This afternoon, Councilman Andrew Weissman shared with me his comments from last night about his selection of Combined Properties as developer for Parcel B in downtown Culver City:

"Thank you to the four developers for participating in this exciting process. 

"Thank you to those in the community who took the time to participate in the public input aspect of this process. 

"We have worked hard to encourage and promote public participation, and by viewing the proposals, attending the public sessions, commenting personally or by letter or email, each of you has had a role in the ultimate outcome.

"Each of us has our own opinion on what a development for Parcel B should be. I will share mine:

• It has to be realistic and viable economically. 
• It has to be realistic to build, realistic to tenant and realistic to operate and maintain.
• It has to be iconic
• It must be memorable, distinctive, and creative
• It has to compliment its surroundings.
• It needs to integrate with Downtown
• It needs to work with and not separate itself off from Town Plaza:
• It should be open without being forced or artificial
• It must create public space.               
• We recognize the public demand for pedestrian oriented space. We have gone to great and expensive lengths to make downtown more pedestrian friendly. We have a responsibility to see that the development of Parcel B compliments that transformation.  The development of Parcel B must continue to bring activity to the public space.
• It must utilize energy saving and sustainable design principals. 
• It is not enough merely to comply with Culver City’s Green Building requirements and our photovoltaic ordinance.  Building to LEED certification standards, utilizing diminishing resources more efficiently, employing design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant and community health and well-being are indispensible criteria for any project.
• This is what I am hoping we are able to achieve on Parcel B.

"As someone who has been in downtown since the 1950’s, having witnessed the changes that have taken place, re-aligning streets, widening sidewalks, building parking structures, creating a Town Plaza, transforming downtown from what was once considered quaint and charming, often in disparaging tones, into a revitalized and bustling destination, I am excited at the prospect of putting the capstone on downtown with the development of Parcel B.

"For me, it is the Combined proposal that will enable Parcel B to achieve its long awaited potential. 

"Through its outward-oriented design, it recognizes the importance and meaningfulness of Parcel B and its surroundings.  With its unique design, it will create the potential for new active community gathering space, a design that extends our existing public space and incorporates it into new public space. 

"It is a development that will build upon the existing vibrancy in downtown, while at the same time both preserving and enhancing the visual and pedestrian connection between Parcel B and the Culver Studios, the Culver Hotel, Main Street and Town Plaza.

"Given the development criteria, the economic analysis, and the design elements, given what currently exists in downtown and what I believe this community is looking forward to and will welcome, I am prepared to move forward to an agreement with Combined."