Opposing Metro Universal

You may be aware that I am opposing the $800 million Metro Universal development project proposed for 3875 North Lankershim Boulevard.
This is a timely issue now because the City is currently accepting public comment on the Draft Environmnetal Impact Report (DEIR) for this proposed, 1.5 million-square-foot development. I encourage everyone in the 4th Council District to read the report by clicking here and responding to it.
That's your role. My role is to press the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA),as the property owner, to be accountable to the neighborhood for its role in this high-density development proposal.
I am opposed to this project because:

• The proposed development - twin 24-story towers, 34-story high-rise and 10-story parking garage - is too big and too dense for the banana-shaped parcel.
• The planned traffic mitigations are not adequate to absorb the traffic this development will generate. Lankershim is the only adjacent north/south street. There is no grid to absorb traffic flow.
• The project requires the taking of land by eminent domain from Weddington Park South. This will negatively impact park operations, cast the park in the shadow of a 10-story parking structure and require the city to relocate a park road and other amenities.

The MTA's response has been that the project's scale is necessary in order to meet the financial requirements imposed by its development deal structure. I feel strongly that the MTA is a public agency, whose mission - first and foremost - is to provide an efficient and effective transportation system.
I have encouraged the MTA, as the property owner and partner in this project, to take a renewed look at its development contract, scale back the proposed density and find a better balance between profits and impacts on neighborhoods and traffic.

Sincerely, Tom