BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
July 18, 2023
N.1. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF
THE WATERFRONT EDUCATION CENTER
RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM M. ARTHUR GENSLER JR. & ASSOCIATES, INC. ON THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND DESIGN CONCEPT PREPARED FOR THE PUBLIC WATERFRONT EDUCATION FACILITY AT THE FORMER JOE’S CRAB SHACK SITE
APPROVE THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OR PROVIDE DIRECTION ON MODIFICATIONS CONTACT: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Attachment: N.1. Public Correspondence
Waterfront Education Facility
How did the community’s plan for a local children’s educational center located at the Joe’s Crab Shack site transform into a Regional Waterfront Educational Facility with a futuristic mega architectural building concept designed for the use of a college prep boarding school in South LA?
The original project goals, that grew out of the Waterfront Amenities Plan, was to provide an educational space for an existing waterfront education program that is currently operating. The project and program goals were transparent. The now empty Joe’s Crab Shack building was proposed to be renovated for this purpose and the plan implied a modest budget expense. This is what Redondo Beach residents understood. The Admin. Report correctly states that , “…the idea to convert a restaurant site into an education center was an identified opportunity that was fully supported by the community.” However, what has been presented in the materials is not that original plan. That plan was small in scale and designed to address a current need for an educational space. The plan presented is grandiose in scale and designed to meet the needs of a boarding school in Los Angeles and some nebulous regional interest.
I respectfully ask the council to consider the following:
1. When, how, why and by whom did the mission of this project change?
2. This current iteration of the original project is out of character with the Waterfront Amenities Plan and the Redondo Beach community culture. Why was this change made without robust community input?
3. The comparison sites submitted by Gensler ignored the scale presented in the Harbor Amenities Plan. Why wasn’t that considered?
4. What are the financial obligations of this project? What public money will be spent? All public projects require diligent and well informed consideration. The council members must be presented with a range of project options to be considered, each with a clear set of criteria, a budget, clear project and program goals, and include the original plan. In addition, a robust community engagement process must be developed and implemented. All this must be done prior to deciding on whether to approve this Education Center Plan.
Respectfully yours,
Sheila W. Lamb
From: Barbara Epstein
To: CityClerk; Bill Brand; Todd Loewenstein; Zein Obagi; Nils Nehrenheim; Paige Kaluderovic; Scott Behrendt; Mike Witzansky; Brandy Forbes; [email protected]; Cameron Harding; Michael Webb Subject: N-1 Waterfront Education Center
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:02:51 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.
Dear City Leaders,
I just saw the design concepts for the new facility. It looks very exciting, with a few minor changes. I hope the public will be able to submit a few suggestions.
Thank you for your work on transforming our waterfront so that it will best delight our residents and guests. So far it’s looking good!
Great Cities Have Great Parks!
Barbara Epstein
Redondo Beach
Sent from my iPad