Emergency Stay Halts Construction of Modular Housing on West Los Angeles VA Campus
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an emergency stay, stopping work on the installation of more than 100 units of modular housing on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles campus.
Stay Blocks Purchase and Site Preparation
The stay blocks the purchase of the modular units and prohibits a development team assembled by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter from accessing three parking lots on the 388-acre campus to begin site preparation.
Background on the Ruling
After a four-week trial in August, Carter ordered the VA to produce 1,800 new supportive housing units on the campus and 750 temporary housing units. His ruling also invalidates leases of VA property, including to UCLA and Brentwood School, and ordered the VA to increase its outreach staff.
However, the VA appealed the order to the 9th Circuit in October and requested a stay, arguing that the district court’s sprawling injunction upends the VA’s carefully considered judgment about how to pursue its goal to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Impact of the Stay
The work stoppage will be a setback for Carter’s goal to have more than 100 units occupied by early next year, said Steve Soboroff, one of the developers of Playa Vista and a member of the development team.
Soboroff and Randy Johnson, the developers of Playa Vista, had brought in the global architecture firm Gensler to design modular projects at several sites on the campus and the engineering and environmental firm Psomas to assess the sites.
Reaction from the Plaintiff Veterans
Rob Reynolds, an Iraq war veteran who acts as a spokesman for the plaintiff veterans, said they are upset but not discouraged.
“We’re not giving up hope,” Reynolds said. “We’ve had setbacks before. We’re going to keep fighting and pushing forward no matter what.”
Conclusion
The emergency stay issued by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has halted the construction of modular housing on the West Los Angeles VA campus. The stay will likely have a significant impact on the timeline for completing the project, which aims to provide housing for over 1,800 veterans. The plaintiff veterans are committed to continuing their fight for affordable housing and are not deterred by the setback.
FAQs
Q: Why was the emergency stay issued?
A: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued the emergency stay to allow the VA to appeal the district court’s ruling and to prevent further action on the project until the appeal is decided.
Q: What is the impact of the stay on the project timeline?
A: The stay will likely delay the completion of the project, which aims to have over 100 units occupied by early next year.
Q: How will the plaintiff veterans be affected by the stay?
A: The plaintiff veterans are committed to continuing their fight for affordable housing and are not deterred by the setback. They will continue to advocate for the project and push for its completion.
Q: What is the next step in the appeal process?
A: The district court will consider the VA’s motion for a stay in a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. If the stay is denied, the order will go back to the appeals court for an expedited hearing.
