Wyvernwood Garden Apartments were established in 1939 in Boyle Heights, CA. Consisting of 70 acres that hold approximately 1200 units, 6000 residents fear relocation due to a proposed 15- year redevelopment project by Fifteen Group. Fifteen Group is a Florida- based development company that is utilizing Wyvernwood as its first west coast redevelopment project. As Los Angeles’s first large scale garden apartment community, Wyvernwood is projected for demolition in order to create 4,400 new units and an additional 300,000 square feet office and retail space. Loyall F. Watson and David J. Witmer, who later became the chief architects of the Pentagon, built Wyvernwood after WWII’s shortage of homes. Architecture was used as a social tool to improve the lives of working class people through quality affordable housing that allowed them to have a sense of community with other residents.
Some residents are currently struggling to preserve their homes while other residents support the demolition and redevelopment of the entire apartment complex. Residents who are fighting redevelopment prefer to utilize Fifteen Group’s proposed $2 billion budget to repair their homes and invest in their existing community rather than demolishing the units to build new ones. Some perceive this project as an act of gentrification, which, according to Neil Smith’s The New Urban Frontier: Gentrification and the Revanchist City, means that middle and upper class housing can be developed in urban areas at the expense of lower class people residing in the proposed redevelopment area. In other words, lower class residents are kicked out, the area is “cleansed”, and the middle and upper class benefit from the final product while developers make their profit. Or as Nestor Rodriguez says in “Urban Redevelopment and Mexican American Barrios in the Socio- Spatial Order”, “The goal is not to redevelop the residential base of neighborhood populations but to reconfigure urban space into a more profitable environment for capital.” The fear of residents losing their homes in order for developers and businesses to make a profit has been seen repeatedly throughout LA’s history through Chavez Ravine, Bunker Hill, and Aliso Village. Some residents fear the environmental impacts that include air quality and cultural resources, which are classified as some of the most significant and unavoidable impacts in Wyvernwood’s Final Environmental Impact Report. One of the air pollutants that would be emitted from the demolition includes high-levels of PM10 concentrations, which are small particles that can get into the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems. The impact on cultural resources has gained the attention of and support from organizations such as the Los Angeles Conservancy. The Los Angeles Conservancy serves to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles County. Wyvernwood has been listed as a historic district in the California Register of Historical Resources and is a candidate for being listed in the National Register for Historic Places. Demolishing this historic district would mean destroying a major architectural achievement of its time and destroying a community that has flourished over generations.
Wyvernwood's original layout.
Supporters of the redevelopment project claim that this project would create a safer environment for their children where they won’t have to fear, for example, being electrocuted by a faulty wall socket. They are excited about having refurbished living units where the plumbing and electricity efficiently works and air conditioning is provided. They believe that Wyvernwood is too old to be preserved and that it’s better to create brand new apartment complexes than to continue spending money on home repairs. Although the project would take 15 years to complete, its construction phases allow some people to continue living in their homes while redevelopment occurs. Those who must relocate are promised one of the new units, at the same affordable rent price, when completed.
Rendering of proposed New Wyvernwood Apartments.
Wyvernwood today.
For More Information
Rodriguez, Nestor. "Urban Redevelopment and Mexican American Barrios in the Socio- Spatial Order." in Latino Urbanism: The Politics of Planning, Policy, and Redevelopment, Ed. David R. Diaz and Rodolfo D. Torres. . New York: New York University, 2012.Smith, Neil. "Part 1: Toward the Theory of Gentrification." The New Urban Frontier: Gentrification and the Revanchist City. London: Routledge, 1996.
WYVERNWOOD APARTMENTS DIRTY TRICKS EVICTS MEXICAN TENANTS
ReplyDeleteWyvernwood wants to convert their apartments into condos and they’re not taking no for an answer. Wyvernwood has a long history of evicting those that stand in their way according to Leonardo Lopez of El Comite De La Esperanza. estimates are over 300 illegal evictions have been committed under the auspices of these current kings. We found our 3-day notices in the trash and we were almost wrongfully evicted four times. Flyers go out that are not on company letterhead and unsigned. It’s full of promises that residents will get 18K to move, & to maintain the family environment here. “Yes, you also get a free pony too,” They are very slick PR people and two separate attorneys agree, “Such documents are legally meaningless.” If Wyvernwood is serious about these promises, they need to sign their contracts with authorized corporate representatives and hand one to each & every tenant. But there’s no way they’re going to do that, it’s just more smoke and mirrors. “In my opinion-the tenants won’t get anything, they’re just going to pick us off 1 by 1.” Wyvernwood is known for hiring fake residents to come to rallies and political meetings. There was a vote submitted to Council Member Jose Huizar that was beyond the total population of actual residents. When Wyvernwood says they ‘have spirit’ they mean it literally and the dead are clearly on their side.
“There is constant intimidation by 3-armed guards with bulletproof vest, police type cruisers, nightsticks and a bad attitude. They are an effective force used to keep the non-English speaking residents in check,” adds Zaybastian. Looking more like border patrol agents than the “courtesy patrol” they claim to be. “ We are not allowed to unload our laundry/groceries as they are ready to pounce demanding that “--we leave or be towed.” If they REALLY were a ‘Courtesy Patrol’ they’d HELP us get our groceries inside. To make you even more miserable, they lose your bank money orders, slap you with late fees, circumvent rent control laws, issue fake 3 day notices, make insane claims of “smuggling in roaches and playing tubas” and having an “invisible Rotweiller dog.” Ironically, Zaybastian has 2 doctors’ letters that permit him to own a comfort dog due to his disability--yet he still has no service animal. Instead, he was forced to surrender him or see his “family evicted.” 41% of the tenants here are allowed to have pets-it’s very clear the treatment of tenants is inconsistent. Just as we can’t unload our laundry in the parking lot but their friends can make auto repairs and drink beers. They harass you if you use your wheelchair and are constantly insisting they “inspect his wheelchair ramp”, thereby, instituting their own version of a “no-fly-zone” like our military does when they want to limit your movement. For him it’s become a ‘no-roll zone’, effectively instituting a ban on his access. He is forced to use his cane though its usefulness is limited. Worse, his 11- yr old son that is required to use hip to toe braces is also denied the use of the ramp. They want to make you as miserable as possible so you don’t ‘self deport’ but rather ‘self evict’ and then they don‘t owe you the $18,000. Yet, there’s plenty of rats, roaches, trash and sewage problems.
havennay@yahoo.com
http://laworstapartments.weebly.com/
The family has not had a safe stove/heating system since it’s been red tagged by the Gas Co on Feb. 14, 2013. On June 12, 2013 it was tagged again and the family was so intimidated by Wyvernwood’s dirty tricks that they believed this certainly spelled their eviction. In the two years here the family has NEVER had heat. “Again, adding to the ‘Wyvernwood Misery Index’” Remembers Zaybastian “They retaliate EVERY time Code Enforcement or the Department of Health sites them for a violation, which is now over a dozen.” Mario from Wyvernwood Apartments says, “Who is the judge going to believe? Another free loading tenant that doesn’t pay his rent or a nice apartment manager like me?” HUD is investigating. HUD generally doesn’t get involved--we fear a slap on their wrist in their future. LA Housing Authority told us “you deserve whatever you get because you live there.” Housing Rights Council talked a lot but abandoned us in the end. Many people believe these are fraudulent agencies set up to give the appearance of help being available but actually won’t lift a finger. “Trust me no one will get any money, no one will have a rent controlled apartment, there will be no brown people living here, they will tear down the playgrounds, parks and destroy the family environment. This is not the beginning of the “New Wyvernwood” but the end of a decent place to raise your kids if you leave these owners in place,” finishes Zaybastian. Call the new Mayor Gil Garcetti or email him and tell him enough is enough. Tell him to reject the project and order an investigation. 213-473-7013 councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org
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