Development near Hollywood fault allowed without seismic study

[KansDem]

LA Times

A sprawling $200-million commercial and residential development under construction next to the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard was approved by Los Angeles city officials without a seismic evaluation, even though it sits next to an active earthquake fault capable of producing a devastating temblor, according to records and interviews.

Under California law, developers building in seismic zones mapped by the state are required to study the exact location of all active faults it has mapped. Those studies involve digging into the ground, looking for signs of the fault. But the state has not yet mapped the Hollywood fault zone, leaving enforcement of the law in a gray area.

Although the city could require a seismic evaluation, it didn’t do so in the case of Blvd6200.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. If the city didn't require the fault to be found, you'd think

their insurer would want to have that information. They must have spread a lot of grease on the wheels to get this project approved. I would like to know how much of a return they expect to get from this investment.

[Wilms]

2. Here's what happened there during the Northridge quake.

[KansDem]

4. Was that the quake of 1971?

I was living in Long Beach then. I had an early class at LBCC and was debating getting out of bed. It was around 6am and my class was at 7am.

The quake hit and I got out of bed in a hurry!

[Wilms]

5. This one was 1994. n/t

[LWolf]

6. '71 was the Sylmar quake.

A 6.6, iir.

Northridge was '94, a 6.7. It was scarier, because my family was scattered over a wide distance that morning, and it was a few days before we were able to locate all of them and get them home.

[Tikki]

3. Maybe the developer met and exceeded all the structural standards for building..

in So. Cal. There are other buildings in that zone. Should they be torn down or
retro-fitted to meet Earthquake Standards?
Knowing that area, bet they were retro-fitted and retro-fitted well above standard.


Tikki