Playa Vista Moving Full Speed Ahead For Early 2001 Grand Opening

By Coby King

   Ed. Note: On learning that Playa Vista vice president and principal spokesman David Herbst was dissatisfied with news coverage of the development, The Mirror invited him to write an article for us. This is the article. Coby King is a Playa Vista consultant. 

   Just south of Marina del Rey, Phase One of Playa Vista is taking shape on a 1,087-acre former industrial and agricultural site. In early 2001, Playa Vista will open with a mix of affordable and luxury housing, office and commercial space and open spaces and recreational amenities, all set next to a restored wetlands and wildlife preserve. 
   “Playa Vista strives to be a model of modern urban planning in its incorporation of a broad range of forward-thinking planning and environmental initiatives,” says Playa Vista president Peter Denniston. Playa Vista is one of six communities in the nation selected by President Bill Clinton in 1998 as a National Pilot Project of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH). Playa Vista was selected because the projectís plans include restoration and expansion of the Ballona Wetlands, creation of much needed affordable housing on the Westside, transportation improvements and a jobs program for at-risk youth and adults. 

Playa Vista’s Support Strong

   Even with a court action delaying restoration, Playa Vista continues to earn strong support. In mid-August, the Los Angeles City Council took actions to facilitate the issuance of tax free Mello-Roos bonds to help finance the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands and related habitat and public infrastructure for the project. By a unanimous vote, the Council found that Playa Vista will bring “extraordinary public benefits,” and created two Community Facilities Districts under California’s Mello-Roos Act at Playa Vista and approved related structural decisions for the Mello-Roos program. There is no fiscal impact to the City of Los Angeles. 

Labor Leaders Back Playa Vista

   A key part of Playa Vista’s support base includes some of Los Angelesí most influential labor leaders. They have cited the project as one of the region’s best opportunities to create new jobs. “Organized labor is backing Playa Vista because it will bring thousands of new jobs to Los Angeles,” said Miguel Contreras, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. “It will also be built under a project labor agreement between Playa Vista and local unions and will provide our union members the opportunity to fill good jobs constructing the project and will allow for expedited organizing of service jobs created by the project through a neutral card-check procedure and or union contractors.” 
   Labor leaders, including Richard Slawson, Executive Secretary, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Trades Council; William Luddy, Executive Director, Carpenters/Contractors Cooperation Committee; Mike Garcia, President, Service Employees International Union Local 1877; and Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation, have also praised the project for paying all workers a living wage and responsibly balancing economic and environmental concerns. 

Superior Court Rejects Latest Attempt to Stop Playa Vista

   While great progress is being made at Playa Vista on such crucial items as bringing affordable housing to the Westside, project opponents continue to try to stop Playa Vista in the courts. In late June, a superior court judge rejected project opponents’ request for an injunction to stop construction. Ruling on a request brought under the California Unfair Business Practices Act, Superior Court Judge Haley J. Frumholz found that the opponents “fail[ed] to show any substantial likelihood of success on the merits.” 
   The judge’s decision stated that the opponents’ showing was “weak,” and that each point in their case was rebutted by Playa Vista, whose evidence was characterized by the judge as “more persuasive.” The judge found that the opponents had neither proven that any laws were being violated nor did they provide proof of any irreparable harm.

Legal Action Holds Up Restoration 

   The opponents’ only legal success has been to hold up a federal permit that would facilitate the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands. Since June of last year, a federal court ruling impacting its 404 permit has barred Playa Vista from resuming restoration work in the Freshwater Marsh. 
   “This is a dubious distinction,” says Playa Vista’s David Herbst. “The 404 permit impacts just 16 of our 1,087 acres, and the most critical impact affects our ability to restore the Ballona Wetlands. Our opponents’ actions clearly demonstrate the law of unintended consequences. They wanted to stop Playa Vista and all they stopped was the restoration of Ballona.” Playa Vista has appealed the lower court’s ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A decision on the appeal is expected shortly. 
   Regretfully, much misinformation surrounds the Playa Vista project and much of it centers on the Ballona Wetlands.

More Wetlands, Not Less

   “Playa Vista is not being built on the Ballona Wetlands, as project opponents claim,” says Playa Vista environmental affairs director and Playa del Rey resident Catherine Tyrrell. “The Ballona Wetlands is our neighbor and the project looks forward to restoring and expanding this important habitat.” Up until 1994, the heart of Playa Vista was an active aircraft plant site. The property has also been a cattle ranch, agricultural fields, a forest of oil rigs and even the site of a gun club and auto racetrack. 
   “Currently, the federal government says there are only 185.66 acres of wetlands at Playa Vista,” adds Tyrrell. “One of the project opponent’s leading authorities says there is only 147 acres. Playa Vista will restore and expand these wetlands, resulting in 241 acres of fresh and saltwater wetlands.” Add to that almost 100 acres of native uplands for a total of over 340 acres of wetland and upland habitat. 

Freshwater Marsh Will Improve Ballona

   Some opponents attack Playa Vista’s efforts to create a 26-acre freshwater marsh to not only provide habitat but also improve storm water quality into Santa Monica Bay. The US Environmental Protection Agency considers artificial wetlands like the freshwater marsh to be “one of the most effective long-term storm water management measures.” And the California Coastal Commission said that the marsh will provide an “overall improvement in the biological resources within Ballona.” Next to wetlands restoration, traffic management is other most public issue facing Playa Vista. 

Traffic Management Is Vital 

   “As part of Phase One development, over $97 million will be spent to mitigate Playa Vista’s traffic impacts and improve current traffic conditions,” says Playa Vista vice president and Westchester resident Herbst. “Playa Vista understands that traffic management is one of the top issues facing our project. It is important not only for us as a good neighbor, but it is important to our future residents and businesses.” 
   A host of major roadway improvements will mitigate traffic in and around the Playa Vista project and will make it easier for local residents to commute on such major streets as Lincoln and Jefferson. 
   As part of Phase One, Playa Vista will:
   Improve 77 intersections in and around the project. Adding capacity, so traffic moves faster, at 75 of the 77 intersections. 
   Create Playa Vista Drive, a new roadway, that will run parallel to Lincoln Boulevard on Playa Vista’s property and give people an alternative to Lincoln. 
   Implement an aggressive transportation management program to reduce commercial office trips by 20 percent. 
   Work with governmental agencies to develop a “smart” electric tram system that will link Playa Vistaís residential and commercial areas to locations in the community. 
   Fund five new buses for the Lincoln corridor service area for 15 years. 
And there is much more planned. 

It’s Not 200,000 Car Trips

   Project opponents continue to repeat their claim that Playa Vista will add “200,000 car trips to the 405 freeway.” That is simply untrue. The opponents have mistakenly confused person trips with car trips. Person trips include people walking from their condo to a park within Playa Vista. In Phase One, which is all the City of Los Angeles has approved, Playa Vista, through its traffic management efforts, will mitigate its traffic impacts. 
   “The City granted overriding consideration for traffic impacts because out of the 104 intersections studied, Playa Vista just barely missed mitigating only two in 1993,” says Herbst. “Under today’s guidelines and with our traffic management plans, these two intersections would be considered mitigated. In addition to these two intersections, millions of dollars are planned at other locations. In some areas, traffic will move faster because of the added capacity from Playa Vistaís planned improvements.” Traffic management measures are part of a broader platform of sustainable development at Playa Vista. 

Sustainable Design At Heart

   Playa Vista has launched an unprecedented program to extend environmentally responsible guidelines to the entire residential portion of the project. At a news conference in March at the future site of the first phase of residential development, actor and environmentalist Dennis Weaver praised Playa Vistaís Residential Sustainable Guidelines, as did representatives of environmental groups and state and federal government. Playa Vista is the first mixed-use development to apply such sustainable guidelines throughout its community. 
   “All residential buildings constructed at Playa Vista must meet these Guidelines, including those built by firms who purchase property for development,” says Playa Vista’s Tyrrell. “The Guidelines will result in residential units with advantages in energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, waste minimization, enhanced resident comfort through natural ventilation and other strategies.” 

Environmentalists Endorse Playa Vista’s Guidelines

   The news conference featured appearances by several prominent environmentalists, who praised the guidelines as a model for the rest of the country. The US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Energy Commission, the US Department of Energy and the LA Department of Water and Power made special presentations of recognition. 
   Numerous environmentalists praised Playa Vista and the Guidelines:
“Friends of the Earth has had the opportunity to review the Guidelines and wishes to give them our endorsement as good sustainable development requirements,” said Brent Blackwelder, Friends of the Earth. “We would urge developers throughout the United States to utilize these guidelines, which would be a tremendous advance over the kinds of environmentally unsound development happening across the country.” 
   “Clear, comprehensive and constructable, the Playa Vista Residential Sustainable Performance Guidelines will definitely lead to homes that are more comfortable, cost-effective, and better for the environment,” said William D. Browning, Founder, Green Development Services, Rocky Mountain Institute.
   “The Sustainable Development Guidelines for Playa Vista outline a feasible and meaningful approach to ensuring that this project will minimize environmental impacts and result in a conservation of resources,” said Mark Murray, Executive Director, Californians Against Waste. “From energy efficiency to the use of recycled building materials, the Playa Vista Sustainable Performance Guidelines represent a meaningful and achievable model for future residential development.” 

EPA Certifies Playa Vista As Energy Star

   In a prepared statement by Sam Rashkin, ENERGY STAR Homes Program Manager for the EPA, read at the news conference announcing Playa Vista’s Sustainable Guidelines, the US Environmental Protection Agency certified Playa Vista’s participation in the EPA’s Energy Star Program. 
   The EPA’s ENERGY STAR Homes Program applauds the efforts of the Playa Vista development for taking steps to decrease pollution by choosing to build energy efficient homes that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines. In fact, the 3,000 ENERGY STAR Homes committed in Phase One will reduce pollution by the equivalent of taking 1,300 cars off the roads. In addition to the pollution prevention benefits, the residents of Playa Vista will experience better indoor air quality, increased comfort, and a quieter indoor environment in their new ENERGY STAR Homes---all while paying lower utility bills each month!

Playa Vista Hosts LA Segment of Sustainable America Conference

   Building on its sustainable development platform, Playa Vista hosted a daylong Sustainable America Conference in May. The event, highlighted by Vice President Al Gore’s remarks via video downlink from the national Sustainable America Town Hall Meeting and by Cal EPA Secretary Winston Hickox’s welcoming address, was co-sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, the City of Manhattan Beach and the Sustainable Cities Program at USC. 
   The day also featured two panels of local and regional experts, the first on the general subject of “what is sustainable development” and the second on the subject of “building sustainably.” 

50% Of Playa Vista Planned As Open Space

   Playa Vista’s commitment to the environment doesn’t stop with sustainability and the restoration and expansion of the Ballona Wetlands. More than 500 acres---or about 50 percent of Playa Vista---is planned as open space. In addition to the 340 acres of restored native habitat, Playa Vista is designed to have more than 40 community parks, and miles of bicycle and walking trails linking residents to shopping, recreation, employment and community services. 
   “The crack of a little leaguer’s baseball bat rocketing a ball over the center fielder’s head will be a regular sound at Playa Vista,” says Playa Vista community affairs director and Playa del Rey resident Sibyl Buchanan. “So will the sight of a soccer ball flashing past the goalie into the net. The Master Plan calls for more than ten acres of baseball, soccer and other playing fields set aside to serve the families living at Playa Vista and in other nearby communities.” 
   For the less competitive, there will be miles of walking and biking trails. Those living at Playa Vista will find that they are just a few minutes walk from one of the more than 40 community parks or open space features of the project. 

Strong Commitment to Affordable Housing

   Playa Vista is dedicated to being an inclusive community. Fifteen percent of the 3,246 units of phase one residential housing will be affordable for rent to people of very low, low and moderate incomes. Another ten percent will be price controlled for sale units. In total, a full 25 percent of Playa Vista’s Phase One housing will be either affordable for rent or price controlled. 
   “Affordable housing is desperately needed on the Westside of Los Angeles,” said Playa Vista president Peter Denniston, adding, “In many respects, Playa Vista is THE affordable housing program for the Westside. We are proud of this commitment and our partnership with the City of Los Angeles and State of California in developing housing that is within everyone’s reach.” 
   The first affordable housing project at Playa Vista will be Fountain Park Apartments, which the State of California and City of Los Angeles have approved the issuance of $40 million in tax-exempt bonds for construction of its first phase. When complete, Fountain Park will include 703 residential units, of which 375 units will be restricted for very low, low and moderate-income housing. A one-bedroom unit in the very low-income category would rent for approximately $512 per month. The market rate for a comparable unit would be approximately $1,425 per month. 

PVJOBS Means Jobs For At-Risk

   Organized labor has also been a partner in launching PVJOBS (Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business Services), an innovative program that sets aside ten percent of all construction jobs at Playa Vista for at-risk youth and adults. PVJOBS held its formal “groundbreaking” kick-off in July at a luncheon attended by over 200 people. 
   “We have made a lot of progress with PVJOBS, having already placed 25 at-risk youth and adults into 27 high quality construction jobs,” said Ernest Roberts, executive director of PVJOBS. “I am pleased by the strong level of cooperation that PVJOBS has been given, not only by the project, but by the construction trades and community based organizations from throughout Los Angeles.” 
   PVJOBS was unveiled in November of last year at a news conference where State Senator Tom Hayden and LA City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter each endorsed PVJOBS and called for more corporate involvement with at-risk youth. Galanter was instrumental in the formation of PVJOBS at Playa Vista. The November 1998 news conference was held prior to a meeting of Senator Hayden’s California Legislative Task Force on Preventing Gang Violence. 

Anti-Defamation League Recognizes Playa Vista

   The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) honored Playa Vista and the project’s president, Peter B. Denniston, with its Distinguished Community Service Award in May. PVJOBS and the recently formed Playa Vista Educational Trust were singled out in the award which acknowledged Playa Vista’s commitment to community activism. 
   California Governor Gray Davis and US Senator Dianne Feinstein were among a number of prominent elected officials that sent commendations that were presented as part of the award ceremony. In a letter to Playa Vista’s Denniston, Senator Feinstein wrote: “On behalf of the State of California, I wanted to let you know how proud I am of your contributions to the Los Angeles community. I wish you and Playa Vista all the best in the years ahead.” 
   ADL’s Regional Board president, Bernard S. Kamine, said, “Playa Vista’s many civic and philanthropic contributions are truly worthy of the League’s recognition. We are honored that Peter and Playa Vista are standing with the League in our efforts to protect our children against hate and further the cause of inter-group and inter-religious dialogue.” 

4,000 People On Interest List

   If you drive by the Playa Vista site today, you will see great progress being made. Nearly 75,000 tons of steel, wood and concrete have been recycled from the decommissioning of eleven buildings on the former aircraft plant site and initial garage excavations of lots for the first segment of residential housing is almost complete. “Playa Vista is moving full speed ahead. We have over 4,000 people now signed up on our interest list for housing in the first phase. The response is impressive, and we are moving toward our community-wide grand opening in early 2001 and the release of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the second and final phase of Playa Vista by the end of 1999,” said Denniston.