Construction on this building on Swarthmore Avenue was shut down around 10 a.m. on Sunday by LAPD after residents complained.
Police Close Sunday Construction at Caruso’s Project
By SUE PASCOE
A Circling the News reader tipped us off this morning that construction on Caruso’s Palisades Village was taking place on a Sunday. The condominium resident called 311 to report the activity, which is not allowed in Los Angeles on Sundays.
When this reporter arrived at Swarthmore and Sunset, workers were seen in the scaffolding on a building along Swarthmore. I spoke to two workers who were leaving. One, who did not wish to be identified said, “The police closed us down. We’re all leaving.”
I asked if there was a supervisor on site and was directed to call project director Michael Gazzano, Caruso’s VP of development.
Allowable construction hours in the City of L.A. are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays and national holidays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. No work is permitted on Sundays.
A week ago, August 12, construction was also reported by neighbors and we wrote in an earlier posting, “People in the condos next door are upset about Sunday working. One lady tried to report yesterday to someone at the City and pretty much got blown off.”
Last week, Mary Fontamilias, Caruso’s senior VP for marketing and communications, was contacted and told, “Residents are upset because it appears some construction people are not obeying City construction hours.”
In an August 15 email, Fontamilias addressed Sunday construction. “With regards to people who were working on Sunday, the Department of Water & Power was there this past Sunday and, unfortunately, we have no control over day or time that they perform work.”
Circling the News has sent a follow-up email about today’s construction, which was clearly not DWP-related.