California’s Top Court Supports Lincoln Place Tenants, Playa Vista Environmentalists

The Supreme Court of California, last month, refused to hear appeals by AIMCO (the corporate owner of Lincoln Place) and Playa Vista. The Court’s action left standing decisions that should allow evicted tenants the right to return to their Lincoln Place homes, and in Playa Vista’s case, will stop further construction on the wetlands.

Playa Vista’s $1.1 billion Phase 2 construction has been stopped in its tracks by the successful court action, led by attorney Sabrina Venskus. The Supreme Court let stand an appellate court ruling that PV’s environmental review was deficient in several respects.

Lincoln Place tenants still have more legal hoops to jump through, including having a judge return legal possession of their apartments to them. The tenant association now has momentum with them. Their case was precedent setting for tenant rights. AIMCO’s scheme to build luxury condos at Lincoln Place appears more dubious with each tenant victory.