Culver City Times member Kevin Lachoff wrote me this morning to say that at yesterday's 2 pm meeting of the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency, the board authorized the Successor Agency to transmit a resolution to the State Department of Finance, recommending the sale of Parcel B to Combined / Hudson LLC.

The decision itself isn't that big a deal -- it merely affirms the Culver City Council's resolution from last January. What's most important is that it's a sign of real progress in a process that some were calling stalled. Or as Lachoff put it, "this was a significant step in getting closer to seeing the project built."

For the next hurdle, Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development for Culver City, says, "The State has up to 60 days to act on the request, during which time they may ask for additional information or request to meet and confer on the matter. If the state approves the sale, the property will be sold to the developer." Movement!

In other Parcel B news, I recently exchanged correspondence with esteemed Culver City Councilman Jeff Cooper, who, after expressing his optimism about Parcel B and the city's Market Hall development at Washington and Centinela, added:

"In the interim, I want to see us start utilizing these empty lots for other purposes. There is a proposal that was brought before council that would turn Parcel B into an outdoor ice rink during the holiday season, i look forward to deciding on this with my colleagues, as I feel this would be a great temporary reuse of property with a positive impact on the downtown area."

Great idea, Jeff! 

Here's Combine Properties' approved design for the property.