Sam Ash in Cerritos is about to become new apartment units.
By Brian Hews
It appears that iconic Sam Ash Music Center in Cerritos is about to be leveled to make way for a five story apartment project that is being touted as a “luxury for rent” facility by proponents of the new project, Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper can confirm.
Members of the Cerritos Planning Commission will be reviewing a proposal from The Richman Group (La Jolla) that seeks to demolish the popular Sam Ash Music Center to make way for a 132-unit apartment complex that will feature “luxury condominium standards.”
The meeting will take place on September 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Cerritos City Hall, located at 183rd Street and Bloomfield. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meeting and to voice their opinion about the proposal.
The proposal also includes the construction of a “fully screened” parking structure, a leasing office, a clubhouse, fitness area, courtside recreation and pool area. The exact location of the development will be at 12651 Artesia Boulevard.
Currently, at the same location another massive apartment complex is also underway. Construction began several weeks ago on another $74.3-million apartment complex at the same location at Artesia Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. That 198-unit apartment community is being dubbed as “Aria” and is being built by Picerne Group, a real estate investment firm in San Juan Capistrano.
When both projects are completed, more than 330 new apartments will sit on the site.
Said stretch of commercial property, along freeway frontage, should best be developed commercially, compared to residential.. Hello, Cerritos still needs:
• Ikea;
• Bloomingdales;
• Lowes;
• Amazon Store and Warehouse;
• Alle’ of Freeway Cafes-eateries: Sizzler, Souplantation; I-Hop, In-Out Burger, Marie Calendar, Star Bucks 24 Hrs,
Mind boggling that the ABC school district is crying for new students, so why not zone these parcels multi-family projects, with more bedrooms for large families. Attached United HOA report illustrates drop of student enrollment of 12%.
Why not construct a hi rise housing projects, w/studios to 5 bedroom units, to attact singles and larger families.
Cerritos water pump station is to the east of newest proposal, so wonder if this will have any long term negative data.
►VOTE NO | ABC MELLO ROOS BOND | NOV 2014.
RE: United-HOA.org
A group of elected or appointed city/district officials have submitted a ballot statement opposing the $195 million bond measure. For a copy of this statement please visit http://united-hoa.org/ArgumentInFavor.pdf.
Those who signed this statement apparently don’t know anything about what happened with the 1997 bond. They wouldn’t be talking about “a lasting, positive impact” if they knew Gahr High’s roof was replaced in 1999 and 2002, lasted 12-15 years, and has now “outlived useful life” in the district’s own words. They are so naive as to believe taxpayer protections can be guaranteed because all expenditures will be reviewed by an independent citizens’ oversight committee. The trouble is even the school board doesn’t know any details of what projects will be carried out at which school for how much money. How can anyone else oversee anything? They need to have a detailed plan if they are really interested in fixing our schools.
Next ABC School Board hearing is Sept 2, 2014.
……………….Benjamin Ao | [email protected] | United HOA
►PS: Vote No | Cerritos Water Rate Increase.
10% Increase per yr, for the next 7 years. Proxy via mail in Sept-Oct 2014. Please vote no. Since residents are consuming less water, city water needs more revenue to balance budget. Please vote no!!
https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2014/08/21/apartment-boom-in-cerritos-to-claim-sam-ash-music-center/
Linda Sanchez cries for more jobs, as this project will not bring post construction jobs:
https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2014/08/20/rep-linda-sanchez-compares-congress-popularity-to-ebola-crisis/
I was really surprised to see the first 198 units approved for that corner given the rather poor vehicle access. This property is locked into access on only one side (Artesia Blvd.).
Approving another large block of residential units would seem to be a significant strain on an already troubled location.
Anybody remember trying to visit the old shops there? It was always filled with grief crossing Artesia, and forget about making an eastbound turn onto Artesia when leaving.
I sense trouble with this.
Artesia Boulevard is ALWAYS SWAMPED with cars….yes….I agree with your comments and valid points.
Randy Economy
Master Planning of the orig. TC, called for overhead bridge, linking the apartment pad, to the Towne Center. This would eliminate traffic overflowing on to the intersection of Artesia and Bloomfield intersection.
Similar bridge is built over Del Amo Blvd, linking Del Amo Fashion Mall to Del Amo Mall.
Addition, Palos Verdes Mall has overhead bridge, linking the parking structure to the PV Shops and mall. Discourages pedestrian traffic on roadways.
Proposed Cerritos Apartment- Condo Sales Pad, shopping mall failed because of extreme limited parking egress/ingress and lack of vendor diversity.
Abatement of statewide RDA Funding, guess over-head bridge is history. Nearby residents have not complained loud enough of the traffic and noise generate from this said intersection, plus the flow from 91 Fwy. Last count I read, 180,000 cars travel on the 91 Fwy daily. Believe this count was from the conception of Cerritos Shoemaker Gore Waterfalls and project.
Photos of the Gore maintenance mess can be viewed:
http://cerritospublicworks.blogspot.com/
Yes I agree that this already city approved dense pack residential project will be a major problem in one of the busiest intersections of the city. If it is filled to capacity the traffic in the morning alone will be a nightmare.
I hope that the developers and the city planners have research this well enough to consider the traffic safety issues of those potential residents and the quality of life of nearby residential neighborhood. And although it maybe a boon for nearby businesses, a bad traffic reputation may make this area unattractive to live or do business.
I have yet to see published illustrations of this “approved” project. Isn’t this required by the city to inform the public. Also, is there a Cerritos building code that allows for four story residential housing project within relative proximity to single family homes?
I for one will be attending the September meeting.
I very rarely comment on these items, but I assumed this on deserved
a well done you
Extremely exciting piece of writing