs the job during this continuing time of hardship.

There are about 600,000 Enumerators working since last Saturday attempting to gather information that will lead to the most accurate Census possible.

I promise you won't see anywhere near even one thousand Enumerators in your neighborhood.

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Odds and Ends 166

2010-04-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

No sushi. No sashimi either.

Asaka Grill Express held its Grand Opening last Saturday.

I will publish a personal review after it has been open a couple of months because I don't feel a brand new restaurant should be reviewed before its legs are stronger and the kinks have been worked out.

While the drive thru window and the drive thru lane still exist, currently the drive thru is not open and the owner is still not certain if or when drive thru service will be provided.

The most expensive dinner on the menu is the Salmon Teriyaki at just $8.95.

Appetizers include a bowl of soy beans or sweet potato fries.

What I found very interesting

Terri and I ate at Asaka Grill Express on Monday evening and had a pleasant experience knowing the service and preparation would take a long time because it just opened.

The booths have very high backs and I am a short fellow and when I sat at a booth, my feet didn't make it all the way to the floor. This is the only local restaurant I know of where I can't put my feet on the floor when sitting at a booth.

I wanted to post the inside of the menu along with the covers. Unfortunately the image above was the last image my all-in-one scanned before it sent itself off to the great electronic beyond.

Luckily I now have something Terri has been bugging me about because I hadn't told her what I wanted for my birthday.

Darn it. I just bought a whole set of cartridges for it. In a pinch, I can use Terri's all-in-one when she is not writing, but I haven't done it yet for the menu. It looks like I gave Canon a chance and now I will head back to old reliable HP which I have a big printer for my PC and Terri has an HP all-in-one for her PC.

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The middle of this week saw the parking lot of the new Denny's not completely packed during the times after lunchtime and between breakfast and lunchtime.

As a shock, when I drove by the lots yesterday morning at about 7:20 there were NO CAR in the north parking lot of Denny's and it had been open for an hour and 20 minutes.

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If you are interested in the antics of Marymount or want to read stuff about the eastern portion of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, please visit www.eastrpv.blogspot.com.

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No activity has been witnessed this whole week at the sites of Amalfitano's Bakery and Pavich's Pizza.

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The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning changes for residences in the Eastview area.

City Staff recommended that the zoning on residential lots be changed from RS4 to RS5 to bring the neighborhoods in Eastview more in line with the other housing tracts in the city.

This change will mandate that whenever a homeowner wishes to remodel their dwelling, the side yard setbacks must fall in line with the rest of R.P.V. lost that call for a minimum total side yard setback of no less than 15 feet, with at least one setback being not less than 5 feet.

In my neighborhood of 215 lots, City Staff has recommended that variances would be granted because of the history, lot sizes, and because the original Western View Homes, now referred to in the changes as "Mira Vista" was the first tract of houses built in what would eventually be all of Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are plenty of lots in our neighborhood that are larger than many of the other lots in the city, mine included. But because of the 'special nature' and the fact that there are a number of lots in our tract that are smaller than 'normal' for R.P.V. lots I guess our houses get special consideration.

What probably won't find a variance is the fact that with any large remodel of single-family residential units within R.P.V. a two-vehicle garage is the standard and called for in the zoning.

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Beginning tomorrow Saturday, the U.S. Census Bureau will start the canvasing of households where the resident did not return their Census Questionnaires in by mail as instructed.

Census workers will fan out to dwellings that have been noted to gather information about the residents who live in houses where no Census Questionnaires has been returned.

For this operation, the Census Enumerator will ask only 7 questions pertaining to each resident of that dwelling who stayed at the dwelling on April 1, 2010, Census Day.

This has been and will always be the largest operation for the Census.

California and especially areas in the Los Angeles Basin, along with San Bernardino and Riverside Counties received a lower than predicted number of returned Census Questionnaires.

If you receive a knock on your door, please allow the Census Enumerator to do their job and please answer the questions the Census Enumerator asks. It takes less time than filling out the original mailed Questionnaire, has fewer questions for each household member and help create the most accurate population information possible.

Answering the Census is mandated in Article One of the United States Constitution and it is the way the membership of the United States House or Representatives is determined.

Answering the Census can also mean more revenue, jobs, and improvements might come to your community and not answering the Census allows for being left out of projects and funds the community could certainly use.

I am not assigned in areas along the east side of The Hill nor am I assigned to anywhere in San Pedro.

Thank you to all who have already mailed in their questionnaires and thank you very much to those of you contacted between Saturday and by the end of July for helping this country have the most accurate Census count in history.

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Now I bet you know that when there is no mention of Ponte Vista at San Pedro by this point in these "Odds and Ends" it means I have nothing new to report on the Project. But I keep my eyes and ears open.

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Odds and Ends 165

2010-04-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

This post begins with good news and some unhappy news.

All looks almost ready for the opening of Asaka Grill next to the new Denny's on Western.

The unhappy news is that it appears work has ceased on both Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza and Amalfitano's Bakery. I will continue to hope for this blog to offer news about those two establishments opening sooner rather than later.

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The city of Rancho Palos Verdes welcomes the Grand Opening of its fourth large food market tomorrow when the second Trader Joe's opens today.

Along with Western Avenue's own Trader Joe's, I hope you spend lots of money at Smart and Final on Western Avenue and sometime shop at Ralph's Fresh Faire on Hawthorne Blvd. if you are in that neck of the woods.

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If you haven't yet attempted to enjoy a great salad at Saladish on Western in The Terraces Shopping Center, you might want to schedule a meal there on the moving fake half log hanging from the ceiling. Chasing salad items that are very tasty and in large portions for not that large of a price just may provide you with some fun during your dining and something to talk about to your friends and neighbors.

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The left turn pocket on northbound Western Avenue at the southern end of The Terraces looks to be getting even more congested because of the placement of the driveways for Denny's and Asaka Grill.

During the afternoon drive time, which I feel lasts from a few minutes before the school day ends till at least 7:00 PM, drivers and their vehicles fill up that pocket to overflowing which backs up northbound Western at times at least as far as Park Western Drive.

Please be reminded that there may be starving drivers and/or passengers attempting to turn into the shopping center where there are several eateries or they are attempting to make a U-turn to get to Denny's and probably in the very near future, Asaka Grill.

Western Avenue is a State Highway and CalTrans is the authority which governs the route.

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For the Rancho Palos Verdes residents who visit this blog, a little bunny told me that the folks at Marymount just might turn in signatures collected to place the initiative for The Marymount Plan, next week.

Filing of the signatures gathered next week is sooner than required and it sets up a decision the members of the City Council must make regarding the proposed measure.

Once at least 2,700 signatures are certified and the initiative is brought before the City Council, The City Council must vote to approve the exact wording of the proposed initiative becoming a new city ordinance thereby approving The Marymount Plan without a vote of the electorate OR they must call for the election. The Council has 30 days to act once the City Clerk certifies the initiative could qualify for a ballot.

The sooner Marymount receives certification of the signatures on the petitions, the better because the ballot measure would be part of the November 2 General Election and not a separate election within 180 days for the call for the election.

Having a separate election for the only item that would pertain to just the city of Rancho Palos Verdes would cost the city's General Fund, generated from taxpayer's more than just being a part of the General Election.

During the last meeting of the City Council the members were asked to create a series of questions that the city's Staff could use as part of a Staff Report that may or may not eventually come out regarding The Marymount Plan's initiative.

I have heard that Marymount is planning to place at least 5,000 signatures into the process for confirmation.

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Odds and Ends 164

2010-04-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

I don't have anything new to post directly concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

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The opening date for Asaka Grill is growing closer with the placement of the business' sign and the removal of paper from the windows.

It still looks like they will have a tough time finding parking spaces for their customers as the parking lots continue to fill up at meal times with cars whose drivers and passengers head into Denny's.

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I think we have to admit that work towards the opening of Amalfitano's Bakery seems to have stopped. I haven't noticed any work being done in that space but I remain hopeful that the smell of fresh baked breads and other goodies visit the Western Plaza strip area at some point in the near future.

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For the Rancho Palos Verdes readers and voters, the debate and disagreements about remodeling plans at Marymount College were kicked up more than a notch this week with more announcements about the formation of a group opposed to the proposed initiative that supporters of Marymount College is attempting to qualify for the November ballot.

Save Our City III or SOC III is being formed to oppose not The Marymount Plan per se, but the group opposes the initiative with its process and other facts that illustrate that having a private entity bring legislation to the voters when those voters charged the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council with doing those responsibilities, and authority they voted members of the Council having.

There is a claim that this particular proposed initiative could signal that, if it is passed by voters, it would allow other businesses and groups the consideration that they too could bring issues directly to voters rather than go through the City Council.

Rancho Palos Verdes was created to deal with the fear of rampant over development along the coastline by businesses who had only to get approval from Los County where approval of large developments was fairly easy and standard.

There is also the consideration that if this type of initiative passes it means that others like "The Donald" and folks representing the 'Your' event site might attempt to bypass city processes and approvals for more over development in the city.

____________________________________________

For a matter of trivia, I am still trying to find out what housing tract was the original "East View" or "Eastview".

I know that the tract was built in the unincorporated portion of Los Angeles County so that lets out "The Highlands, San Pedro", "Westmont" "Channel Heights", and "Tarragona".

I can identify my tract, "Western View Homes" as it was the first tract of houses built between Western and Miraleste Drive/P.V. Drive East and it saw residents moving in by May, 1950. I even have a photograph on my East R.P.V. blog from May, 1950 with the accompanying News Pilot article.

I know that Mira Costa Terrace is either the second or third oldest tract of homes and it was commonly called "Caddington" long before Toscanini was built east of Western Avenue into the "Strathmore" area.

"Rolling Hills Riviera" is the largest tract of homes in the area and Mr. Ray Watt. built "Palo De Encino" just south of "RHR" during the time he was also developing Palo Del Amo Woods along Vermont toward Lomita/Torrance.

The approximately 60 homes of "Peninsula Verde" are the north easternmost tract of housing and it sits between Green Hills and Lomita.

This leaves the area that has Crestwood Street Elementary School as its largest single plot of land.

MacArthur, Noble View, Enrose, Bernice, Upland, Bayend, General, Fairhill, Trotwood, Wycliff (but only a tiny portion of it), and at least one other street make up that area that has homes similar to Mira Costa Terrace but also having some houses with single car garages just like 200 of the 215 houses originally built in the Western View Homes development.

So perhaps by a process of elimination, that area may have had its original name as East View or Eastview but I would love to find a photo of whatever tract was built with that name.

____________________________________________

This Saturday night San Pedro's Golden States Pops Orchestra has a Broadway themed concert at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

Little Fish Theatre opens "Tooth and Nail" tonight at their theatre located at 777 S. Centre Street, San Pedro.

Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for stopping by.

Our First Visit To Denny's

2010-04-09T10:22:00.001-07:00

Well, it took until the fifth morning for us to visit the new Denny's located on Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I don't feel it is fair to make a real review of the entire outing because today marked the first Friday the new Denny's has been in operation.

Some time ago, there was a Denny's restaurant on Western Avenue near the corner of Western and Park Western. When the Ralph's Shopping area was remodeled some years ago, the old Denny's closed.

That Denny's was thought of quite well by it customers and the opening of the new Denny's was highly anticipated for months now, even before most folks knew what was replacing the Planet Kids store.

As it happened, I talked to the assembled wait-staff and managers during a meeting a week ago on a Thursday evening. I wanted to know when the restaurant was opening so I could post that information on several of my blogs.

During a short conversation I had with the head manager and with many ears perked up because of the stranger attending the meeting, I told everyone in the room that their new work location was highly anticipated and they should expect to see large crowds from the opening of the doors.

The entire wait staff, cooks and managers seemed surprised and somewhat shocked when I told them the information. They were all also quite pleased smiles abounded all through the seating area.

As it came to pass, I was not wrong one bit. The Denny's has been packed.

By 8:45 this morning all the seats were filled and there were customers waiting for table openings.

The two sides of the restaurant have parking spaces. Naturally all the spaces were filled. I expect that when the Asaka Grill finally opens there will be an average of ZERO spaces for customers of that site, right next to Denny's.

It looks like the workers at both restaurants will have to park somewhere other than the parking lots for those two places. I hope they don't choose Trudie, Highmore, or Jaybrook, thank you very much.

As you may have expected, there were two cars in the Marie Callender's parking lot as we walked through it. You may want to enjoy Marie Callender's while it is still open because it certainly looks like their customer traffic has dropped off and will continue to drop off as Denny's becomes more well known (not like it really needs it).

Because I should not offer a real review of the place, I do want to share some impressions and comments with the opening week and I think it is going to take a couple of months before a true set of opinions can reveal what normal experiences at Denny's should be expected.

The restaurants hours are as follows;

From 6:00 AM on Friday and until 11:00 PM on Sunday, Denny's will remain open.

All other times Denny's hours are 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

It appears that the conditional use permit does not permit Denny's to post the "Always Open" sign found on just about every other Denny's.

Parking is bad and probably that won't go away in the forseeable future. I have seen times when there was parking along Western Avenue, even directly in front of Denny's.

The south parking lot is also going to be used by customers of Asaka Grill once it opens AND if Denny's customers don't take up all the parking. This lot also has some spaces it takes skill to get into and out of. They are the spaces sort of behind the restaurant and near the gate that we found closed preventing a throughway between the two parking areas. I hope Denny's management open the two sets of gates behind the restaurant and leave them open during business hours.

You will be greeted by friendly and I really mean friendly managers and those showing you to your seat. They are a bit rusty with their actions but since there is nothing "normal" about Denny's yet, that is quite fine with me.

I remember with other Denny's that once ordered, it sometimes takes an eternity for the food to arrive. Please be very patient during your visits to Denny's in the coming months. The food you get might be cooled off by the time it finally arrives, but I expect that when the Denny's finds its normality, food will arrive sooner.

We had to request from someone other than our wait staff for the bill. We ended up getting copies from two different employees and did I mention they were friendly?

There is absolutely no reason for Terri and I and whoever visits Denny's while with us, need to add another vehicle to the parking lots.

Since those of you who know what I look like know I still need to lose lots of weight, I was pleasently surprised by the make-your-own Grand Slam. That size of Grand Slam is not the size I remember and I never needed that amount of food I remember filled the plate.

My Grand Slam consited of two regular size eggs, amout the smallest portion of hash browns I have seen in any restaurant in R.P.V. and San Pedro, two sausage links and two pancakes, each about 1/4 to 1/5 the size of my beloved Fluffys enjoyed at Rex's Diner.

The price was $5.99 and other than the eggs being cool, somebody like me need to learn to live better with smaller portions and at a price I can live with.

It looks like tables and chairs could be added to the dining area if the C.U.P. allows for that. But with the parking lots full with the amount of tables and chairs there already, more tables might create problems.

I did write to officials and our city's Traffic Safety Commission about something I observed that I feel could be a safety hazard and a potential for liability with R.P.V.

We saw many Denny's customers heading north on Western making a U-turn from the left turn lane for the south entrance to The Terraces.

Normally, that turning lane is overflowing during commute times and the added number of customers choosing to not go into The Terraces but rather making U-turns will add to the congestion along northbound Western and probably more collisions.

I don't have a solution for my thoughts but I don't think drivers will heed NO U-TURN signs on the medians of Western.

Of course we saw a "true Pedro thing" when we visited Denny's. Even though the restaurant is physically located in Rancho Palos Verdes everybody knows everybody else who live in San Pedro so many of you will meet friends and/or family members when you go to Denny's.

It's just like the Target where many of us can't get through a visit where we don't greet somebody we know.

The consequences of having the new Denny's where it is makes me think that perhaps Marie Callender's will continue to be a very good restaurant for our elderly friends and neighbors.

Many folks who are up in their years find comfort when they take their meals at Marie's. I think it has been that way for years. Whether Marie Callender's can survive what I expect to be a big drop in business is something we won't know for some time.

As for Asaka Grill, I haven't found any notice of when it may open.

Denny's is now the new monster on the Avenue. Folks who eat there will hopefully do other shopping along Western in both San Pedro and R.P.V. I do hope they visit Marshalls' more than they visit Ross. I also hope they visit Trader Joe's more than they visit the store near Peck Park.

For dining pleasure similar to Denny's I hope they visit Coco's over Carrow's and Azteca over Taxco. I certainly don't folks visiting Domenick's and Niccolo's. Eating at Baja Fresh is a good thing. I hope you like the ice cream at 31 flavors more than Coldstone Creamery. All of the above eateries are wonderful, but some of them help our General Fund grow with portions of Sales Tax dollars that flow into R.P.V.

For the high school football and party crowds, having Denny's open all night on Fridays and Saturdays is a good thing. It allows revelers the chance to continue in a safe and comfortable environment and it also provides more food options to those who need to eat because they drank too much alcohol.

For me, sobering up at the IHOP many year ago when it was open late helped. I was all done with that by the time the old Denny's opened or I chose not to cross Western while drunk. It was easier staggering home from IHOP than just about anywhere else.

So please, ENJOY DENNY'S! When it becomes a normal "San Pedro" restaurant, then I think we can make fair reviews. I use "San Pedro" because that is where our hearts still side with.

Odds and Ends 163

2010-04-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Lakeshore Homes is now in its selling stage. This is the condo project at Five Points.

I noticed one unit had blinds on its windows and a second condo had 'SOLD' signs in several of its windows.

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I have known about iStar Financial's reentering into the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project for several months. I had been keeping that information on the 'down low' because of the rumor I have heard about how many units iStar Financial may try to seek.

I won't publish the contents of that rumor and I hope it remains a rumor and never is realized.

____________________________________________

We are two-0pen, three to go on the five eateries that are along Western Avenue between The Terraces and Summerland.

I don't have any new information about Asaka Grill, Amalfitano's Bakery, and Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza.

I do know that the pizza at Pavich's other shop is outstanding, ethnic, and a real joy to learn about.

If Amalfitano's is anything like its 'older' self-Ramona's Bakery, that will continue an institution of excellence that we have loved for decades.

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On behalf of every Rancho Palos Verdes resident, I apologize that it was probably in the Conditional Use Permit of Denny's to not be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I think if R.P.V. and especially Eastview voters had been polled or got to vote, we all would have welcomed an "Always Open" Denny's.

I apologize that I didn't make myself better informed about the issue and I should have, would have, could have, done more to seek more hours for Denny's.

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Please do not sign the petition seeking qualification of a November ballot measure dealing with The Marymount Plan.

The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project has 11 of 12 issues voted on and approved and there will probably be agreement about the 12th issue, where the soccer field will be placed, on or before May 4.

That would still leave just one piece different between the Project and the Plan. And when you watch the T.V. commercials, get greeted by petition signature gatherers, receive mailings every few days, please realize it is ALL ONLY about ONE THING DIFFERENT and that is on-campus housing, which Marymount REMOVED from consideration in the Project.

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The New Denny's Is NOT "Always Open"

2010-04-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, the new Denny's is finally open on Western and it is packed!

Yes, the new Denny's is just inside Rancho Palos Verdes unlike the old one that was in San Pedro/Los Angeles.

Yes, you can order a Grand Slam just like at every other Denny's.

NO! You can't eat there at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday morning.

I talked with one of the managers because when I left my home and glanced over to the new Denny's, it looked dark and the sign was not lit, at about 5:30 this morning.

Denny's will be open from Friday Morning until 11:00 PM Sunday night.

On Monday through Thursday and on Sunday, Denny's will close at 11:00 PM.

This may be because of rules for business hours in Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are well over 600 "7-11" stores in the Southern California territory.

Two of the only FOUR "7-11" stores that are not allowed to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week are the two in Rancho Palos Verdes. I know this is because of codes established in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Jack in the Box on Western Avenue at Park Western Drive has its drive through open 24 hours a day but I don't know of any other fast food restaurant or convienence store that is open 24 hours a day in R.P.V.

Please visit Denny's often and spend lots and lots of money. Our city's coffers only gets about 9 cents for every sales tax dollar collected, but that helps, too.

Please don't sign the Marymount Plan petition.

FINALLY! More News About Ponte Vista and Rumor Control

2010-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Below is an article written my Ms Donna Littlejohn, a reporter for The Daily Breeze.

Ponte Vista back to square one; returns to investor

By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer

Posted: 04/05/2010 05:43:30 PM PDT

The slow economy has led to San Pedro's long planned Ponte Vista project being turned over to primary investor iStar. The company will now have to revise plans for the project. (Robert Casillas/Staff Photographer)

For good or ill, few projects get done quickly in San Pedro.

And Ponte Vista - the large-scale housing development planned on 62.5 acres of surplus Navy property - surely is no exception.

Mired in controversy since it was first proposed in 2005, Ponte Vista now has been hit hard by the plunging economy. It has already been through a few incarnations and now is about to present yet another.

Last week, it was announced that the project has been turned back over to its chief investor, iStar Financial Inc., which will again re-evaluate building and density plans for the site on Western Avenue.

"Unfortunately, Ponte Vista has been subjected to the current economic ills affecting the country and because of that, there's been an orderly transferring of the property back to the (primary) lender," said Elise Swanson, who is serving as a consultant to the newest team taking over the development.

Gone is DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse that took over the project after Bisno Development was bumped in December 2008.

Taking over is SFI Bridgeview, LLC, a subsidiary of iStar Financial Inc.

"iStar has just begun an assessment of the status of the project and they're reviewing all the community input from the past," Swanson said, adding the company is putting together yet another new project team for Ponte Vista. "They've just taken title to the property They want to take some time before they come back to the community to make sure there's a thoughtful approach."

The primary disagreement remains over density and traffic impacts. As first laid out in 2005, the project called for 2,300 homes to be built. That was later reduced to 1,950, a number turned down by the Los Angeles Planning Commission.

Before talks were suspended, housing numbers had been bumped down to between 500 and 1,395.

"It's just got to be recognized that we're transportation corridor poor being on a peninsula," said Jerry Gaines of San Pedro who served on the community's Ponte Vista task force.

"The community's been very clear that they want somebody who will address the traffic needs," said John Greenwood of San Pedro, who was chairman of the committee. "I don't think anybody has done that yet."

Vacant Navy homes still sit on the property across from Green Hills Memorial Park. A herd of about 80 sheep and goats graze the property to keep the weeds down and Ponte Vista still maintains an open office in a trailer on the site.

"I would like to see something built, those places are getting worse and worse," Greenwood said. "I'd like to see the right kind of development there."

While the debate over density and traffic has yet to be resolved, Gaines agreed that the property shouldn't continue to sit vacant.

"I'm sure that at some point people realize they don't want a continuous eyesore there," Gaines said. "The community does need housing This is a working asset and it would be ridiculous to watch the sheep out there graze for the next 15 or 20 years."

Swanson said it is anticipated that the new team will be ready to go public with some of their ideas in two to four months.

"They are committed to working with this community to determine what development at Ponte Vista is a `fit,"' she said. "They're very interested in doing a high quality project."

"I keep hoping someone will get it right," Greenwood said of the plans. "We're still waiting."

Gaines noted that the economic climate is vastly different from that in 2005 when developer Bob Bisno purchased the land for $125 million.

The city union members targeted to purchase the future homes have also since fallen on hard times of their own.

Developers have to look at "what's affordable and what's achievable in today's market," Gaines said. "Most of the existing (new housing) stock is leasing rather than selling. But at some point that property needs to be utilized."

donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com

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The takeover by iStar Financial Inc. has been known by a few individuals for a few months now. I have refused to publish what I knew about it because I considered it a rumor and I am not comfortable publishing rumors.

I wish the information contained in Ms. Littlejohn's article contained the answers to more rumors that I have known about and perhaps within the timeframe stated by Ms. Swanson, we will learn whether the other rumor(s) I have heard are true.

I do know that there has not been much for staff members of The Los Angeles Department of City Planning do to for many months concerning Ponte Vista and I hope we all learn whether the entire Environmental Impact Report will require recirculation.

The news about Ponte Vista also comes at a time when signatures are being gathered for a proposed initiative dealing with Marymount College and that institution's administrations' attempt to build on-campus housing on Marymount's main campus in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Even though supporters of The Marymount Plan want on-campus housing, they have no intention of closing the off-campus housing site the college owns along Palos Verdes Drive North, not far from the Ponte Vista site.

The Volunteers of America as also moving forward with their plans to open up the dwelling units they own adjacent to both the Marymount off-campu housing site named Palos Verdes North and Rolling Hills Prep School.

News Release from Your Ponte Vista

2010-04-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

This news release was published on April 2, 1010 on Ponte Vista at San Pedro's site;

www.yourpontevista.com.

SFI BRIDGEVIEW, LLC ANNOUNCES OWNERSHIP OF PONTE VISTA

Apr 2nd, 2010 by Ponte Vista

April 2, 2010 (San Pedro, CA). SFI Bridgeview, LLC, a subsidiary of iStar Financial Inc., a leading publicly traded finance company focused on the real estate industry, announced today that it has taken ownership of Ponte Vista, a 62-acre residential property located on Western Avenue in the community of San Pedro, in a negotiated transfer of the property.

iStar Financial was the primary lender for the Ponte Vista project since 2005, and will lead the development as it moves through the entitlement process in the City of Los Angeles.

“We look forward to working with Harbor Area residents to build a high-quality, sustainable community that we can all be proud of and enjoy,” said Michael Dorsch, Executive Vice-President at iStar Financial. “We plan to work with the community, Councilwoman Hahn, and the Planning Commission to move the development forward as expeditiously as possible.”

With an asset base in excess of $15 billion, iStar is one of the country’s largest publicly traded commercial real estate finance companies, managing nearly 40 million square feet of high-quality real estate located across the country. iStar, headquartered in New York City with offices in Santa Monica and Irvine, has extensive experience in the Southern California real estate market. Currently, approximately $1.3 billion of the Company’s total assets are located in the Southern California region.

“iStar has closely followed the Ponte Vista development process and understands the concerns that have been raised by area residents over the past several years,” stated Dorsch. “We ask the community for patience while we work to develop a revised plan that reflects the valuable community input that has been voiced in the various hearings and open houses held on the project.”

For more information, please contact the Ponte Vista Community Outreach Office at (310) 241- 0699.

______________________________________________________

Sorry gang. I missed checking Your Ponte Vista like I normally do last Friday morning and with Denny's opening and other things, I slipped up.

Saladish is OPEN!

2010-04-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

Click over image to enlarge.
Click over image to enlarge.
Saladish, one of the eateries I have been writing about has actually been open for "a few weeks" according to Ms. Jee Lee, one of the owners.

Ms. Lee said that currently, the restaurant is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week and their Grand Opening is set for April 10, 2010.

Terri and I dined at a counter that looks like half a log. It is suspended from the ceiling and I think a group of mates could have some real fun chasing their salads and wraps as they make the counter swing from side to side.

Terri had the Thai Chicken Wrap and I had the Oriental Chicken Salad. Both of us agreed that they were huge portions.

Terri like less spicy Thai Chicken salads or wraps than the one found at Saladish.

I enjoyed my salad that included peanuts, carrots and didn't have too much dressing on it.

I bought one piece of Garlic Bread to try it out. Terri usually finds the Garlic Bread at Niccolo's to be her favorite. Tonight she shared mine and she told me she prefers the Garlic Bread from Saladish now more that the great bread at Niccolo's.

The most expensive single salad at Saladish is called "The Farm" and it is $8.75. If it is anything like the size of the salad I enjoyed, it is probably just as large.

Individual vegetarian and proteins can be added but there is not a whole lot of meat available other than a few pork-based items and, of course, chicken. The Turkey, Bacon, Avocado salad or wrap contains turkey and that wasn't hard to guess.

My first impressions of Saladish is that is offers tasty food that I can afford. The interior seating could be enlarged to include more tables and I don't know how long the swaying log is going to last. It is a fun thing to play on, but it may not be the most popular thing to eat on.

The staff is friendly and the meals are prepared in a clean environment and mixed individually for each customer.

There is no letter grade posted on the door yet. When the space was occupied by Nona's Kitchen, the highest letter that restaurant could get was a "B" because of venting issues that Mrs. Palazzolo had with her ovens not venting directly up and out of her kitchen. I don't know if that will still be an issue.

So between all five eateries I have been writing about for several months, Saladish was the first to open its doors and I hope their doors remain open for a long time to come.

Saladish is located at 28901 S. Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Their phone number is 310-521-0030.

Their fax number for ordering is 310-521-0324.

Saladish is located on the lowest level of The Terraces shopping center.

Odds and Ends 162

2010-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

DENNY'S IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN SOMETIME DURING THE DAY, THIS COMING SUNDAY, EASTER SUNDAY!

I talked to a group of managers and wait staff who were attending more training Thursday evening and the top manager told me that he is most likely opening the restaurant sometime during the day this Sunday.

The gentleman had wanted to open the restaurant at a certain time Sunday morning, but he is unable to at this point.

The staff and managers were quite taken with my account about how anticipated this opening has become and how popular the Denny's at the old Western Avenue location was.

Naturally I am hoping that business is booming at the new Denny's and that our city's coffers enjoy increased revenue because the new Denny's is located in Rancho Palos Verdes instead of San Pedro where the old Denny's was located.

___________________________________________

I Do not have any new information about Asaka Grill, Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza, Saladish, or Amalfitano's Bakery.

It appears sadly, that Amalfitano's Bakery is lagging in its construction, growing farther behind the other new eateries.

__________________________________________

During this past week I have talked to another person familiar with Ponte Vista at San Pedro and its development team. This person also stated that they new of no new developments or when anything might be forthcoming concerning the project.

__________________________________________

Early on April 1, the members of the City Council ended their deliberations and voting on motions related to the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Plan.

The Council basically ratified most of the Plan certified by the Planning Commission and supported by City Staff.

One of the twelve points that Council had to deal with was the portion of the Appeal filed by Concerned Citizens Coalilition/Marymount Expansion (CCC/ME) concerning having the college's Athletic Department and soccer field placed at the college's off-campus housing site along Palos Verdes Drive North, called 'Palos Verdes North'.

The Council was again informed by the City Attorney that since Palos Verdes North is located in an area of the San Pedro community and within the city of Los Angeles, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has no jurisdiction to mandate anything related to The Plan on property outside the limits of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Council simply voted to reject that portion of the Appeal filed by CCC/ME.

___________________________________________

Residents of the "Eastview" area of eastern Rancho Palos Verdes were informed of proposed zoning changes in those areas, but the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

As far as I can tell right now, these changes are more technical in nature but they do change the minimum lot size zoning in these portions of Eastview.

Mr. Kit Fox, a planner with the city of Rancho Palos Verdes is scheduled to speak during the Rolling Hills Riviera HOA meeting on April 13.

I will have more information and knowledge that I can simply understand after that meeting.

___________________________________________

If you are approached by a petition gatherer who wants you to sign a petition that would qualify a measure being placed on this November's ballot in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, please do not sign it.

However, if you are a registered voter of a city other than Rancho Palos Verdes, go ahead and sign it because your signature should be rejected because you are not a resident of Rancho Palos Verdes.

I have documented several deceptive practices being stated by supporters of the proposed initiative and statements that are factually misleading in literature and during a television advertisement.

You can read more at www.eastrpv.blogspot.com if you care to.

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Odds and Ends 161.5

2010-04-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

A news conference has been scheduled for noon today where the new plan for Ponte Vista at San Pedro will be revealed.

BISNO is BACK!

That's right and you read it here first.

Bob Bisno is coming back with a new proposal that has apparently found support from L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who is running for Governor of the State of California.

And to top everything off, Bob secretely worked with LAUSD so that during the press conference everyone will learn that not only will there be condos at Ponte Vista, there will also be a new high school to relieve over crowding occurring at Narbonne High School.

Here are the details of Bob's new plans:

There will be 1,100 condo units placed around the Ponte Vista site on its north, west, and east sides.

Where the flat area of Ponte Vista is now and where we usually see the goats chomping on the weeds near the shopping center will be a 7,50-seat high school built to relieve over crowding at Narbonne High School.

The design of the buildings on the new school annex will be very similar to the condos and there will be color and style matching between the school buildings and the condos.

During the press conference, Bob will also introduce the people who will own and operate the commercial businesses that will be located in a park-like area adjacent to the school and the condos.

I have learned that there will be a convienence store, dry cleaners, coffee and donut stand, and possibly a gas station included at Ponte Vista.

Ms. Hahn will speak about how Bob's new plans will benefit everyone in the area and she will also demand that the Navy provide space for a new access to Gaffey Street for both Ponte Vista and Mary Star High School.

As more information becomes available, I will create new posts.

____________________________________________

This post has just one more item.

April Fools!

Have a wonderful and fun day!

___________________________________________

Odds and Ends 161

2010-03-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

The Terrace Cinemas continues the processes of its remodel.

The new seats have high backs and recline. The really big difference is there is much more space between the rows of seats.

I am now suspecting that ticket prices will rise once the remodel is finished as there are now fewer seats per theatre yet first run movies including 3D pictures are being shown with all digital projection.

____________________________________________

The general thing I continue to hear from sources is the loud sound of silence concerning activities surrounding Ponte Vista at San Pedro. The exception is the sounds made by the goats being used as organic weed and grass control.

____________________________________________

The progress towards the opening of Denny's is quite something to watch.

The parking lots got their stripes. There is lighting in the restaurant. The blinds are placed.

Asaka Grill also continues with progress towards opening.

At Saladish, we saw the place well lit and with clear windows allowing us to view what appears to be a buffet style setup.

Sadly, progress at Amalfitano's Bakery doesn't appear to be progressing as Terri and I had hoped. There are some better views of the interior of the bakery from outside.

___________________________________________

If you are a registered voter residing in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, you probably received a brochure about the Marymount Expansion Plan and the petition signature drive now underway.

For those of you who haven't read my, www.eastrpv.blogspot.com blog that has information about the plan, here is a sentence written on the second page of the four-color brochure that was paid for by Marymount College:

"We appreciate the deep support the people of Rancho Palos Verdes."

I guess even college types sometime have troubles proofing something they are spending many dollars on.

Please do not sign the petition.

__________________________________________

We should be closer to the L. A. County Sanitation Districts providing a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the new Joint Outfall System that will have a major impact on the area where the large hole that system will need provided for the tunneling machine and dirt removal.

Of the 16 sites originally considered to be included in the D.E.I.R. for study, the humans who have offered an opinion about where the Outfall System construction site should be, 99% of them have stated they want it on Terminal Island.

Since the only area within the boundaries of San Pedro/Los Angeles that utilize the current outfall systems is the South Shores area, it would be a great imposition for the Sanitation Districts to chose anywhere other than Terminal Island for the site with regards to the San Pedro community.

_________________________________________

Odds and Ends 160

2010-03-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

With Marymount College's latest news, which I would consider more of a fiasco, there has been something very interesting with some conversations regarding the Ponte Vista site.

For about a week now, everyone I have talked to and many that have been writing back and forth suggest that Marymount and Ponte Vista's developers and administrators consider a land swap.

The thing that makes this interesting to me is that everyone seems to like that idea, not that it would ever happen.

Marymount College uses 25 acres of ocean-overlook land in a residential area of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ponte Vista at San Pedro sits on 61.53 acres of land in San Pedro, but only about 49 acres of that property could be developed.

Another thing that is interesting to me is that everyone who is considering the concept of a land swap may be a good thing also have no problem with on-campus housing as Marymount College on the current site of Ponte Vista.

I have absolutely no problem with on-campus housing for Marymount College if it was located at the current Ponte Vista site.

So far I haven't heard or read anyone opposed to a land swap.

Again, there is probably not a snowball's chance in Satan's habitat that is would ever happen.

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The Denny's main sign sits on its roof.

Asaka Grill looks to be closer to opening all the time.

Saladish has its windows unblocked and it looks like a salad buffet eatery. I haven't seen an 'OPEN' sign on it, but it sure looks close to offering meals.

I haven't been by Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza establishment lately, so I can't report any news about it.

Amalfitano's Bakery is, sadly, another matter. It appears that work has stopped and I knew there were some problems with a certain public utility.

Maybe if we all wish together that all the problems can be solved quickly, perhaps we will all get to enjoy Amalfitano's in the nearer future.

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If you are reading this blog post and you are registered to vote in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, please DO NOT sign the petition that may now be circulating dealing with the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Traffic will grow worse on Western as documented in the plan's Environmental Impact Report, no matter what the potential measure's supporters claim.

Taxpayers of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes would have to pay at least more of a portion with the November General Election if the potential initiative qualifies for the ballot.

Marymount College pays no taxes that end up with the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

When supporters claim that "a minority of vocal neighbors" living close to the campus have caused may delays in the project, that is simply untrue.

In the 120 months since the project was initiated in 2000, actions and activities by Marymount's administration have cause as many as 83 months of delays, including the current seven month delay while the College sought to become a four-year institution.

Those "vocal neighbors" to the College have caused a portion of the delay. They are on the hook for delaying the project by ONE MONTH!

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The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is the ONLY city on the peninsula, including San Pedro that has a College that offers on-campus housing for students.

The Salvation Army's Officers' Training College at Crestmount has housing for single students and housing on its campus for families who have one or more adults attending classes at that College.

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Odds and Ends 159

2010-03-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

This little bit of reporting appeared in The Daily Breeze.

Commercial burglary. Ponte Vista, 11:45 a.m. March 4, 27500 block of John Montgomery Drive. Someone forced entry into the location and took unspecified property.

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My attention this past week, has been stolen by the newest news concerning Marymount College's expansion plans.

A proposed ballot measure that could be voted on by registered voters in Rancho Palos Verdes "the city will be spending a lot of taxpayer money dealing with this matter" according to a top elected official in Rancho Palos Verdes Government.

Oh goody.

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I got a short and small chuckle driving past the new Denny's and Asaka Grill. Both of them now have some stone facing work on their respective buildings. Coincidence, I think not.

______________________________________________________________

I offered a slightly errant number of weekday trips that a fully completed Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project would have along Western Avenue between Trudie/Capitol and Palos Verdes Drive North.

I stated 1,563 weekday trips, with 40% of those trips passing along Western in that area.

The correct number begins at 1,561.

But then again I failed to mention the 40% of the 1,478 daily vehicle trips, on Saturdays, the completed Project is expected to generate.

_____________________________________________________________

I wish someone from the Ponte Vista organization would offer me and others some new information about what is the current status of the project, at this time.

I think I have protected sources pretty well, when they wish to not be identified and I have tried my best to be accurate when a source wishes to be identified.

Is no news good news? As long as folks don't care what the news is, it is probably acceptable.

New News That Has Some Old News In It

2010-03-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

I receive daily Google Alerts associated with the key words "Ponte Vista".
Here is a short exerpt from an article written by David Zahniser and Maeve Reston.

Automatic 'yes' votes allow time for back-room dealing at City Hall

Thanks to voting software, City Council members can hold meetings, give interviews, even grab a smoke while deciding the day's issues.

By David Zahniser and Maeve Reston
March 8, 2010 | 5:37 p.m.

Here is the portion of the article that caught my eye.

"* On Nov. 24, the official record showed Councilwoman Janice Hahn casting a vote in favor of a new Villaraigosa appointee to deal with issues facing the city's disabled residents. In fact, she was in a private room at the time with lobbyist Ben Reznik discussing Ponte Vista, a proposed housing development in San Pedro."

Here is the URL for the law firm Mr. Reznik is a partner in.

http://www.jmbm.com/Lawyers/BenjaminReznik

There are a few titles I looked at on the homepage of the site that also caught my eye, but I haven't taken the time to read learn more about them.

There is also an old rumor floating aroung (at least two months now) that I haven't been able to confirm so I am not going to give it any interest other than trying to check it out. If it is confirmed or rebuked by a responsible person, I will write about it on this blog.

Odds and Ends 158

2010-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

With news about Marymount, I feel that it is not good news with respect to finding the best solutions for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I think the Marymount issues impede work that should eventually result in a reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful Ponte Vista project.

OUR community has worked hard with support or opposition for Ponte Vista and Marymount just seems to gum up the works at finding solutions.

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http://palosverdes.com/rpv/planning/border_issues/2010/20100302_BorderIssues_StatusRpt.cfm

This site contains the recent report concerning the Volunteers of America's housing site accessed via Palos Verdes Drive North.

VOA owns 76 housing units they are working on to open for homeless veterans and their families.

For the record, I support finding temporary homes for the temporary homeless veterans and others at the site. I am an honorably discharged veteran having served with pride in the U.S. Air Force.

It may require a new access point along Gaffey Street, not far from Five Points.

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The lights continue to burn at Denny's, Amalfitano's Bakery, Asaka Grill, Saladish, and Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza during all of the construction that is going on.

Denny's is hiring and that is a good thing, isn't it?

I still think it is revolting that a certain public utility doesn't have the capacitance to find solutions at Amalfitano's Bakery. They are offering resistance during construction, as I have been informed.

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Here is another list of ticket prices at Terrace Cinemas which took over the space once held by Regal Cinemas at The Terraces:

All shows prior to Noon are $5.00

All shows between Noon and 6:00 PM are $6.00

All shows after 6:00 PM are $9.00

EXCEPT for the following.

There are senior discounts available.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, no matter what time or which show, the ticket price is $4.00!

Concession stand pricing is more along the lines of other theatres and the lobby area is undergoing remodeling.

The staff at the theatre are all nice, but sometimes one has to leave a theatre and ask that a movie start closer to the time listed.

I wish good luck and good fortune to the folks at the theatre and good movie watching to all. I must however state that even $4.00 was far too much money to spend watching "Shutter Island", but that is just my opinion.

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Additional comments prior to publication.

With the news about Marymount, I have been working the Email train well into the evening.

I am reading some frustration between a few residents of R.P.V. and San Pedro.

This is not good news and should stop immediately.

The addage that some peninsula residents want to dump their troubles in San Pedro is not without some merit, but it must stop now because it only does good for Marymount's Administration and supporters.

The concept that San Pedro's three Neighborhood Councils should support on-campus housing at Marymount is also quite a problem because many folks in those organizations haven't received the information that on-campus housing actually increases traffic congestion and vehicle trips in San Pedro.

If Marymount continues to push for on-campus housing, the added traffic may very well spell great differences in what supporters of Ponte Vista may want to see built on that site.

Once upon a time, Marymount College offered a four-year program and it failed.

Marymount came back as a two-year institution that is now probably facing failure because of the on-campus housing issue whether it becomes a four-year institution again.

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Marymount Is Attempting To Crowd OUR Community

2010-03-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

With articles in two different newspapers this morning we learned;

Marymount College has received approval to become a four-year institution and,

Marymount College's administration and supporters want Rancho Palos Voters to vote to approve on-campus housing at the site.

These should be issues of great concern to members of OUR community.

OUR community consists of eastern Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Lomita, and parts of Harbor City and Wilmington.

A Marymount Expansion Project will impact traffic along Western Avenue and other streets in OUR community.

I have written a lengthy post which also contains the two articles on one of my other blogs:

http://eastrpv.blogspot.com/

We still don't have recent or decent information about what is happening with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Also we are learning that the Volunteers of America are moving forward with their plans to open up the 76 housing units it owns accessed by Palos Verdes Drive North.

I think it is reasonable and realistic to hope for a supportable project at Ponte Vista, opening up housing for homeless families by the Volunteers of America, expansion of the student bodies at Rolling Hills Prep and Mary Star of the Sea High School, and increasing the number of businesses along Western Avenue.

A College with on-campus housing in which traffic will be added to Western Avenue and commutes by students working somewhere along Western Avenue is asking too much of OUR community member.

I prefer to consider what Marymount's administration and supporters are doing are 'stunts' to keep the college open to accept more out of state and out of country students...and accept their parents' money, all at OUR expense.

Odds and Ends 157

2010-02-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

The newest report I have been able to gather from a source associated with the city of Los Angeles indicates that they have heard nothing concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro for some time.

This is somewhat interesting in that, the last time I spoke to Ms. Elise Swanson, the Vice President of the current development organization and leader of the Outreach Team, I felt she indicated that something might come out to the public this "February".

So basically the newest report is quite similar to everything I have learned about the project since last May.

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By now if you drive along Western Avenue close to the intersection of Trudie Drive, you should have seen the new signage announcing that hiring has begun for the new Denny's.

That particular restaurant addition seems to be moving along smoothly.

Unfortunately, I have heard some rumblings that the construction of Amalfitano's Bakery is hitting some snags even though construction is continuing and the lights are shining at both establishments.

There may be some conflict between Edison and the Amalfitanos. I hope everything gets settled soon and we can all enjoy once again some real treats that we had to say farewell to when Ramona's Bakery closed its doors.

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I have written once again on: www.eastrpv.blogspot.com about a traffic signal system being installed at the intersection of Miraleste Drive and Palos Verdes Drive East.

More specifically, I wrote a piece that asks folks living near that intersection or using it frequently whether they actually want to have traffic signals there.

It is my belief, after talking to many folks and learning about traffic and some possibilities associated with the Marymount College expansion, that most of us who frequently use that intersection do not want or feel any need for traffic signals.

This issue is somewhat associated with Ponte Vista in that, according to the E.I.R. for the Marymount College expansion, 40% of the new traffic generated by the expansion project will travel to and from the intersection of Western Avenue at Trudie and Western Avenue at Palos Verdes Drive North, directly past the Ponte Vista site.

This issue came up again because of a new appendix to the E.I.R. for Marymount's expansion that dealt with having the college win accreditation to become a four-year institution and the construction of a large field on the Palos Verdes Drive East campus.

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Did you all just love traveling in the southbound lanes of Western Avenue these past several days.

The right lane has been closed during the day at 1st. Street to allow for repairs to the hillside that partially came down.

There are also periodic closures of a lane due to utility work.

Will the fencing at Avenida Aprenda ever come down?

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Last Tuesday, a fire partially consumed a home in the 1900 block of Trudie Drive. That was the reason for all those emergency vehicles in the area in the later part of the afternoon.

Odds and Ends 156

2010-02-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Another Week has gone by with nothing new to report concerning anything coming from the Outreach Team.

We are not through with February yet so there could be information coming out in the next 10 days......or not.

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The new Terrace Cinema located where our Regal Six used to be has some really great prices for admission.

Movies are just $5.00 to attend before Noon each day.

From Noon to 6:00 PM, the prices rises to just $6.00.

The General Admission price tops out at $9.00 UNLESS you wish to attend a screening any time on Tuesdays or Thursdays. For those two days, admission all day is just $4.00. That's right, just FOUR Dollars!

Of course the concession stand is where the real money is made with popcorn and drinks costing much like other theatres charge.

There is a discount card available and the theatre is showing all first-run movies.

I am hoping this new ownership, part of the Starlight Pictures chain will keep movies in the community for a long time to come.

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Driving past the new Denny's will allow you to watch stones being placed on the exterior walls, work being done inside, and construction continuing.

The work is also progressing at Asaka Grill right next door and at Amalfitano's Bakery in the Western Plaza center.

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As you travel along Western Avenue you may also notice more than a few stopped AT&T trucks and vans.

Uverse is finally coming to the area and it requires many transitions of equipment and wiring.

The new system will allow you to have phone, very high speed Internet, and digital television over you phone wires.

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A Video About Ponte Vista

2010-02-14T22:03:00.000-08:00

I get information from Google when something resembling the words "Ponte Vista" come up.

With today's update, I came across the following:

IndyConnect - Central Indiana's Transportation Initiative on Vimeo
Bisno - Ponte Vista. by Arnold Imaging. 3 months ago. 13. Avila - Best Thing I Ever Did. by Arnold Imaging. 3 months ago. 12. Ball Park Village ...

This was a bit intriguing for me because of the upload date of November 23, 2009.

The production, probably by Arnold Imaging was a basic rehash of what was proposed during "The Bob Years" and really doesn't bare any similarity to what might be forthcoming soon.

http://vimeo.com/7775607 is the URL for the 3:05 minute animated production.

http://vimeo.com/join

What was also interesting to me when I went to the join page was that vimeo.com is for non-commercial uses. I can't believe Ponte Vista is non-commercial.

Whatever is going on is more than what has happened recently and I found it interesting enough to post this information.

Odds and Ends 155

2010-02-12T00:02:00.001-08:00

Web site updates begin this edition.

www.yourpontevista.com is back up on its server but the most recent post on it is dated September 11, 2009.

www.pontevista.com, the developments main site remains "under construction" as the Outreach Team continues to work on the new plans for the project.

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I don't have anything really new to report or comment on concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro and the Outreach Team's efforts to bring to all of us their newest plans for the 61.53 acre site in northwest San Pedro.

It is fast approaching the middle of February which is a month mentioned as being a month when the newest plans may be publicized.

February could also be the month when the new Environmental Impact Report could see the light of day or perhaps that is still to be offered somewhere down the road.

Is no news good news? I think that depends on how you feel about Ponte Vista.

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Work continues on all the new eating establishments coming to the area.

There is quite a lot of work creating the new Denny's restaurant and it appears that work at the building is occurring inside and out.

Movement towards opening both Asaka Grill and Amalfitano's Bakery has been seen by the changing interiors of both sites.

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The Western Plaza shopping area is also going to have a massage business opening up in a space once occupied by a laundromat.

Many years ago when our family's washing machine needed replacement, we would go down to what we called the "washy toshy". I think I put myself in one of the dryers just to see if I could fit. I remember them being big and pink and I could pretend.

Then after a few days of having to go somewhere to have our clothes washed, my dad would go to William's T.V. and Appliances and pick up a new washer. Mr. Otis Williams owned the store and he lived up the hill from us.

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Yes, another production from The Relevant Stage Theatre Company comes your way and it has nothing to do with Ponte Vista.

I Love You. You're Perfect. Now Change opens on February 12 and runs weekends through February 27 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

It's a great show with a fabulous cast.

While you are waiting for something to happen with Ponte Vista, I encourage you to take in a great show.

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Another Ponte Vista

2010-02-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of Ponte Vista in Ocean City Maryland.

There is a one-bedroom, one-bath unit for sale for just $259,900.

If any of you wish for more information about this bay side development, I have some available.

Odds and Ends 154

2010-02-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

We have entered the month when I was told that something MAY be coming forth concerning the newest plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I am hoping that any reductions in the total number of units from the 1,395-unit count we last heard and read about last year, will make the project the best possible for our entire community.

I don't think we need a long fight, but I think we all understand that there are still more than a few members of OUR community that will continue to remain steadfast in the demand that the current zoning of the site remain.

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The Regal Cinemas six screen theatre at The Terraces has closed and the site is now Terrace Cinemas, part of the Starlight group of theatres.

You can find information about showings at the multiplex by visiting www.terracecinemas.com or by calling 310-831-1100.

The new management and ownership continue to carry first run movies and they offer bargain matinees daily.

We still have The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro and its upcoming "Warners On Wednesdays" series of more recent films. The second season of that series will begin in May and offer fifteen films. Information about that series, with dates, times and movies can be found by visiting www.therelevantstage.com.

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Another week has passed when we were able to witness more work being done on the new Denny's and Amalfitano's Bakery.

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What may be subtle for most is quite a dramatic change for those of us who are extremely familiar with businesses along Western Avenue in S.P. and R.P.V.

Hillside Cleaners was in its original location for several generations and was at its former location for as long as I can remember, right next to the barber shop.

Hillside Cleaners moved a few doors north and is now directly next to Hillside Liquors.

It appears that the Plant on Premises of the old location is gone and the new location sends out the items to be cleaned elsewhere.

Some years ago we decided that the prices at Hillside Cleaners were far to high for us to use, even though it is so darn close to our home. We now enjoy the cleaners on Western at P.V. Drive North near the Fresh and Easy Market.

Growing up, of course our family used Hillside Cleaners and there were some familiar faces we knew back in the '60s and into the '70s.

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Odds and Ends 153

2010-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

I ran across a video of some fellas inside on of the abandoned units at Ponte Vista at San Pedro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVLR2HDyVIs.

The taping was done at night. It is very difficult to maintain security in such a large area at night. The tape was uploaded onto YouTube on October 16, 2009.

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The Southbay Association of Chambers of Commerce is holding its installation luncheon on February 17, 2010.

Ponte Vista is listed as one of the sponsors of the events. It seems that the Outreach Team and developers are ratcheting up the processes and programs that should lead to an unveiling of their newest plans for the development and possibly the publication of the new Environmental Impact Report for community review.

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Work is continuing on all five new eateries with Amalfitano's Bakery, Denny's, and Pavich's seemingly having more work done on them as opposed to Asaka Grill and Saladish.

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The newest appendix for the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is currently offered for review.

The new appendix details changes in the expansion of the athletic facilities at Palos Verdes Drive East campus and has consideration concerning the College's application to become a four-year institution.

What is very important to learn about with this project is that if the college is granted the ability to offer four-year programs, then traffic congestion along Western Avenue will be increased in the future and this particular increase was not anticipated with the project before the college's administration applied to have the school become a four-year college.

This should be studied along with all traffic issues associated with Ponte Vista and Western Avenue no matter what side of any discussions as to the number of units that could be successful at Ponte Vista you have.

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The cleanup of the old site along Gaffey Street continues. It is still expected that up to 134-patio units might still be built on the site.

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Odds and Ends 152

2010-01-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

The traffic counters were still around on Thursday. I don't know how many records will be used and for purpose this particular set of counts are being taken. It might be good to compare these most recent counts with counts taken over the period of time beginning in 2005. That year found the publication of the Western Avenue Task Force Study which predicted that traffic rates would be expected to grow at the rate of 1.0-1.1 percent per year until 2030.

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Work continues on all five of the new restaurants and take out businesses along Western. There seems to be extensive work going on at the building designated to be the new Denny's.

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I hope everyone keeps sharp eyes while driving or riding on Western Avenue in the coming days and weeks.

The recent rains have been very heavy and as so many of us remember, three storm drain conduits failed along Western Avenue.

Please watch for new and unexpected dips in the asphalt along with possible cracks appearing on the roadbed and sidewalks.

There were initially seven drainpipes placed under Western Avenue. Three have failed and that means four drainage conduits or pipes may collapse in the future.

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The Torrance Planning Commission rejected a development of about 460 apartments and assisted living units that were planned for a parcel on Hawthorne Blvd.

The density of that project would be far greater than any density proposed for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

It was interesting to note comments from folks and that they continue to be concerned about traffic congestion even along Hawthorne, which is at least three lanes along the stretch the project would have been built.

The area where the project was planned was very near the intersection of Torrance Blvd. and a row of restaurants was just to the west of the site.

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Councilman Anthony Misetich Did a Good Thing.

2010-01-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

I applaud and thank Councilman Anthony Misetich for withdrawing his name from the Ponte Vista Development Liaison, as the backup for Mayor Wolowicz.

Below is a portion of the minutes of the January 5, 2010 Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Meeting:

Councilman Misetich withdrew his name from the Ponte Vista Development Liaison assignment and stated that he would like to serve on a committee to address the Tarapaca Roadway Stabilization Project.

Councilman Stern withdrew his name from the West Basin Water Association assignment due to his inability to attend the meetings.

Mayor Wolowicz appointed Councilman Campbell and Councilman Misetich to the SBCCOG Transportation Committee.

I think Mayor Wolowicz also did a good job in naming Councilman Misetich to the SBCCOG Transportation Committee because he knows about traffic and transportation issues on the most traveled streets in our city, and especially Western Avenue.

I think Councilman Misetich is a good choice to work with the Tarapaca Roadway Stabilization Project because it is so connected with government in San Pedro which Mr. Misetich is keenly aware of and can work almost flawlessly with.

In February, we may all learn what the newest proposals are for the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Development. At that time I hope all council members and others in our community learn as much as they can and help assist the development staff and the residents of OUR community to find the best solution and bring the best possible housing types and numbers to northwest San Pedro.

As I have opined before, Councilman Misetich brings to our city a good deal of business relationships between our city and San Pedro and other local cities. I feel his knowledge and abilities to work with business relationships is a gift not seen on the council the way it will be now.

Odds and Ends 151

2010-01-15T02:25:00.000-08:00

Since the is still the beginning of the new year, I thought it would be a good time for a review.

At this time, no zone changes have been approved to allow for new construction of any buildings outside of the current zoning of Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

The developers have every right to build residential structures according to the current zoning, which allows for single-family housing on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet in size.

However, it is very unlikely that the entire site would have those types of homes built on it.

No approval for any condominiums, 'patio homes', apartment buildings, or even retail space has been granted on the site.

I do expect that by the end of 2010, the zoning on at least part of the property will be changed to allow for new construction of multi-family dwellings. This will probably occur whether we like it or not.

However, depending on what the developer and Outreach Team formally apply to build, there could be litigation that could cause actual construction to be delayed or halted.

Robert H. Bisno is still out of the picture as far as I know and the new development team appears more reasonable and realistic than what we all suffered through during "The Bob Years".

It is also realistic to consider that newer plans for the project will be forthcoming in February and I hope they are respectful to OUR community and plans we can all truly consider and not fight too much over.

My contention remains that Ponte Vista at San Pedro should not have more than 831-units of housing because that is the number of units that would be equivalent to the housing at The Gardens. The Gardens has better transportation accesses than Ponte Vista's only outlet, Western Avenue.

I do not know if the entire Environmental Impact Report is being redistributed but I know there are sections that required new studies and review. I expect that the review process should match the review time allowed for the previous reports.

The Los Angeles City Council could eventually adopt ordinances which change the current zoning of the site and if the Mayor signs those ordinances into law, those are the instruments that would allow for new construction on the site, containing new zoning.

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Now here is something I think we all should look for in the near future.

What might Ms. Hahn's position now be on new construction at Ponte Vista?

She is running as a Democrat for the statewide office of Lt. Governor and that means that she will have to mention her stance on new housing throughout the state.

Development of new housing is very important in this election year. I wonder if Ms. Hahn will call for new housing and housing sites with larger density to be able to offer new homes to the most number of people throughout the state.

How might that fly when considering Ponte Vista? I doubt that she can't say that she approves of greater housing opportunities for the masses yet call for keeping Ponte Vista at the lowest density possible, especially when it is in her district, or 'back yard' for that matter.

This will be interesting to watch and keep notes on. We all should remember what Ms. Hahn stated about what should be built at Ponte Vista in the past. Let us see if her words these days match what she said in earlier times.

And to review this particular matter, Ms. Janice Hahn is a politician with years of experience at that 'career'.

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Traffic Counting Along Western Avenue

2010-01-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

On my way to postpone my jury duty this morning, I passed over a bunch of tubes for counting traffic along Western Avenue.

The counters were on both sides of Western and I passed over them from just about Avenida Aprenda all the way north to just about the railroad tracks near Sepulveda.

So I wondered, were counts being taken for the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project?

To find out the answer, I called Ms. Elise Swanson, the Vice President overseeing the Outreach Team. She said she didn't believe the current counts were being conducted for the project. She also said that counts for the new Traffic Study were taken late last year and that she would have been informed if these new counts were for the Ponte Vista project.

In our short but informative conversation, Ms. Swanson also said that more information about the project should be available in February and that the Outreach Team was just making sure they had "all their ducks in a row", according to Ms. Swanson.

I am pleased that things may be moving forward. As everyone should know, something will be built on the former site of Naval personnel housing.

It also means that not just new eateries will be in more development stages in 2010.

Now what I am now wondering if the counts being taken today and other recent days will mirror counts taken late last year for the Ponte Vista Environmental Impact Report. I also am wondering how all the more recent counts compare to the Western Avenue Task Force's studies that estimated that traffic along Western would increase by about one percent per year, beginning in 2005 and continuing on for the next 25 years.

There could some factors that both the Western Avenue Task Force and others could not have known about back in 2005. Since the decline in our economy, what might the more currents counts reflect in the fewer cars that may be traveling along Western because their drivers lost their jobs.

Other factors include the number of students attending the newer Mary Star High School and more students attending Dodson Middle School from out of the more local areas. I don't know if there has been a real increase in the number of students attending Rolling Hills Prep on Palos Verdes Drive North.

So I guess it is getting closer to the time to really consider how many units you feel could be successfully built and occupied at Ponte Vista at San Pedro. You are also most welcome to consider what type of condominiums should be offered for sale or lease.

2009 was a very sleepy year for the 61.53 acre site. The goats continue to graze and first responders continue to train.

2010 may bring more of that and quite a bit more discussion about the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project. I think by the end of the year, we will all know when the old homes will be razed and when new construction will begin.

Not Four But Five. Can They All Survive

2010-01-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

2010 will not be the year building necessarily starts at Ponte Vista at San Pedro but that does not mean there won't be a tiny surge in eatery construction and openings along Western.

Perhaps there is something in the air that indicates more folks are coming to OUR community or that our economy is ready to allow for more outside the home cooking and dining.

Let's review the new places that apparently are coming to our Avenue in the future.

Asaka Grill will be coming to the old site of P'Skettie and it may be a Japanese food drive thru that could succeed. KFC lasted for decades at that site before it moved north.

Pavich's Croatian Brick Oven Pizza is going in where the old pizza place was at Summerland and Western. This restaurant's pizzas are fantastic and are a must for everyone to try.

Amalfitano's Bakery. We are waiting and growing a bit impatient. I know I am not supposed to pick goodies from there but being that it is from the family that owned Ramona's Bakery, how can anyone resist?

There is another salad and sandwich shop on the lowest level of The Terraces under construction. The new sign reads "Saladish". There is Kobe Grill and Subs R Us already in that shopping area.

The posted rumor is that Denny's is coming to the former Planet Kids/Sizzler location. It would mark the second time for a Denny's to try for a go along Western in San Pedro/Rancho Palos Verdes.

Might we be ready for all these new dining choices and can we afford them all?

2009 was a tough year and experts are contending that 2010 won't be better and could be worse.

The new dining options provided needed jobs and that is good. Jobs will be lost when Papadakis Taverna closes at the end of this month in downtown.

What about the traffic generated for five new eateries. The new Denny's location has a terrible parking problem and I don't really want to see diners parking up Trudie and along Highmore.

Luck goes both ways for Terri and I. We are very close to all five new places so we can walk, but the tempting new foods weigh on our weight control thoughts for this new year.

I wonder if any and all of the new restaurants will still be in business when something is finally built at Ponte Vista and folks move in.

For now, I hope we are happy that growth continues and new options open for us. I also hope we don't forget the dining sources we have enjoyed for so long now and help keep them in business, too.

I wish all new establishments and every currently open restaurants much success in the coming year and beyond.

Odds and Ends 150

2010-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

150 and counting. Thank you all for your viewing and your comments!

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Asaka Grill will be opening soon in the former location of P'Skettie. I don't know yet what may go into the space next door to the new restaurant.

Amalfitano's Bakery and Pavich's Croatian BBQ Pizza should be opening this month or next so businesses are continuing to open and close along Western Avenue.

The Deli next to Azteca Restaurant didn't make it into 2010 and that is sad for many of us.

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The server for www.yourpontevista.com seems to not be able to locate that site lately. This was seen before and may mean absolutely nothing. Www.pontevista.com continues to be "Under Construction" and will probably remain that way for some time.

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Is is just me or is the site of the sewage pumping station on Western becoming a permanent construction site? How many more years will we see the 'temporary' fencing around the site?

I looked up the "Clearwater Program" for the Los County Sanitation Districts and the Joint Outfall System that may come from the Carson plant to a new outfall in the Pacific Ocean and there seems to have been nothing updated in quite some time.

Perhaps it is yet another project placed on the back burner due to the economy.

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A Post From an Associated Blog

2010-01-01T23:05:00.000-08:00

I guess I am back to writing.

Here is my latest post on my www.eastrpv.blogspot.com blog:

Misetich is Wrong Choice for Ponte Vista Alternate

Happy New Year.

Councilman Anthony Misetich is currently being considered to be the alternate to Mayor Wolowicz as the Ponte Vista Development Liaison.

Mr. Misetich was an early supporter of Bob Bisno's plans to build 2,300 condominiums on 61.53 acres of land directly accross Western Avenue from homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.

While Mr. Misetich may continue to contend that he supported Bisno's plans so that Senior Housing Units could be built, it means that his support of such a large residential project on our border needs to be considered, even though the plans have changed.

Mr. Misetich is associated with former L.A. Councilman Rudy Svornich. Mr. Svornich was a paid lobbyist for Bisno Development Co. LLC and received payments from one of Bob Bisno's organizations.

I feel there could be an appearance of a conflict of interest having Mr. Misetich have any involvement while serving as a Councilman, with Rancho Palos Verdes and Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Our city council's history concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro was to oppose both the 2,300-condo project and the subsequent 1,950-condo plan offered by Bob Bisno, who is now the former developer of the project.

Currently the new development team for the project has yet to publish new plans for the project worked out with the Los Angeles City Planning Department. It is hoped those new plans may come forth by this Spring.

The latest print work used by the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Outreach Team illustrated a 1,395-unit project but it is not known what the final application will look like.

Mr. Misetich was the only candidate in the past election to have been a supporter of plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro. While he claimed to me he hadn't been to a meeting of the Advisory Board his name was associated with, he didn't seem to feel it necessary to have his name and affiliation removed from the controversial project.

To be fair and open, I am a member of the Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1, the citizen-based group of volunteers who actively opposed, and continues to oppose, a large project consisting of condominiums along Western Avenue in northwest San Pedro.

I also currently believe that up to 831-units could be successfully built at Ponte Vista. This number reflects a dwelling density equivalent to The Gardens, the large condominium housing development almost next to the Ponte Vista site.

I wish Mr. Misetich would simply reflect that while an elected Councilman of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, he should voluntarily refrain from any activity associated with our city and Ponte Vista at San Pedro. During the time Mr. Misetich belonged to the Advisory Board, our Council along with others in our city worked very hard against the very project Mr. Misetich was an Advisory Board member for and a supporter of.

I feel there are many other qualities Mr. Misetich can afford our city with his business knowledge and contacts in San Pedro. I do feel however, that it is in the best interest of our own city that Mr. Misetich not have any governmental dealings with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

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Since the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project was first publicized, the members of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council unanymously opposed whatever Bob Bisno tried to throw at us.

Mr. Misetich was a member of one of Bob's Advisory Boards and supported over 500 Senior Housing Units being built as part of a total of 2,300-condos at the site.

Mr. Misetich received the largest vote totals in the election to City Council and he as assisted by Mr. Rudy Svornich, a former paid lobbyist for one of Bob Bisno's organizations.

I do not want the appearance of any potential of a conflict of interest now that Mr. Misetich seems to represent the residents who, in great numbers, opposed what Mr. Misetich supported.

I hope Mr. Misetich removes himself for consideration as the alternate. If he does not, what might that reveal to all of us.

If Mr. Misetich doesn't step aside, I hope the rest of the council will vote to replace him as the choice of alternate.

Odds and Ends 149

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year with this, the 765Th post on this blog!

I hope everyone got through a very tough year as best they could and are entering the new year better prepared for whatever comes up.

To not remember history means there are chances to repeat it and with Ponte Vista at San Pedro, we all need to remember the history of what was and learn from more recent developments what could be.

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I remember a developer stating as a matter of true fact that the first phase of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project would be under construction in 2009. I remember how he and others on his team told us facts about what would be on the site, when things would happen and how everything would be taken care of. I remember hearing and reading that all traffic issues would be fully mitigated by the time the first buildings were under construction.

People tauted 'facts' as if they were true and that an out of town developer knew what was better for OUR community than OUR community members know.

OUR community came to learn that those 'facts' were not all that true and that we actually do know what is best for OUR community.

In remembering "The Bob Years" and keeping the documents produced during that era, we will now use what we have learned to help bring forth the best possible solution for all of us in OUR community.

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So, how do you feel about Ms. Janice Hahn running for Lt. Governor?

First, I think that post could be deleted in favor of having the Speaker of the California Assembly act in place of a sitting Governor or take their place if something awful happens.

I feel the Lt. Governor position is not only useless but it costs taxpayer dollars our State doesn't have.

But if Janice wants to run for such a useless seat, then I hope she continues to listen to those in her 15Th District and be a full-time Council member, well as much as she has been lately, anyway.

I hope folks watch how she answers questions about development, especially high-density development. I hope her campaign staff knows that there will be many eyes and ears following her words and actions in the coming months.

I was a bit surprised that Ms. Hahn didn't wish to hold on and run for L.A.County Supervisor. Perhaps she eventually wants to be the Governor.

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Throughout 2009, R Neighborhoods Are 1 has remained online and always ready to deal whatever came up. We were a bit like the National Guard. "They also serve, those who stand and wait." The group was OUR community's guard and it remains able to do what is necessary to protect OUR community from over development.

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Great news! Pavich's Pizza is coming to Western Avenue!

This Croatian Pizza Restaurant is adding a site at Western Avenue and Summerland in the spot of the old Pizza Hut.

Along with Amalfitano's Bakery, opening in January, we add to businesses with strong bases in San Pedro and the surrounding communities.

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I want to thank Ted, Tim, Elise, and the rest of the Outreach Team for the assistance they provided to OUR community throughout 2009.

They were all willing to answer questions during a very tough economic time for them and it seems they may still be working on something that will come forward, possibly in the Spring.

Of course I still maintain that Ponte Vista at San Pedro have no more than 831-total units, it will be very interesting to see what numbers come forward sometime in the new year.

It appears that their current number of 1,395-units is higher than what they will probably announce, but I think we can all appreciate that there is no chance for 2,300-units on the 61.53 acre site.

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Odds and Ends 148

2009-12-25T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is the last Odds and Ends of 2009. The next post of this time will mark the beginning of 2010 and an almost 5-year mark since the press release dealing with the transfer of the 61.53 acres of land to Bisno Development Co., LLC.

And the story continues.

Winter has begun and it may now be sometime into Spring before we read or hear anything new about the proposed development of condominiums at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

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As another year slips quietly away, it is another year that I thank everyone involved in working for the best solution to the development of Ponte Vista.

I still hold to the belief that the development should be equal to the dwelling density of The Gardens and that would allow for up to 831 units at Ponte Vista.

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Odds and Ends 147

2009-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

"The Christmas Carol" opens on December 22 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

You may not think this has nothing to do with Ponte Vista at San Pedro, but it sort of does.

The Relevant Stage Theatre Company receives great support from Priority One Printing, which is Herb and Arlene Zimmer's shop.

I don't normally offer free advertising to businesses other than arts and entertainment types, but here is a plug for Priority One Printing, for all your printing needs.

Herb and Arlene were supporters of building 2,300-condos at Ponte Vista and they are wonderful people who support the arts all over the area.

As a community, I think we are really healing from what happened during "The Bob Years" and that is a good thing.

Whether you supported plans for 2,300-condos along Western or didn't, please visit

www.therelevantstage.com and look into attending a community holiday event.

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This is the last post prior to the beginning of winter, the Festival of Saint Steven, and Christmas Day.

Terri and I wish all of you a joyous time where only tears of happiness are shed.
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Odds and Ends 146

2009-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

This is the second to last Odds and Ends post of Fall. No news is still no news.

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The folks who promised to vacate their temporary playing fields after their three-year lease is up are now asking for an extension on keeping their word.

I opined on a site that since it looks like nothing is going to happen at Ponte Vista at San Pedro for several years probably, perhaps that group could be afforded another set of temporary fields at Ponte Vista.

I could go some way to restoring what was lost by the Outreach Team during "The Bob Years" and it could be a way to demonstrate that the develpment team wants to demonstrate positive moves towards OUR community, even with that private baseball group.

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Someone wrote on a facebook pag that there will be a DUI checkpoint along Western near the Redondela turnout.

The writer mentioned on facebook that it would be at "Western and Redondela". That is something a bit akin to the intersection of Western and Miraleste.

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