FAQs
1. WHY DID BCHD ABANDON ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT NEIGHBORS WITH A BUFFER ZONE?
In June of 2017, BCHD committed to protect surrounding neighborhoods with a buffer zone of surface parking and greenspace. Why did BCHD abandon protecting the neighbors and instead propose a 110-foot tall building on the north & east; an 8-10 story parking ramp on the southwest, and a 76-foot tall building on the west? (June 2017 Community Working Group presentation by BCHD)
2. WHY DID BCHD IGNORE THE VOICES OF OVER 1,200 SURROUNDING RESIDENTS?
BCHD has increased both the height and square feet of above ground buildings since the presentation of a petition from neighbors to BCHD and Assemblymember Muratsuchi. BCHD increased compound height from 60-feet to 76-feet to 103-feet and is now at 110-feet above Beryl St.
3. WHY DOES BCHD CLAIM THE EXISTING CAMPUS IS 76-FEET TALL?
Only 0.3% or 968 sqft of the campus's 312,000 sqft is 76-feet tall. The rest of the campus, over 99%, is under 52-feet tall. Why should BCHD be allowed to go above 52-feet tall?
4. WHY IS BCHD BUILDING $12,500/MO SENIOR HOUSING THAT IS ONLY AFFORDABLE FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF HERMOSA, MANHATTAN, AND REDONDO RESIDENTS?
BCHDs consultant report Exhibit 3-3 shows less than 20% of income qualified senior tenants are expected to be from the three beach cities that own and tax fund BCHD.
5. WHY SHOULD BCHD BE ALLOWED TO DAMAGE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO LEASE OUR PUBLIC LAND TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO HOUSE 80% WEALTHY NON-RESIDENTS?
The land was condemned by South Bay Hospital and paid for by voter approved bonds. Why should local residents suffer 100% of the damage from construction and 50-100 years of operation to allow 80% non-resident tenants on our public land?
6. WHY DID BCHD IGNORE THE DAMAGES ITS LOUD NOISE WILL MAKE?
Many studies were presented to BCHD about the mental and physical health damages from noise. Because BCHD wants to build 100-feet tall, it will damage surrounding neighborhood health for 5 years of construction (and longer in operation). BCHD ignored the noise damages and the solution of reducing the height of the massive
BCHD compound.
7. WHY IS BCHD BUILDING AN $8,000 PER MONTH "PACE" (ADULT DAYCARE) FACILITY FOR ONLY 17 RESIDENTS OF MANHATTAN, HERMOSA, AND REDONDO BEACH?
BCHD is planning a PACE facility for 400 patients. Only 1 in every 1,000 seniors in the U.S. uses PACE. The three beach cities that own BCHD have only 17,000 seniors, so that's only 17 likely patients or 4% of facility capacity. Over 95% of BCHDs PACE patients will be NON-RESIDENTS based on US averages and will be bussed in using polluting vehicles that add traffic to our streets. 99% of PACE patients receive Medicare and MediCal and 100% of PACE patients are MediCaid certified for nursing home care. Those are very limiting requirements.
8. WHY SHOULD REDONDO BEACH RESIDENTS BE FORCED TO ENDURE THE DAMAGES OF BCHD CONSTRUCTION AND CONTINUED OPERATION?
Fewer than 10% of the wealthy tenants are predicted to be from Redondo Beach according to BCHD Exhibit 3-3. About 2% of the PACE patients are expected to be from Redondo Beach. Why should Redondo Beach suffer 100% of the damages for generations for trivial benefits?
9. HOW IS A 110-FOOT TALL COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON THE EDGE OF A 30-FOOT ELEVATED SITE COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS? Surrounding Torrance and Redondo Beach neighborhoods have height limits of 30-feet and below. BCHD believes that it has a RIGHT to build to heights over 150-feet above the neighbors. That cannot be compatible with Conditional Use, Design Review, or Design Guidelines.
10.WHY DOES BCHD REFUSE TO USE LOW-COST PUBLIC BONDS TO BUILD THIS AS A PUBLIC FACILITY?
BCHD is planning to lease our public land to a commercial developer to make a for-profit facility. Why is BCHD circumventing voters that could provide low-cost bond financing, the same way they did for the South Bay Hospital?