Oceanwide Towers Need More Than Wishing + Hoping
With the World Cup Soccer Championships next year and the much-anticipated 2028 Summer Olympics, alarms have been going off in the business and political communities about the negative effects of the graffiti-tarnished towers and activities planned for these two world class events which will occur in the immediate neighborhood.
In last month’s Scene, we discussed the lack of progress on the legal efforts to solve the Oceanwide problem. The South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) has discovered a startling lack of effort to move toward a solution by the Bankruptcy Court or the powers that be in City Hall. Our city government should be taking the lead and pushing hard for a solution, but even with the obvious negative effects on the city that will result in having this blighted project front and center in the two biggest internationally televised sports events of the decade, all we are hearing is…crickets. It is inconceivable that the Oceanwide problem is being ignored!
On the positive side, despite the expiration of the original listing agreement for the sale of the bankrupted property, the LA commercial real estate community is continuing to work on finding a buyer. Evidently, though no details are currently available, “two real estate development companies, one from the U.S. and one from abroad” are now competitively bidding on the project and there is an anticipation of a closing to a new owner/developer by the end of this year. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Even if a new owner can be found, it is unlikely that construction of the remaining 40% of the project can be accomplished in time to remove the stigma of the failed project from international attention during the coming events. So, what is to be done? Los Angeles architect, Douglas Hanson, who designed the Circa Apartments property immediately adjacent to Oceanwide, has proposed an idea to shield people’s gaze of the graffitied towers – and bring in some money in the meantime.
His idea is to cover the west, north, and east facades with massive vinyl advertising sheets essentially turning the towers into monstrous billboards touting the benefits of various and sundry items during the two coming events which will be seen by millions – and perhaps billions – of sets of eyes. Not a bad idea! In a world where the City of Los Angeles won’t even spend the $3,000,000 it earmarked for removal of the graffiti to help solve the problem, a few advertising dollars in the pocket just might be an immediate solution worth considering.
What can you do to help mitigate this disaster? Oceanwide is receiving little attention from members of our city government. This issue should have star billing for the effects it is having on the image of Los Angeles and our quality of life. This is something that is demonstrating to the world that LA lacks pride and can’t solve its own problems. Our real estate values, residential and commercial vibrancy, and neighborhood progress are being hampered by Oceanwide. We deserve better from our business and political leaders -- this problem must be solved – now. Please take a minute to write or call our city and political leaders and tell them we demand a solution, not silence.
Mayor Karen Bass
Carolyn Webb de Macias, Chief of Staff
213-978-0600
District 14 Councilmember Ysabel J. Jurado
Councilmember.Jurado@lacity.org
213-473-7014
By John Nilsson