Councilmember opposes sale of peak

With Cahuenga Peak in the background, Councilmember LaBonge denounces developers’ plans to build houses on now-pristine land.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to refute the claim by the owners of Cahuenga Peak that talks were ever held between them and the City of Los Angeles to purchase the land and annex it to Griffith Park. Representatives of the owners, Teles Properties of Chicago, had held a news conference earlier in the day claiming that the city had reneged on a deal to purchase the land. The owners also announced they were selling the 138-acre parcel on the ridge to the west of the famed Hollywood Sign for $22 million that they purchased seven years ago for $1.65 million.

At the councilmember’s request, CD4 staff has identified $3.7 million in funds from various sources, which is well short of what the owners are asking and also short of the $6 million independent appraisal done by the General Services Dept. Staff are also researching whether the land could support development of any kind. The owners have proposed as many as five homes to be built on the site.

The councilmember not only counters that the land is unsuitable for housing, he said its best use is as protected open space that could only become a reality if it were acquired as parkland. “I’m going to use all of my options to fight this and I’m going to ask the public’s help and support, ” LaBonge said. The councilmember also challenged the notion that Howard Hughes, who owned the land and whose estate sold it to Teles Properties, ever secured an easement on the property in order to build a road to access the land.

The councilmember also challenges a belief that the land is “build-able,” as the grade is 45 degrees at some points, grade that is no longer allowable in city building codes. At one time, streets and homes went in extremely hilly neighborhoods such as Lincoln Heights, Echo Park and Silver Lake. The councilmember said he will meet with city staff to determine the next steps and also work diligently to secure additional funds to “make a fair offer” for the land.