Led by City Councilmember Steve Sammarco, seven residents of the Heritage Pointe Senior Apartments took to the podium at a meeting Redondo Beach School Board, voicing their displeasure for the complex which sits on District-owned land.
The site of the apartment complex, at 1801 Aviation Way, has been leased by the district to the Foundation for Affordable Housing since 1988.
Heritage Pointe residents have become increasingly dissatisfied with their living conditions, reaching a final tipping point when the complex announced major water pipe repairs commencing in March. The complex’s management company, PK Management, has said that the repiping and repair efforts are necessary due to water pipe corrosion, which has caused systemic leaks throughout the complex.
Margaret Willers, a resident of the complex, lives with her husband in Heritage Pointe’s Building C, the first to be affected by the repair, said their lives are “miserable right now.”
“My husband has throat cancer and COPD; he can’t deal with the dust and the activity that’s going on,” she said. “He needs a safe place to rest after his radiation treatments.” Her concern is with free-floating dust and fiberglass resulting from wall demolition — and her feeling that Heritage Pointe has not offered her recompense for their concerns.
Kathy Unger, a fellow resident at Heritage Pointe, said that “each and every level has failed, utterly,” blaming the district for the issues faced by residents of the complex.
Sammarco, in his comments to the board, confirmed the “purely political” nature of his comments and actions. “Of course they’re political. Being political means that I have the authority to change what I think isn’t right,” he said.
As the comments from the residents of Heritage Pointe came during a participation period intended for non-agenda items, Brown Act meeting regulations restricted board members from speaking to or taking action on non-agenda matters.
However, board members requested a formal report to the board regarding the Heritage Pointe situation, which Superintendent Steven Keller said will be presented at the next board meeting, on May 10.
Assistant superintendent Janet Redalla confirmed that the district is working with Heritage Point and the Foundation for Affordable Housing, and has been in communication to develop a resolution for residents. There are many options for senior living communities such as Villa de San Antonio. You can visit this page or sites like https://www.heritagewoodsseniorliving.com/ to know more about senior living communities.
