On Local Government: Density is not the apocalypse
Over the past twenty or so years, those who would try to build a wall around the City of Redondo Beach have used traffic as their chief urban planning bugaboo. Now, they have a new one…density.
Density does have its limits. The ugly high rise buildings along Esplanade are perfect examples of how bad it can get. However, some plans under development for mixed use projects do not rise to any level of monstrosity as being touted by the “antis” in this disagreement.
Take, for example, the proposed project that would re-envision the Galleria at the corner of Artesia and Hawthorne boulevards. In its early stages, it calls for a mix of uses akin to those at the Americana on Brand in Glendale, creating an urban village of housing, shopping, restaurants, entertainment and other services.
The property sits on the corner of two major thoroughfares which, although crowded at rush hour, is perfectly situated to handle the increased demand a successful operation would generate. It is also well aligned with transit, an essential part of such a project, with not only a bus terminal, but also being attached to a proposed stop on the Green Line Extension, which is part of Metro’s master plan for rail transit.
Now, there are projects that don’t make any sense, such as the CenterCal project as envisioned at the Harbor. The primary issue there is access, which will be, by definition, limited by the street structure in that area.
Other projects, such as those proposed for PCH south of Palos Verdes Boulevard, don’t have as clear a level of structural negativity associated with them. Nevertheless, strong arguments on both sides can be made.
The Galleria project does not have these negative factors. The only reason to oppose it is that the “wall of Redondo” might be breached. Thus, those who want no one else to get the opportunity to live here have shown what they really stand for…exclusion.
The newest curse word among the “wallies” is RHNA, the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which is required by the State to allocate the region’s share of the statewide housing needs based on population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans.
RHNA promotes the increases of the housing supply and the mix of housing types, tenure and affordability in all cities and counties within a region in an equitable manner. It does so by promoting infill development and socioeconomic equity; the protection of environmental resources; and the encouragement of efficient development patterns. It also promotes an improved intraregional relationship between jobs and housing.
Redondo Beach has long been hostile to the needs the neighborhood it lies in by ignoring its share of the region’s needs. While many believe that it should stand against this mandate, it cannot ignore its own General Plan, which is a community-based statement about the future uses of our land. That General Plan is the basis of the RHNA goals.
It is time we looked to the future and help create a better living, working and social environment in Redondo Beach rather than trying to preserve a past that no longer exists. ER