Manhattan Beach residents who've been following the legal squabble over the construction of a new housing project can finally breathe a sigh of relief. A lawsuit that sought to slam the brakes on the Highrose housing development was tossed out by the courts. This legal scuffle began when the Manhattan Beach City Council green-lit the project in January 2023, sparking a challenge from a group called Chill The Build, LLC. They filed a complaint against the city's decision to go ahead with the construction at the Verandas Beach House location, according to a press release issued by the City of Manhattan Beach.
Chill The Build upped the ante late last year by moving for a preliminary injunction with hopes to halt all excavation and construction dead in its tracks. However, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge had a different playbook, ruling that Chill The Build couldn't likely win based on the merits of its case. The Judge took a hard look and found no evidence supporting a violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as Chill the Build suggested. Devoid of "meaningful evidence of harm," the Judge saw no reason to stop the project, sending the group back to the drawing board.
In the heat of the courthouse drama, Chill The Build decided to wave the white flag and dismissed their complaint "with prejudice," marking an end to their campaign against the Highrose project. The ruling secures the future of the 79-unit development, of which six units are earmarked as "very low income" housing. The City Council holds to their resolve that such developments are a cornerstone in addressing the escalating housing needs of Californians, as announced in the press release.
Construction for the Highrose housing project is slated to proceed without delay. The development promises to deliver affordable housing options, a commodity in short supply in upscale Manhattan Beach. For locals interested in eyeing updates on this project or discovering more city initiatives, the official website invites a click for more information.
