VOICES--The Mendel and Mabel Meyer Courtyard Apartments (photo left) were sailing through the process that it takes to become a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM), and the protection from demolition that a HCM carries. That was until Tuesday’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) hearing in Los Angeles City Hall.
This HCM has unanimous approval by the Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC), unanimous support of the local city-certified Neighborhood Council, support from the Office of Historic Resources (OHR), support of hundreds of members of the community, support of the Los Angeles Conservancy, and – most importantly – strong support from Paul Koretz – the Councilperson whose district includes the Mendel and Mabel Meyer Courtyard Apartments.
With this kind of support it is highly unusual for PLUM not to send the designation through with its recommendation. But apparently when the appellant (in this case the owners) hires a law firm that advertises itself as “A Powerhouse Government and Regulatory Practice”, the rules change.
In November of 2014, a company headed by Matthew Jacobs and Guy Penini bought the nine unit rent-regulated courtyard apartments, that are now known as “The Mendel and Mabel Meyer Courtyard Apartments.” In February of this year, the owners served the tenants with Ellis Act evictions requiring them to leave in June. Karen Smalley and I stayed, fighting the eviction in court.
Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Penini are developers in the business of building “Small Lot Subdivisions.” They plan to replace the nine historic affordable apartments with eleven four-story town houses that will sell for well over one million dollars each. Mr. Jacobs recently stepped down as Chair of the CFHA (California Housing Finance Agency), whose mandate is to provide financing and programs for affordable housing, following immense populist pressure over his proposed destruction of these and eight other affordable housing units.
At Tuesday’s PLUM hearing, ten neighbors spoke in support of the nomination, Adrien Scott Fine represented the LA Conservancy, and Noah Muhlstein spoke on behalf of Councilmember Koretz.
The Landlords' case was made by Timothy B. McOsker and Elisa Paster, both attorneys at Glaser Weil. McOsker is particularly well connected politically. Paster is also an investor in the Small Lot Subdivision that was planned for this site. Glaser Weil was started by Matthew Jacobs' father, Gary Jacobs, along with other attorneys.
The owners reached out to Save Beverly Grove to discuss a settlement for the first time last week, and that was a key statement in their rebuttal against the HCM. They said they would work to preserve the buildings but a HCM would get in the way of negotiating.
After everyone spoke, Councilman Englander said –paraphrasing– this looks like a very worthy building and everyone seems to be for the Historic Designation except for one, the appellant. We are going to submit it without recommendations. There was no debate or even talk between Englander, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Felipe Fuentes–the three members of the committee who were present.
Backstory: Councilmember Mitchell Englander, who serves on the PLUM Committee, is also running for LA County Supervisor and is a vigorous fundraiser: Los Angeles County District Supervisor Candidate Mitchell Englander Raises Over $500,000. A quick check shows that employees of Glaser Weil and its predecessor firms have given $115,375. to various politicians in Los Angeles since 1999, Mitchell Englander among them.
Listen to the PLUM hearing … Councilmember Englander’s reasoning starts at about 35 minutes in.
Paul Koretz’s office was taken by surprise at the turn of events. The office assures those involved in saving these buildings that they are fully backing the HCM and sending it to a vote before the full City Council.
(Steven Luftman is a member of the Save Beverly Grove movement. He can be reached at [email protected])
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 94
Pub: Nov 20, 2014
