Millennium Hollywood Project May Fall on Active Earthquake Zone, Opponents Say

Opponents of the Millennium Hollywood Development project gathered Monday morning in Hollywood near the Capital Records building to reveal new information they say they have gathered against the project.

Robert Silverstein, attorney for Communities United for Reasonable Development, said the California State Board for Professional Engineers and Geologists opened an official investigation into two engineers for the Millennium Hollywood Project.

“That investigation is in response to our formal complaint that the engineers distorted their technical reports to hide the existence of a Hollywood earthquake fault running through the property behind us,” he said.

He also announced the California Geological Survey would be studying the area to confirm the existence of active earthquake faults in the area and whether the land would fall under the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act. Dr. John Parrish, state geologist, sent a letter to City Council President Herb Wesson on Saturday informing him the study needed to take place.

“Under (Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act), cities and counties affected by the zones must regulate certain development projects within the zones,” Parrish wrote. “They must withhold development permits for sites within the zones until geologic investigations demonstrate that the sites are not threatened by surface displacement from future faulting…It is our understanding that the Los Angeles City Council and the Planning Commission are in the process of reviewing plans for the prospective Millennium Hollywood Project, which may fall within an Earthquake Fault Zone should our investigations conclude that an active portion of the Hollywood Fault lies within the project site.”

The one-million-square-foot proposed project, located on Vine Avenue near the Capitol Records building, is planned to be a residential, hotel, office, restaurant and retail space, as well as a sports club.

The developer of the Millennium Hollywood project, however, denied the allegations.

Millennium Partners co-founder Philip Arons responded by saying the "allegations regarding the environmental review of the plans for Millennium Hollywood that were raised today by attorney Robert Silverstein are false."

"The charge that our project site is located on the Hollywood Fault is refuted by the extensive geotechnical investigations that were conducted at the request of the city," Arons said.

Arons said studies done so far on the area "found no evidence of an active fault on the project site."

He also said the company would be required to perform a final geotechnical report that meets the city's approval before the project could be built.

Nancy Eissler, a spokeswoman for the state board, said she could not confirm if an investigation was initiated. She said the board is responsible for looking into any allegations of negligence and fraud committed by engineers.

Mayoral spokesman Yusef Robb had no response to the letter and the alleged engineering investigation, but he reiterated Mayor Eric Garcetti's stance on the project.

The mayor "made clear to the developer" that the project needs to be "substantially lower than originally proposed," he said.

"Since then, the project has been reduced in height, more open space has been included and other concerns have been addressed," Robb said. "Our office will continue to monitor public, city department and other input pending council action."

Silverstein said if the City Council goes ahead and approves the project, then the next step is litigation.

“If they approve this on Wednesday then all of the interested parties including other governmental agencies and the public will have the opportunity to file a lawsuit to bring this in front of a court,” he said. “Very often the first time the public ever has a chance for a fair hearing is once we have gotten outside of the City process and before a judge.”

As of now, the Los Angeles City Council is scheduled to discuss and potentially approve the Millennium Project at it’s meeting on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in John Ferraro Council Chamber (room 340) at the Los Angeles City Hall (200 North Spring Street).

-City News Service contributed to this report