Residents of Lincoln Heights are up in arms over the plan to build a 56,700 square foot e-commerce distribution center at the intersection of Pasadena Ave. and Avenue 35.  Not only is the project in close proximity to houses and apartments, it’s less than 300 feet away from Hillside Elementary.  The community is understandably upset about the potential for a huge increase in truck traffic and diesel emissions.

At this point, though, the community is uncertain how to stop it.  Xebec, the real estate firm behind the distribution center, believes that the project complies with existing zoning and doesn’t need discretionary approvals from LA City Planning.  They’ve already applied for permits from LA Building & Safety.  Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who represents Lincoln Heights, has come out against the project, and she’s proposed changes to the plan that governs the area.  Unfortunately, those changes won’t be approved until December, and Xebec wants to have the permits finalized before then. 

I don’t blame the residents for being angry.  It’s not hard to understand why building an e-commerce distribution center near an elementary school is a problem.  There are decades of research showing that diesel exhaust can have long-term impacts on children’s health.  Children living in areas where they’re exposed to diesel exhaust are at higher risk of respiratory problems, including reduced lung capacity.  Seniors also face higher health risks, and actually, so does everyone living in an area where they’re regularly exposed to diesel emissions.

I have to admit, I have trouble understanding the zoning for 3505 Pasadena.  According to ZIMAS, the General Plan Land Use designation for this parcel is Hybrid Industrial.  The Hybrid Industrial designation was created by LA City Planning to allow residential uses in industrial zones.  As a matter of fact, right next door to 3505 Pasadena there’s a massive new residential complex under construction that contains over 460 units.  If the Hybrid Industrial designation was created to spur new housing developments in industrial areas where appropriate, the Xebec project seems to violate the whole intention of this initiative.  And when those new units go on the market, how many prospective tenants are going to sign a lease when they realize they’ll be living next door to an e-commerce distribution center?

But whatever the zoning is, this project should be stopped.  Just ask yourself if you’d like to have diesel trucks going in and out of a distribution center right across from your home.  Or better yet, ask yourself if you think elementary school kids should be breathing the toxic diesel exhaust from these trucks.

The LA City Council rep for the area is already looking for a way to stop this, but it might help to send a note to some people at the State level.  If you feel like speaking up, here are the e-mail addresses for the two people who represent Lincoln Heights in Sacramento, State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago.  I’m also including a staff member at the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Program.

senator.durazo@sen.ca.gov

assemblymember.santiago@assembly.ca.gov

leticia.syslo@calepa.ca.gov

Here’s a suggested subject line.

Kids Shouldn’t Be Breathing Diesel Exhaust: Stop the Distribution Center at 3505 Pasadena

If you see problems with this project, let the folks in Sacramento know.  The people of Lincoln Heights would appreciate it.