Harvard-Westlake Construction Plan Angers Some Studio City Residents

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Some Studio City residents are outraged over plans for a new parking garage and soccer field across the street from Harvard-Westlake School.

The proposed three-level parking structure, which would include an athletic field on the roof, would sit on the west side of Coldwater Canyon, three-quarters of a mile south of Ventura.

CBS2's Adrianna Weingold spoke with general contractor Alan Fiske, who has lived in the Coldwater Canyon neighborhood for the past 21 years.

"Not only is it crazy to do this, [but] at this point, we're going to eliminate this whole area, which is the last refuge of free animals and ... peace," he said.

Fiske said he was told the structure would be built 220 feet from his property line, which would put it just about on top of Coldwater Canyon.

"You can't even get on this street in the morning now with traffic. Imagine 750 cars coming additionally into that," he said.

Neighbors have formed a group called Save Coldwater Canyon to try to stop the project.

"It will create an incredible disturbance in the area, the plants, the neighbors, the animals," Alex Izbicki said.

CBS2 attempted to contact administrators at Harvard-Westlake about their plans, but were unable to get a response.

The school's vice president, John Amato, told the Los Angeles Times, "The parking structure will smooth the flow of traffic to and from the campus and enhance safety."

Residents, however, said they weren't warned about a possible parking lot until the environmental impact report had already been done.

A public discussion about the issue is scheduled for Nov. 7.