The saga of Lincoln Crossing continues -- Michele Zack, outgoing town council representative to WAPAC (West Altadena Project Area Committee), contributes this report on the latest, delivered to the Altadena Town Council earlier this week, after the jump:
WAPAC report to Town Council, July 21. 2009, respectfully submitted by Michele Zack
At the June 22nd meeting of the WAPAC, the letter from the CDC to Altadena Lincoln Crossing (specifically addressing Mr. Galletly of Dorn Platz) listing reasons the project was in default was read aloud into the public record. The letter acted as notice that the time limit to cure the “unavoidable delay extension” (365 days) had been exhausted in March. This communication was a matter of public record, but I had to make several requests see it and also to put it on the agenda. Nonetheless, it was quite difficult to convince the WAPAC secretary to read it.
It was three pages of what Acting Executive Director of the CDC Corde Carillo called “a brief summary of the various defaults” including non-payment of more than a half million dollars of overdue taxes, “litigation, liens, levies, writs, and other encumbrances.” It mentioned that Mr. Galletly had granted an “option to purchase” the property Super King’s owners without telling the county, and that he’d also used the property to borrow against. Both of these actions are prohibited according to the development agreement. After it was read, The PAC discussed the contents, and the public had the opportunity to questions the CDC representative and Mr. Carlisle, WAD-C director and partner in Lincoln Crossing. Although disturbing, there was a palpable sense of relief to be dealing with facts in writing, instead of hearsay, rumors, and /or reports that tended to minimize the scope of the default.
Mr. Galletly did not appear at this meeting. He hasn’t attended the PAC for more than a year, but had been specifically invited by his WAD-C partner to comment/refute the contents of the letter, and also to address the community about the HUD Inspector General’s current investigation into Lincoln Crossing.
The upshot of this information being made public was the WAPAC, with apparent backing from community members present, resolved to write a letter to the CDC asking the county to support WAD-C’s request to “get a divorce” from Dorn-Platz, and to allow WAD-C to seek a new, solvent development partner. The idea is to clear the way forward without having to start from scratch with a new DDA. It seems that the present agreement might be amended to make such action possible. But as Town Council representative and a non-legal mind, I cannot predict how the CDC will respond or what it is able to do or not do in this regard. If the CDC were to take the WAPAC’s recommendation, the ball would be in WAD-C’s court; Mr. Carlisle has been saying for some time that he has willing potential partners in the wings with ability to secure financing on new phases. It would be interesting to see if he can deliver. But of course this still would not solve the problem of the defaults in Phase One, or who will pay to remove all the encumbrances.
On other fronts, the Bank of America is open for business. However, on the three occasions I have visited and talked to the manager, he has said that insufficient space in the parking structure is making it difficult for customers who wish to run into the bank for a minute, as 24-hour Fitness clients take up spaces and stay for a couple hours. An optometrist office also appears set to open, which will further stress parking. Across the street the market is doing great business, but again, parking remains problematic. It is made worse by huge trucks taking up space in the lot, making deliveries during business hours, and unloading pallets of food that take up yet more parking spaces — sometimes even blocking access to the lot from the front door of the market! These seem but small annoyances, however, to the hoards of shoppers (including me) who love the market because of its great prices, friendly service, and wide selection of food.
However, parking must be addressed. We will not be able to have sidewalk dining or other beneficial uses until the parking lot is enlarged to the east of the market, and the parking structure expanded into the empty lot slated to accommodate the still-unbuilt building number five.
