By Marie Hammond

Department of Transportation’s (DOT) unannounced parking lot monitoring at Saint Joseph Center’s (SJC) 204 Hampton Campus determined that the lot was not being managed properly.

Tuesday night at the Venice Neighborhood Council meeting, the Latham & Watkins attorney team tried to get their corrugated plastic roofing approved as a sound wall after it had been disapproved by Land Use and Planning (LUPC) at last LUPC meet. It was also stated at the VNC meet that the Saint Joseph’s Center had complied with the parking requirements.

A letter from DOT sent to Latham and Watkins, the Zoning Administrator, and SJC, dated September 15, 2014, states ” If, at any time during this additional review period (Sept 15, 2014 through October 31, 2014), it is revealed that the Center has not adequately addressed this issue (stacked parking and blocked aisles), then the Center should be subject to corrective action, as determined by the Department of City Planning, including the removal of any existing program which generates high parking demand at the Center, if needed.” (How about denying the Plan Approval)?

Attached photo taken the afternoon of November 18, 2014, the day of VNC Board Meeting, shows continued stacked parking/blocked aisles. This clearly shows that SJC feels that it is above reproach.

Below picture shows the soundproofing over the childcare center. Corrugation runs downward so rain runs onto neighbors’ properties. Would you buy a used car from the Building and Safety (B&S) inspector who approved this?

Will doing good works while being bad neighbors still allow SJC to receive its Plan Approval? Will SJC be allowed to continue with business as usual?