Councilman Koretz, 'Disgusted,' Vows to Fight Mass Senior Evictions in Westwood

WESTWOOD, CA -- Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz is continuing his fight Monday to try to stop more than 150 disabled residents of a Westwood senior apartment complex from being evicted.

The building's occupants received eviction notices recently from Watermark Retirement Communities, which owns the facility, stating residents must vacate their units by April 27.

Koretz said he has talked to attorneys representing a number of residents and discovered a number of inconsistencies with approvals Watermark's renovation proposal is based on. He plans to announce actions he is taking at new conference this morning in front of the Vintage Westwood Apartments at 947 Tiverton Ave.

"The more I learn about Watermarks' questionable decisions and actions, the more I am disgusted," Koretz said. "I am demanding Watermark to do the right thing and I won't stop until they correct horrendous mistakes which are affecting the lives of seniors who have created a community in this building, many whom are Holocaust survivors, all between the ages of 70 and 100.

I cannot and will not sit around doing nothing. I will do everything in my power to ensure these residents have a chance to remain in their homes, or at least stay the maximum of time the law allows."

Under the Ellis Act, owners are legally allowed to remove units from the rental housing market under certain conditions, according to Koretz's office.

The owners have plans to remodel and convert the building to a luxury state-licensed residential elder-care facility, and Watermark has cited the temporary cutoff of utilities along with the disruptive construction as reasons for the evictions.

Koretz also sent a letter on Friday to Vincent Bertoni, head of the Department of City Planning, asking him to hold a public hearing on the matter.

"If the legal and procedural means exist, I will do everything I can to prevent these evictions," Koretz wrote.

In a statement to CBS2 last week, Watermark executives said that "the vast majority of residents will be eligible for extensions, allowing up to one year before relocating. We recognize the fact that this news has a great impact on residents, families and associates and pledge to support them throughout the process."

City News Service; photo via Google Maps