HARVARD HEIGHTS : Sav-On Faces Liquor Hearing

A public hearing will be held Thursday to determine whether a Sav-On drugstore that was gutted during last year’s riots will be allowed to continue to sell alcoholic beverages.

The store at 1701 S. Western Ave. is being rebuilt. Neighboring stores in the commercial center suffered heavy damage during the riots. The center includes a Viva supermarket, a taco stand, a self-serve laundry and an auto garage. The supermarket also sells alcohol.

The Sav-On store previously had a liquor license, but because of the interruption in service caused by the rebuilding, a city zoning administrator must make a new determination on the store’s request to sell alcohol, said Herminigildo Agustin, a city zoning analyst.

Some neighbors oppose the store’s plan to sell liquor again. “We don’t need more of the same,” said Natalie Neith, a member of the West Adams Heritage Assn. She said there have been numerous crimes, including a homicide, at liquor stores in the area in the past year.

However, others said they would not oppose the sale of liquor at the Sav-On store as long as security is beefed up and the grounds around the store are kept clean.

“Of all the liquor outlets in the area, Sav-On as a corporation would be the easiest to hold accountable” for any problems, said Jon Rake, president of the Harvard Heights Neighborhood Assn.

The hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. in Room 238 at City Hall. The case number is ZA 93-0266.

Information: (213) 485-3851.