Oceanwide: No Action, No Response, No Plan

   Another year has passed.  One year ago, the LA City Council told developers they had until February 17, 2024, to remove the graffiti, and yet we still have graffiti on every part of the Oceanwide complex. After estimating the cost of $1 million in taxpayer money to paint over the tagging, the LA Office of Community Beautification decided that the City should not incur the cost of cleaning graffiti on a privately-owned building.

         One year ago, Oceanwide Plaza went up for sale, and still Oceanwide has not sold, no impending sale has been revealed, and no response has been given about a sale when SPNA contacted Colliers who is overseeing the sale of Oceanwide. When asked about Oceanwide, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado said there is nothing before LA City Council and nothing the city can do.

         Oceanwide Holdings broke ground on Oceanwide in 2015. In 2019, the company stopped construction for financial reasons. It is now 2025. Six years since Oceanwide had workers on site. Six years of copper thieves, graffiti bombing, parasailing from the roof, and other nefarious activities.

         Oceanwide is a major problem for the neighborhood and for the image of LA. Is it possible this is too big of a problem to be solved? Are we to live with Oceanwide until it crumbles to the ground?  We refuse to believe there is no solution.

         This abandoned complex is a black mark on our city, a daily reminder to everyone who comes to Crypto, LA Live, and our neighborhood of past corruption which has evolved into ineffective leadership. We must hold elected officials accountable.         

         WE at SPNA know something needs to be done. We are working on a plan. We welcome your ideas. We invite you to the table to brainstorm next steps and “calls to action.” If you are interested in working on this issue, send an email to spnadtla@gmail.com.

By SPNA Executive Board

Marty Goldberg, Michael Robleto, Debra Shrout,

John Nilsson, Michael Ourief