Re: The Hartwell project. Your review of this process was very informative plus the picture provided on page A5 (Aug. 30) of the Hartwell project is even more so. All of the extra units, storefronts and everything inside those buildings are definitely additional weight to the subterranean parking. Have there been updates from the builder to the City Council on the engineering required for that expansion? What is the safety factor to the residents with such a gross doubling in size and weight, or is there any?
Is subterranean parking safe in an area affected by both the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake and the 1994 earthquake?
Does no one remember the Northridge Meadows Apartments after the 1994 earthquake? No subterranean parking there, yet the second and third floors collapsed onto the first floor with a great loss of life. Does no one remember that the same earthquake destroyed a large part of our freeway and Clarence Dean lost his life rushing toward the Northridge Meadows disaster and there was no freeway there?
The questions go on and on. Look at The Signal’s excellent 1994 “Images 6.7” publication and please reprint your list inside the back cover as a reminder. Our last major earthquakes were in 1971 and 1994 , but shouldn’t we build like another will happen soon?
Is there any wonder why the City Council is in such turmoil? This above and beyond their expertise. What do the teams of city engineers recommend? What do earthquake professionals recommend?
Marybelle Knight
Newhall
