Developers Sue Beverly Hills Over Housing Project Denials

News Summary

Developers of 8800 and 8820 Wilshire Blvd have filed lawsuits against Beverly Hills for allegedly unfair denials of their housing projects. The lawsuits cite violations of the California Housing Accountability Act and highlight the developers’ claims that the city misinterpreted state law. With multiple builder’s remedy complaints pending, local officials are grappling with balancing development and community concerns amid a housing crisis.

Beverly Hills – Developer 8800 Wilshire Associates, LP and 8820 Wilshire Associates, LP have initiated two lawsuits against the city of Beverly Hills in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging unfair denial of builder’s remedy project applications. The developers assert that the city has violated the California Housing Accountability Act (HAA) and the Permit Streamlining Act (PSA) by rejecting their proposals for new developments on Wilshire Boulevard.

The lawsuits challenge the city’s decision regarding two proposed high-rise buildings located at 8800 and 8820 Wilshire Blvd. Each project is designed to rise 19 stories, featuring both retail space and residential units, and aims to contribute to affordable housing in the area. Specifically, the 8800 Wilshire project includes 139 units, with 17 allocated as affordable housing, while the 8820 Wilshire project seeks to create 134 residential units, of which 16 are set aside for affordable housing.

This legal action brings the total number of builder’s remedy lawsuits against Beverly Hills to four. There is mounting tension regarding these developments, with local officials and residents debating their compatibility with existing city infrastructure and aesthetics. Currently, the city is reviewing 14 builder’s remedy projects, seven of which have been flagged as incomplete by the city.

The timeline of the projects is critical to understanding the lawsuits. Preliminary applications for the 8800 and 8820 Wilshire projects were first submitted in December 2023, during a period when Beverly Hills did not have an approved housing element. In September 2024, the developers resubmitted their applications but received immediate feedback from the city indicating that the submissions were incomplete. According to the lawsuits, the developers maintain that any changes made to the projects are within legal bounds and that all necessary documentation was provided in a timely manner.

Ryan Leaderman, the attorney representing the developers, claims that the city has misinterpreted state law regarding the permissible changes to the projects. He argues that despite the city’s claims to the contrary, the developers have adhered to all regulations and guidelines laid out by state housing laws.

Beverly Hills City Attorney Laurence Wiener has countered the developers’ assertions, stating that the city believes it has handled the projects appropriately. Wiener indicated that amendments made by the developers have rendered the projects ineligible for the builder’s remedy process under state guidelines.

The ongoing disputes surrounding the builder’s remedy projects are not limited to these two lawsuits. The city is also facing two additional complaints regarding the denial of another builder’s remedy proposal for a project located at 125-129 S. Linden Drive. With the mounting number of complaints and lawsuits, the potential for additional legal challenges looms if the city continues to deny applications for builder’s remedy projects.

As the litigation progresses, Beverly Hills has yet to formally respond to the latest complaints regarding the Wilshire Boulevard projects. Preliminary court dates for the upcoming trials have been set for early July. Furthermore, the state of California has issued warnings to the Beverly Hills city government, addressing concerns about its handling of builder’s remedy applications. Continued resistance to these developments may result in further repercussions from state housing officials, potentially impacting the city’s development landscape.

The builder’s remedy initiative, designed to expedite housing development in regions that are not meeting their housing requirements, has become a significant point of contention in Beverly Hills, reflecting the broader statewide challenges of addressing housing shortages and affordability crises.

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Additional Resources

• Beverly Hills Courier: City Faces New Lawsuits Over Builders Remedy Projects
• Google Search: Beverly Hills Builders Remedy
• Beverly Press: Beverly Hills Receives Second Housing Violation Notice
• Wikipedia: California Housing Accountability Act
• Beverly Press: Planning Commission Updates Builders Remedy Guidelines
• Google Scholar: Beverly Hills Housing Lawsuits
• LAist: Beverly Hills Faces New Builders Remedy Challenges
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing Crisis