March 28, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Watermark Backs Down on Westwood Senior Evictions

 

 

Councilmember Paul Koretz with some of the Westwood Horizons seniors.
Councilmember Paul Koretz with some of the Westwood Horizons seniors.

Amid pressure from the Los Angeles City Council, the firm that owns a Westwood retirement community seeking to evict its residents during renovations on the building, announced on Feb. 17 that everyone can stay. The offer comes with a major caveat: that the council’s effort to designate the property a residential hotel be halted.
A letter from Watermark Retirement Communities – carbon copied to Los Angeles City Council members and Mayor Eric Garcetti – was sent to the dozens of residents of the Westwood Horizons apartments in the 900 block of Tiverton Avenue.

Watermark Executive Director Allison Marty wrote that residents who wish to stay during the renovations can do so, although they may have to temporarily move rooms or be temporarily moved to a hotel at no cost to them.

The letter comes after the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Feb. 14 to ask a City department to decide if the property should be designated a residential hotel, which would block the evictions if it was determined to be one. A residential hotel designation could make the property ineligible for the Ellis Act evictions the property’s owner is seeking and require an alternative approach to renovating the building.
The Ellis Act is a provision in California law that provides landlords with a legal way to get out of the rental market business. Only the City’s Housing and Community Investment Department can determine if the property is a residential hotel, and not the council.
The Watermark letter also comes after months of public pressure from City Councilmember Paul Koretz, who publicly accused Watermark of being a “greedy corporation,” run by “faceless, heartless wheeler-dealers.”
Koretz did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the letter.
In November, Watermark served eviction notices to the residents. Koretz has said in media interviews the company gave residents 120 days to move out and later changed the moving date requirement to a year. Watermark spokeswoman Laura Mecoy, however, said most of the residents were given a year to move from the start.

Watermark wants to complete a $50-million renovation and convert the building to  a residential care facility with assisted living. The current facility is unlicensed and does not provide health care options.

The residents can move back in at the same rental rate, Watermark officials have said, and residents will also be paid up to $19,700 per unit for moving costs, an amount required under the Rent Stabilization Act.
About a dozen residents and their children spoke at the Feb. 14 meeting and talked of the stress and hardship an eviction would mean.

“I may not show my anger and my fear by my voice, but we are all really very frightened, very distressed and emotionally upset about the feeling that we have to evacuate the building,” resident Jane Monbach said.
Mecoy said the offer to allow the residents to stay was completely contingent on the property not being named a residential hotel, because the designation would prevent the company from converting the property to a licensed care facility. “I am writing you today because we learned from your testimony at City Council that many of you may not be aware of the approach that we have offered to follow that would allow residents to remain in the building during construction,” Marty wrote. She later added that a residential hotel designation could “frustrate” Watermark’s renovation efforts and the application “needs to be withdrawn.”

Related Posts

Foreign Currency in International Business Expansion

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

Business has transformed into a whole different dimension. The interconnectedness across countries is increasing the feasibility of business expansions. It...

How to Select Quality Solar Panels and Installation in California

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

As solar energy becomes more affordable and popular, many homeowners in California are considering installing solar panels. However, not all...

Celebrating Christmas in Las Vegas: A Winter Wonderland of Fun and Festivity

November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023

As the festive season approaches, Las Vegas transforms into a glittering winter wonderland, offering a unique and magical Christmas experience....

Navigating Oxnard’s Public Transportation System: A Driver’s Guide

November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Whether you live in Oxnard or want to visit, it’s useful to know how to get around this coastal city....

15 Tips For Keeping Burglars Out Of Your Business

October 16, 2023

October 16, 2023

In the ever-evolving realm of business security, the persistent threat of burglary perpetually looms overhead like a dark cloud. The...

US Gambling Laws

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Whilst casino gaming is a significant part of the American culture, US gambling laws are ever-changing. Prior to the Unlawful...

Reasonable Renting in The City of Angels

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

What would it be like to wake up in a bustling metropolis filled with endless possibilities, set against rows of...

BEST BITCOINS CASINO 2023: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

May 29, 2023

May 29, 2023

Bitcoins casino and cryptocurrency casinos are in full swing, and they will increase users exponentially in the coming years. However,...

Messi Drives Up Ticket Prices Up for this MLS Season.

May 4, 2023

May 4, 2023

Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer (MLS) is already causing a stir, and the profound effect it is having...

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Experience CORTEO by Cirque du Soleil!

April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

The Show’s Run At The Microsoft Theater Ends On April 30  Time is running out for fans of CORTEO by...

Enforcement of LA’s Home Sharing Ordinance for Short-Term Rentals Falls Significantly in 2022

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Better Neighbors LA report highlights the inadequacies of enforcement measures for short-term rentals in Los Angeles, calling for increased regulation...

Tragic Fire Claims Lives of Elderly Couple and Their Cat in Mar Vista

February 9, 2023

February 9, 2023

Doris Bergman and Albert Sassoe Jr. victims in Wednesday morning fire By Sam Catanzaro An elderly couple and their cat...

4 Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

January 2, 2023

January 2, 2023

New graduates have fresh skill sets and they are driven by a desire to succeed. Hampering this desire, however, is...

Cancer Cartel Provides Financial Help To Cancer Patients

November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022

Cancer Cartel is helping cancer patients focus on their treatment, not the financial stress of living with a diagnosis. Learn...

Column: Tenant Support Could Tip the Political Scales in CD-11 Council Race

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Darling pushes advocacy of renter’s rights over Park in tightly contested battle to succeed Mike Bonin! By Nick Antonicello In...