RYOKO OHNISHI/Rafu Shimpo
The site of the proposed Vibiana Lofts as seen from Main Street.

A Little Tokyo Branch Library spokesperson told Los Angeles City Planning Department officials that the proposed 41-story Vibiana Lofts should address parking, noise, dust, and other construction-related issues before it is allowed to move forward.

Library Facilities Division representative Juliana Cheng appeared before an inter-department City Planning committee on Wednesday to express concern that the planned high-rise condominium and performing arts complex will impede library operations.

Cheng told hearing officer Maya Zaitzevsky that the 300-unit Vibiana Lofts complex would become the third such major construction in the area immediately adjacent to the library. She said that having three construction projects under way at the same time—the new police headquarters building, Block 8 residential and retail development, and Vibiana Lofts—would create excessive dust, and noise during library hours.

“Special provisions must be made…to ensure staff and public safety when they have to walk by the construction site to get to the library,” Cheng stated. The library, which opened a year ago, serves the local community six days and two nights a week.

She also noted that, according to a Sept. 6, 2001 memorandum of understanding between the Board of Library Commissioners and developer Tom Gilmore of Gilmore and Associates, a 1,250-space parking structure would be built on or adjacent to the Vibiana property.  Current plans call for only enough parking for Vibiana Loft residents, their guests, and some retail customers.

Kei Nagao, speaking for the Little Tokyo Community Council, echoed the library-related concerns and urged the developers to: (1) consider the community’s concerns regarding traffic congestion, street closures, density and height issues and public parking availability; (2) avoid negatively impacting the planned Little Tokyo Recreation Center; and (3) adhere to recently approved Community Redevelopment Agency/Little Tokyo Planning and Design Guidelines.

City Planning associate Sarah Rigamat said the hearing body has taken Gilmore’s application under advisement and wants to see the developer re-allocate parking to accommodate the library’s requirements. “Allocating 2.25 spaces per unit is nice for selling purposes but doesn’t address onsite commercial needs,” Rigamat said.

In a letter to the Planning Department, the CRA notes that the old St. Vibiana Cathedral and Rectory are historical sites as well as the grassy area and wall facing Second Street to the north of the planned development.

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