Goodwill Industries has announced plans to tear down a former Hostess Bakery building at 9827 De Soto Avenue to build a 13,000-square-foot structure, including a retail storefront, in its place.
An attorney representing real estate investor Morton La Kretz, who owns Crossroads of the World in Hollywood, addressed Chatsworth Neighborhood Council's land use committee on Thursday to gather feedback prior to applying for a variance in an industrial-zoned area.
"We think we are greatly improving the neighborhood," said lawyer Wayne Avrahow.
In addition to having retail, there would space for people to drop off donations as well as an area for 10-12 employees for refurbishing and distribution, Avrahow said.
While some committee members spoke highly of other Goodwill locations such as the one in Stevenson Ranch, they raised concerns about some of the proposed project's design renderings Avrahow presented.
"This is just square box," said Chair Linda van der Walk.
Resident Jeannie Plumb said she was worried about similar businesses in the area that were unorganized and allowed donated items such as clothing to pile up in their parking lots.
"If the committee thinks this is a project they want to have in Chatsworth, lets think about how they're going to store and manage mountains of donations," she said.
Van der Valk said the neighborhood council was able to set conditions on keeping inventory outside when ReStore, a similar business owned by nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, opened in Chatsworth.
Avrahow said Goodwill would be open to agreeing to conditions like that.
Committee member Andre van der Valk said he wasn't too sure if Goodwill is an ideal candidate for improving an area he considered blighted compared to other parts of Chatsworth. He added that Goodwill typically moves into a building after its cycled through a number of failed businesses.
"If there was any kind of development we would be looking for, I don't think Goodwill is the answer just by the nature of the trade," Andre van der Valk said.
Avrahow said he would review the feedback he received and come back before the neighborhood council before applying for a variance.
What do you think about Goodwill coming to Chatsworth? Do you think the former Hostess Bakery site is an appropriate location? Tell us in comments.
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