Court Sustains Lincoln Place Advocates’ Writ

   On April 8, the Second Appellate Division of the state’s Court of Appeal gave another small victory to the tenants of Lincoln Place and the preservationist groups who are allied with them in the struggle to save the large garden apartment complex in Venice.
   The three-judge panel rejected arguments filed by the L.A. City Attorney and AIMCO, the owner/developer of the property, against the issuance of the writ of supercedeas. Attorneys for the preservation groups sought the writ in order to stop work on buildings in the complex until the Court can hear the groups’ appeal on its merits.
   At the same time, the court asked both parties for additional information as to whether there was any work that might be done that would not damage the buildings, while minimizing injury to AIMCO.
   The court decision said, in part, “The court has determined that respondents and real parties do not establish the court lacks jurisdiction over the Doreen Place buildings, or that the appeal does not present substantial questions.
   “Pending disposition of their appeal, appellants seek to stay the issuance of demolition permits and to enjoin all asbestos or other pre-demolition activities for any Lincoln Place buildings…
   “The court is interested in receiving the parties’ views on whether less restrictive measures may be available which will protect appellants from serious injury in case of reversal, while minimizing injury to real parties in case of affirmance. The parties are requested to serve and file briefs addressing this issue, on or before April 16, 2004.”
   The preservation groups asked for the writ when crews hired by AIMCO undertook an asbestos removal project on buildings on Doreen Place in the complex without the requisite permit from the L.A. Fire Department.
   The tenants have fought for years to save Lincoln Place from being demolished and replaced by condominiums. Believing the complex should be preserved because it has great architectural and historic significance, local, state and federal preservationist groups entered the fray and filed suit to save the unique complex.