The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center’s atrium was overflowing on Tuesday night for the first public input meeting about the 15-acre pier parcel that the city and CenterCal Properties LLC hope to redesign and redevelop.
CenterCal, which was awarded the bid to develop the stretch of waterfront properties that the city hopes will spark the area’s revitalization, will conduct a series of meetings in order arrive at a specific proposal that will meet public muster.
CenterCal’s Chief Executive Officer Fred Bruning expressed his hopes at the outset for the property and future communication.
“We take this very seriously we don’t want to do anything that causes harm,” said Bruning. “We want to add value not only to the site itself but to the prestige of the community and the general happiness of the neighborhood.”
More than two dozen community members spoke at the meeting and had many questions for the developers.
At one point, Nina Zak Laddon, co-founder of the Redondo Beach Art Group, asked all residents who would like to have an arts center incorporated into the plan to stand to express support for the idea. Almost half of those present rose to their feet.
Long-time resident Delia Vechy expressed her concern about CenterCal’s previous presentation.
“You worry me a lot because in your first presentation you stated that people should come to Redondo not to Del Amo or Culver City,” said Vechy. “That shows me that the vision you have for the waterfront it to be a huge mall. I would like to say that the water must be the center of [the] development…View, view, view – that is the name of the game… if you don’t know there’s an ocean outside you might as well be inland.”
From the very beginning, Bruning tried to calm fears that the aim of the project was to replicate Del Amo or The South Bay Galleria.
“We want to do seething truly unique that will incorporate different experiences,” said Bruning. “From retail to entertainment, arts, community and health and wellness, we think all of those are important elements to the project.”
Nadine Meisner, a 13-year waterfront condo resident, spoke on behalf of the newly established group Residents for Appropriate Development. She said the group intends to work collaboratively with the city and CenterCal to arrive at a development that takes into account neighborhood concerns.
“There are over 1000 residents’ right there… and it’s critical that whatever they’re going to build is harmonious with residential living,” she said.
Other concerns expressed included the desire for a boat ramp, a science center and more parking. Many residents were worried about the flow of traffic and attracting “the right kind of tourists” as well as construction noise. Other people questioned the proposed “historical façade” theme and underlined the need for harmony between both the pier and the International Boardwalk.
Community members emphatically expressed concern for existing businesses.
“Last year I decided to invest in a business on the International Boardwalk,” said Joy Corradetti, owner of Mystical Joy. “It’s been open for a little more than a year and it’s my pride – I love it… When I took the lease it was a short term lease because of the developers coming in. I’m hoping that when my lease is expired with other people that you will think highly of us and renew our lease… When I took my store on the boardwalk I invested my 401K to make it a really beautiful store. Most people say its one of the most beautiful stores there and I take great pride in that.”
In an interview after the meeting, Bruning said that he thought the meeting went very well and he heard a lot of great input. He also said that in the next two to three months he hopes to have 20 to 30 more meetings with local groups and stakeholders to get more ideas and work towards designing a general site plan by March.
“I’m already getting an idea in my mind, and if we do it right, it will raise the value of the Village homes,” said Bruning. “I want it to be successful. Tourists are great, but we’ll primarily be serving Redondo Beach. If we don’t do that, nothing will be accomplished.” ER
