A plan to turn a West Hollywood landmark into a $6-million senior citizens home suffered a setback Thursday when the state Supreme Court ruled that officials failed to follow proper procedures in evaluating the project's effect on the environment.
City leaders have sought for some five years to use the leafy Laurel Avenue estate that locals call "Tara" for affordable housing. Critics contend that the place should be used as a public park and community center.
The home is shaded by a forest of 66 trees and dozens of tropical shrubs and resembles the plantation in the movie "Gone With the Wind." It was donated to the city by longtime resident Elsie Weisman, who is said to have died there at age 101 while watching the Clark Gable film.
The court ruled that the city should have done an environmental impact report on the 28-unit housing proposal before joining two development partners and obtaining a grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for it.
