In order to complete the planned Target shopping center in Hollywood, there is a need to make space for the structure. According to a report from the LA Times, one of the buildings to be sacrificed is the Sunset and Gordon apartment tower.
Last September 14, by virtue of a court order issued by the California 2nd District Court of Appeals, the landlord CIM Group had issued eviction notices on the residents of the tower. Furthermore, the landlord had closed off the park beside the tower. While initially the intended Target construction was halted by an injunction issued by a lower court judge, citing non conformity with the city's zoning ordinances. The case was elevated on appeal, which overturned the decision.
According to lobbyist Steve Afriat, the recent decisions by courts overturning decisions of City Hall on property development have shown a need for "everyone (has) to get their collective act together."
He added, "Developers need to be more diligent in dotting theirs I's and crossing their T's. And the city has to be more diligent in making sure all the rules are followed - but also expediting things so that developers don't have to carry multi-million dollar properties for years and years."
For CIM Group, the current tenancy volume at Sunset and Gordon is at 51 out of 299 units. They have also been accused of overstepping their bounds and reneging their promise to the community. According to a report from LA Curbed, the developer was supposed to retain the circa 1920's Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant and integrate it into the new structure. Instead, the developer demolished everything and would look into recreating parts of the vintage restaurant in the future.
In the middle of all this, the tenants are the ones suffering anxiety and worry as to their future fate. While many have vacated, others remain in the tower.
