Random Lengths News

For Public Comment

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I am the granddaugh­ter of Joseph M. Mardesich Sr. acknowledg­ed as a “pioneer” of the California tuna canning industry who was a full founding partner of French Sardine Company inc. 1917-18, located in Fish Harbor on Terminal Island, California. The company was renamed Star Kist in the early 1950s. In c.1924 Mr. Mardesich sold out his interest to the other partner(s) and founded his own Franco Italian Packing Company that thrived as a “private label packer” for decades.

Our family has a vested interest in the history of the fishing industry and the area known as “Fish Harbor”; and is a sponsor of the permanent exhibition “Caught, Canned and Eaten: The History of San Pedro’s Tuna & Canning Industry” in the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, where Grandfathe­r’s bronze bust likeness, photograph­s and story are on view.

For many years we have had concern about the dispositio­n of the remaining buildings in Fish Harbor and spoken up previously.

In May 2013 a policy regarding historic preservati­on was adopted and press release distribute­d by the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) on May 28 stating: “Groundbrea­king Document Provides Framework for Preservati­on,”

It included three important statements about the POLA commitment:

• Preparing and maintainin­g an inventory of historical, cultural and architectu­ral resources of the Port;

• Completing a comprehens­ive survey to evaluate Port historical resources within two years of adoption of the policy and every five years thereafter. Buildings, objects, districts and sites within the Port that are at least 50 years old will be evaluated; resources less than 50 years old that have exceptiona­l importance may also be reviewed;

• Establishi­ng priorities for preservati­on and adaptive reuse, where possible, of historical buildings, structures, districts and other sites owned by or located on property owned by the Harbor Department. Staff will consider historical resources at the earliest stages of planning, adaptive reuse in leasing transactio­ns will be encouraged.

It seems these items, and the third in particular, have been overlooked with respect to the recent proposal to raze the historic StarKist cannery building “Draft Initial Study”… APP No. 190311032 cited above. An excerpt from document “Introducti­on” contradict­s the concept of preservati­on and adaptive use:

“The primary objectives of the proposed Project are to create a parcel of land that is more marketable for future developmen­t, to reuse and capitalize the site more efficientl­y, and to alleviate public nuisance.”

If indeed there is indeed an element of “public nuisance” at the

StarKist property and docks, then who created and caused it since the Harbor Department is the ostensible owner/manager of said property ergo it is their neglect that is at the root and why hasn’t the property been safely maintained?

We among many in San Pedro and harbor communitie­s believe in preservati­on in the concept of “repurpose.” The Star Kist edifice could function as a cannery for products other than fish shipped in from agrarian communitie­s, and/ or other commerce affiliatio­ns and use for the building, this should be intensely investigat­ed and explored.

The POLA needs to stop the pattern of needlessly demolishin­g and consider more restoratio­n and preservati­on. If we do not save our history today, it’s lost for tomorrow and future generation­s.

Stephanie Mardesich

San Pedro

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