Judge pressures outside groups to leave VA campus to make way for veteran housing

A federal judge spent hours Wednesday urging outside groups to reach an agreement on major changes at the sprawling Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles.

Judge David O. Carter ruled earlier this month that more than 2,000 new homes must be built on the VA property for unhoused veterans, and that existing leases that don’t primarily benefit veterans must be canceled.

Where things stand

Now, current leaseholders — including UCLA, the private K-12 Brentwood School, an oil drilling company and a parking lot management company — must figure out how to exit the property to make way for more housing and services for veterans currently living on the streets.

Read Carter's full decision ▶

The ultimate goal in this case is to build 750 units of temporary housing within the next year and a half, plus another 1,800 units of permanent housing within the next 6 years.

Those targets for new housing were set by Carter when he sided with disabled veterans who sued the VA over what they saw as long-standing land misuse. Amelia Piazza, a Public Counsel attorney who is one of the lawyers for the veterans, said Wednesday’s hearing was the most packed she’s seen in this case so far.

“We have this land on which housing can be constructed, and it's being leased out to private entities who aren't really using it for a purpose that principally benefits veterans,” Piazza said. “This is really about taking advantage of this resource and putting it to the best use possible for veterans in need.”

What happens now?

No formal injunctions to remove the outside groups had been signed by early Wednesday afternoon, when the hearing went into recess so parties involved could discuss the logistics of exiting the VA campus. But Carter said he was prepared to take swift action, potentially voiding the parking lot lease by Wednesday evening. He also said if UCLA’s Chancellor failed to appear in court to discuss an exit plan, he would order the VA to cordon off the university’s baseball stadium.

“You’re about to lose those 10 acres,” Carter told a UCLA attorney, who said the Chancellor was unavailable. “I’m getting the message that this land isn’t very important to UCLA.”

Carter means business: ‘I will fill this pool in with sand if I have to.’

The Brentwood School has spent considerable amounts of money building a large athletics complex on land leased from the VA. Carter said while he hoped students would still get to use the baseball fields, the track, the swimming pool and the tennis courts under an agreement with the VA, he was willing to shutter the facilities if no voluntary deal was reached.

Carter suggested Brentwood School officials call Rick Caruso, the developer and former L.A. mayoral candidate whose name is emblazoned on the school’s Caruso Watt Aquatics Center. Carter described Caruso as patriotic, saying, “I bet you if he was asked, he would donate it” to the VA. Without a deal, though, Carter said, “I will fill this pool in with sand if I have to.”

Another lease under review is tied to oil drilling on the VA grounds. Representatives from Bridgeland Resources appeared in court to defend the company’s claims. Carter again said he would order the company removed if needed. He said many veterans have severe lung problems due to exposure to burn pits.

“These veterans are not going to be at or near an oil well,” Carter said.

According to the latest homeless count , approximately 3,410 veterans are currently experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County.