Last year, Cinefamily Accountability (CA) reported on a proposed hotel development project owned by Dan Harkham in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. On June 18, 2020, the South Robertson Neighborhood Council voted 15-4 to oppose the Harkham project. Several councilmembers spoke of being misled by the developers.
Despite opposition, the project moved forward and was set to be heard at the June 10, 2021 meeting of the City Planning Commission (CPC, item #7). In their report to the CPC, staff from the Department of City Planning (DCP) noted:
members of the public raised concerns with regard to the loss of existing dwelling units which are protected under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, the loss of small businesses, the proposed height of the building, and the limited amount of ground floor commercial uses.
DCP staff also noted that written communications from the public about the project ran overwhelmingly against the project – more than four to one against.
Ultimately – as reported by Beverly Press (and noted in meeting minutes) – the item was pulled from the agenda and rescheduled for September 9, 2021:
Ira Handelman, a consultant and spokesman for the project, said the delay was requested by city staff.
“The city asked us to do it, and we agreed,” he said.
Priscilla Sotelo Klisch is a current Harkham tenant, threatened with losing her home and family business to make way for the hotel. She told CA:
The hotel developers want to make it seem that the project is a done deal but this is far from the truth. They’ve been trying to use intimidation tactics in trying to rush through a little thought out and seemingly sloppy plan. The vast majority of the community opposes it.
UPDATE 9/9/21: According to the posted agenda for the Planning Commission, “the applicant requests that the matter be continued” until November. We’ll check back…
