$2 Million Condos on the Boardwalk?


Here comes another huge project. This time on Ocean Front Walk at Thornton Ave. If built, the condo building would obscure the view of the famous Thornton Towers, where renown dancer Isadora Duncan once lived.


The public comment phase for this project ends May 12. Call L.A. Planning Dept., 213-978-1332 for more information.

These are proposed Ocean Front Walk buildings with their entrances on Thornton Avenue. The setback should be exactly lined up with the existing buildings on Thornton.

The builders should not use a very, very old building at the south-east corner of Thornton Ave. and Speedway. As a setback example it is 5 ft. forward of all other buildings on the block. Also it is a very, very old apartment building with no parking. And someday it might have to be torn down. Because of earthquake damage etc. (I gave a photograph of how the Thornton Tower building protrudes to the committee of the public hearing on February 19, 2003.)

On Ocean Front Walk, all newer buildings and new construction have their setbacks exactly lined up with the buildings on the Avenues. There are no exceptions. Thornton Ave. should be the same. Also the plan and architectural drawings for the proposed buildings which Ken Ayenoff of N.S.B. Associates and Architect Michael Falonis presented at the public hearing at the February hearing showed semi-enclosed balconies on Thornton Ave, which are a full story high, and would also protrude on the Thornton Ave. setback. The setback off Thornton Ave. should be: North-side 25'6" & South-side 28'10".

The setback is not only important to the residents of Thornton Ave., but also important for the community of Venice. Because we do not want it to be a precedent for future buildings on Ocean Front Walk.

There is a city storm drain, which runs under Thornton Avenue, a walk street. There are very big pipe ends on the beach lined up with the lifeguard stations. There are signs on both sides of the pipe exit, “Toxic, do not get within 200 ft. of pipe.” This storm drain often stinks of crude oil and chemicals. The clean out (man hole) for this storm drain is on Thornton Ave., between Ocean Front Walk and Speedway. (Right between the two new proposed buildings.) When the city needs to clean out the clogged storm drain pipe, which happens when beach sand clogs it up, they pump it out at Thornton Ave. and Speedway. The builders should be responsible for putting a purification system on this storm drain, between their two new proposed projects, like the one put on the storm drain in Santa Monica.

Finally, the builders of the proposed projects want to have underground parking. One lot was tested for water level. The test results were water level 14 ft. deep. That means they will hit sea water at 14 ft.
Is this a good condition??? Please help!

– Joyce M. Haskell

Posted: Thu - May 1, 2003 at 06:07 PM          

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