Sun's Restaurant at 6441 North Figueroa Street has been a fixture in Highland Park for 27-years, but owner Phillip Sun now fears that its future may be in jeopardy.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning will consider a request for zoning variance submitted on behalf of property owner Linda Colburn.
According to Christina Toy-Lee, of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, the area of North Figueroa where Sun's is located was rezoned from C2-1VL, a commercial zoning classification, to RD 1.5-1, a residential zoning type, in October of 2000.
The variance would grant both Sun's Restaurant and the retail building next door exceptions allowing them to continue operating with their current permits.
On the surface, the owner's application seems like something Sun's lovers would want to support, as it would bring the building's zoning type into compliance.
However, Sun told Patch on Tuesday afternoon that he fears the property's owners have plans to sell the building to a developer, and there maybe little he or community supporters can do to stop it.
Sun said that, if property was re-zoned as commercial, the current owners would be free to sell it.
"The family is interested in selling," Sun said. "If it gets transferred to commercial, it's basically a done deal."
The only hope for keeping Sun's in place, he said, would be for the building to maintain its current residential zoning classification, which would forestall any sale.
"If it stays as residential, the buyer might drop off market," he said. "Maybe I can renegotiate with the property owner and get the community involved."
Eddie Navarrette of FE Design, who is listed as Colburn's representative on the notice for Wednesday's public hearing, said he could not confirm that the family was interested in selling the property.
"I think that owners is trying to get some new tenants and they found out that they couldn't do anything until the permits are taken care of," he said. "I think it's more for the bike shop."
Sun told Patch that he won't be attending Wednesday's meeting, and has ultimatley resigned himself to the fact that the property will be sold. He says, if that's the case, he has no plans to relocate.
"I have nowhere else to go," he said.
Sun insisted that he was only going public with his concerns as a way to let the community know that he was willing to fight for the future of his restaurant, which he believes has a positive impact on the community.
"I'm not afraid of going out, but this place won't be the same," Sun said. "I've been here so long, this restaurant is bonded to the community. I had nightmares when I first found out, but now I've moved on. It's not about me, It's about what's best for the community."
In April of 2011, Highland Park Mount Washington Patch food columnist David O'Roscoe listed Sun's among the neighborhood's best restaurants.
"Sun's [...] is a Chinese restaurant like there used to be," he wrote. "They offer real American Chinese food. Chop suey, egg foo yong, sweet and sour pork, egg rolls--all of your favorites are offered here. They also have excellent Chinese dishes. The dining room is friendly and a good place to bring the kids."
Meeting Info:
When: Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring Street, Room 1020
Sadly, the HHPNC board members voted to support its rezoning to commercial building! As crazy as it may sound, the board voted more than 3 or 4 times due to a mismanaged and poorly worded motion! Each outcome was different from the previous one! HP needs to get on the Land Use Committee and HHPNC board to rectify this decision. Furthermore, the board members need to be well-informed of motions before VOTING! Otherwise, send it to committees for fact finding information and recommendations!
Interesting side note, the HHPNC appointed Harvey Slater to the seat vacated by Tom Williams. Mr. Slater, as some may recall, ran as an openly gay candidate last time, and lost. His friends on the council appointed him to this elected position. There was no real outreach, or effort made to find the best suitable candidate. To my knowledge, no notification of the vacancy was publisized, no other candidates were givin the oppertunityn to apply.It would appear this was a done deal accompliashed outside the view of the public, before the vote to appoint was even taken.That would be a very serious violation of The Brown Act, of course.Re: Sun's, the bottem line is the issue should have been refered to Land Use.Tom resigned because it wasn't.
There was a Real Estate agent named "Kirk" who stated that the property was in escrow. So Sun's fate is still up in the air...whomever buys the
From what I'm gathering the property was in escrow just awaiting to hear the outcome of the variance. Therefore, Sun's future isn't looking sunny at the moment! Time will tell if the property owner and representative who appeared before the HHPNC presented false statements!
The property owner Linda Colburn and the real estate agent Kirk were very shady and yes they did lie. Because the property is in escrow...that came out in the hearing. Phillip Sun feels that the property will be sold and he will be evicted so that they can put a high-end yuppie restaurant. So we will have to wait to see who purchases the property and what they will do....