That price would not have made sense without the council’s decision to rezone the property, real estate experts told The Times. In August 2016, three months after the council approved the 30-story tower, the Cumulus Media subsidiary sold the La Cienega property for $110.6 million. “That connection should have been proactively disclosed.” “ made a decision that affected the financial well-being of his son’s employer,” said Sergio Perez, former director of enforcement for the city’s Ethics Commission. Still, one ethics watchdog argued that Wesson had a responsibility to know the financial relationships of his family members, to ensure they did not improperly intersect with his public duties. The state’s conflict-of-interest law does not generally apply to scenarios involving politicians and their adult children. “Mike, this project is very important to us,” wrote Wesson chief of staff Deron Williams in an email to Michael LoGrande, then the city’s planning director. From the beginning, Wesson and his staff made the project a priority, arranging a meeting between the development team and high-level city officials.īehind the scenes, Wesson’s top deputy repeatedly pushed city agencies to move quickly on the project, according to emails reviewed by The Times.
council members typically defer to the wishes of the council member who represents the area where a project is proposed.Ĭarmel Partners filed its first paperwork on the Cumulus project in December 2014. Getting Wesson on board was crucial, since L.A. To make Cumulus a reality, Carmel needed the council to change the property’s zoning from manufacturing to one that could accommodate 1.9 million square feet of commercial development, including housing. LA Radio LLC, the Cumulus subsidiary that owned the site, authorized Carmel to handle the project’s application at City Hall, according to planning records. The property, home to Cumulus radio stations KLOS-FM and KABC-AM, was marketed to potential buyers as a chance to create a “city within a city” right next to an Expo light rail station.Ĭarmel Partners entered into a purchase agreement with Cumulus Media in mid-2014, starting a two-year escrow period, according to a Carmel spokeswoman. The push to build Cumulus, located on La Cienega Boulevard one block outside of Culver City, began in 2013, when radio broadcasting company Cumulus Media announced it was selling the 10-acre site.
Wesson pushed for the site to be rezoned, eliminating the property’s 45-foot height limit, and voted to remove language aimed at ensuring the project would offer city-regulated affordable housing. No one at City Hall was more essential to getting the project approved than Councilman Herb Wesson, who represents the area and is now running for county supervisor. In L.A.’s West Adams neighborhood, which has struggled for decades to attract grocers and retailers, the project is viewed as transformational. It’s part of the Cumulus District, a development slated to house restaurants, a Whole Foods supermarket and more than 1,200 apartments.Ĭumulus is the type of massive high-end development that’s typical for downtown, Hollywood or Century City.
Located at the edge of South Los Angeles, the 30-story high-rise is unlike any other residential building in that part of the city, looming over its neighbors. The sleek new residential tower called Arq is billed as luxury living for L.A.'s creative set, with commanding views and studio apartments for $3,121 per month.
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