Mirror Staff

   Responding to news that the Wetlands Action Network filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on July 12 against the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles City Council to overturn an April action, Playa Vista executives described the lawsuit as "frivolous" and said that construction on the mega-project that spans Lincoln Boulevard south of Marina del Rey is proceeding.

   David A. Herbst, Playa Vista vice president, said, "Like virtually every other lawsuit Playa Vista’s project opponents have filed over the last few years, this latest legal action has no effect on our progress in constructing Playa Vista. As the actions of the City of Los Angeles to vest our tract maps were taken correctly, we are confident that we will prevail on the merits.

   "Anyone visiting the site can see dozens of pieces of equipment continuing to make progress. Just recently, we began excavation for underground residential garages. By filing another lawsuit, Playa Vista’s project opponents are continuing to pursue their threats to try to stop the project by any means possible.

   "Despite this filing, we will continue to move forward with construction, turn aside their allegations, and explain how Playa Vista is reinventing urban living and creating a community for the 21st Century of which we can all be proud."

   Playa Vista is being developed on a 1087-acre site. It has been selected by President Clinton as one of five Partnership for Advancing Technology Housing (PATH) communities in the United States for "its commitment to sustainable development under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program."

   According to a Playa Vista press release, "It will include a mix of residential housing from affordable to luxury, plus office and commercial space. A major component will be The Campus at Playa Vista (an entertainment, new media and technology complex that will include sound stages and production facilities), plus parks and recreational amenities, all set next to a restored wetland and wildlife preserve.

   "More than half of the project will be devoted to open space, including the restoration and expansion of the Ballona Wetlands. This restoration will improve habitat for many species of flora and fauna, and during the first phase of development, create a freshwater marsh and restore a portion of Centinela Creek along the Westchester bluffs to a natural state."

   Dreamworks, SKG, Playa Vista’s primary tenant, withdrew suddenly from the project a month ago, saying it couldn’t secure the requisite financing.

   Opponents of the project allege that it will not only destroy the last wetlands in Los Angeles County, but will create a traffic nightmare on the already heavily traveled Lincoln Boulevard.