Building Owner Told to Improve Parking

In a stern letter, Councilman Joel Wachs warned the owner of a building leased to a county agency to develop a parking management plan or risk losing the Chandler Boulevard location.

Residents on Chandler and Agnes Avenue have complained for at least three years that employees and clients of the county Department of Children and Family Services, 12020 Chandler Blvd., park in front of homes instead of using a four-story parking structure or two surface lots.

The residents, under the direction of the Agnes Condominium Owners Assn., also allege that the agency’s clients and employees litter the streets and are verbally abusive to residents.

“I want him to know in no uncertain terms that this situation must be resolved,” said Wachs. “It’s unacceptable.”

Although the building’s owner, John Lewis, president of the Lewis Co., a Santa Monica-based real estate development firm, is not causing the alleged problems himself, Wachs said Lewis is responsible for his tenants’ actions.

If the problem is not remedied soon, Wachs said he will pursue a nuisance abatement proceeding before the city zoning administration, in which the zoning board would develop guidelines for the tenants to follow to solve the problem. If the problem persists, the agency could be forced to leave the building.

Lewis, who had yet to receive the letter, said he was unaware of the problem until last week but would work to solve it.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with the community, and I plan to do what it takes to keep that good relationship,” said Lewis.

The city would like to see the four-story structure used primarily for clients and the parking lots for employees.

Residents met last year with county officials, who said they thought the problem had been solved, adding that they will resume work to solve it.

“Human resources has been advised, and I imagine the problem will be taken care of shortly,” said Schuyler Sprowles, director of public affairs for the county Department of Children and Family Services. Sprowles added that employees said they parked on the street because it was closer and safer than crossing Chandler Boulevard to the parking lots.

Residents said they want the problem solved.

“We are prepared to take this all the way,” said Robert Sax, president of the residents’ association.