On Wednesday, May 12, 2016, the Del Rey Neighborhood Council (DRNC) approved with conditions preliminary plans for Del Rey Pointe, a proposed multi-story residential development on privately owned land at the confluence of the Ballona Creek estuary and the Centinela Creek channel just west of the I-90 Marina Freeway overcrossing. This project, aka 5000 Beethoven, now will move forward through a lengthy City of LA planning process, which could take well over a year. For current architectural and landscaping presentations, click here and here!
As proposed, the 5-story, 175-unit apartment complex would occupy undeveloped land that overlooks a tidal area rich with bird life. And even in the site’s current impaired state, birds have roosted and nested among its foliage and in the marsh below. As one of the conditions of approval, the project would continue to include a new public bicycle and pedestrian connection across both channels in addition to a new vehicular bridge over Centinela Creek. Other conditions may reduce the building scale and site coverage, while another requires working with environmental and community groups as the design develops.
As BCR encourages embracing, respecting, and renewing the creek, we have a real heart for a natural habitat restoration of this unique site, as well as for an appropriately located and designed bike-ped bridge linking the creek path path with the neighborhood on the Jefferson side.
Given the current reality of an unwilling seller, BCR has committed to participate in an environmental and community focus group to advise the design team toward the most habitat-compatible project possible in the event a timely State buyout cannot happen.
Watch for additional photos, news, and views on BCR’s Facebook Page and future newsletters.