CITY AGENCY BACKS PLAN TO TEAR DOWN CATHEDRAL.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

A city agency called Monday for removing St. Vibiana's Cathedral from the list of historic monuments and issuing a demolition permit, saying loss of the 120-year-old church would not constitute an environmental harm.

The finding by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency could pave the way for the City Council to issue a demolition permit July 16 after a 20-day public comment period.

The CRA, acting at the request of the City Council, issued a ``negative declaration'' stating that a more complete environmental review, which could take months, is not needed. A negative declaration is a finding that a project will not have a major effect on the environment.

CRA Executive Director John Molloy said the recommendation was based on the damage the cathedral has suffered from the Northridge Earthquake and other changes that have been made in the building over the years.

``Since the listing of the structure as an historic-cultural monument in 1963, adverse physical or aesthetic effects have occurred as the result of natural deterioration and several earthquakes,'' Molloy wrote in his report to the City Council.

Also, Molloy said, the church has agreed to take a number of actions to protect liturgical, artistic and decorative features of the cathedral to be incorporated in a new structure.

But the attorney for the Los Angeles Conservancy disputed the findings, saying he did not believe the city's opinion would be approved by Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien.

``We flat-out disagree with the CRA,'' said attorney Jack Rubens, whose group wants to preserve St. Vibiana's. ``It is abundantly clear that a full EIR is required before a demolition permit is given.''

Rubens said his group is prepared to challenge the ruling if the negative declaration is upheld.

``It would be our hope we never have to argue this in court. They can attempt to introduce this, but we believe it would be unsuccessful,'' Rubens said.

In a legal action filed by the conservancy last week, O'Brien ruled that the demolition of St. Vibiana's cannot proceed without the environmental review mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

O'Brien said Monday that he could not comment on whether the city's findings would be in compliance.

In an interview, Molloy said he believes the CRA finding will satisfy O'Brien.

``The court directed us to go through the proper CEQA process, and that's what this is,'' Molloy said.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, who wants to tear down St. Vibiana's and replace it with a $45 million Cathedral Square project at its Second and Main streets location, received a briefing Monday and will meet with the church's site selection committee today.

Mahony has threatened to build the new cathedral elsewhere - including possible sites in the San Fernando Valley and the Burbank-Glendale area - if he does not have assurances that he will be able to demolish St. Vibiana's by July 15.

The Rev. Gregory Coiro, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said Mahony plans a 2 p.m. news conference after meeting with the site committee.

``He has been meeting with the attorneys and has no comment,'' Coiro said. ``Anything to be said will be said Tuesday.''

John McNicholas, one of Mahony's attorneys, said he believed the CRA decision would bolster the church's arguments in court, but he would not make any other comment about what the cardinal had decided.

The CRA has authority over demolition of any structure within the Central Business District project area.

The Los Angeles City Council had been scheduled to consider today whether to remove the cathedral from the list of historic monuments, but that action is expected to be delayed because of the CRA's recommendation.

``What will happen is the council will be asked to delay their decision until at least July 16 to allow the public to comment on the (environmental) declaration,'' said CRA spokesman Mark Littman. ``There is a 20-day period for the public to comment and then the council can take action.''

The council already has gone on record in favor of removing the cathedral's historic-cultural status and a strong majority of council members said they still favor that action even with its own Cultural Historic Commission voting to retain the designation.

In his recommendation, Molloy noted that the archdiocese plans to save a variety of artifacts from St. Vibiana's, including the cathedral bells, the organ, all stained glass windows, the main altar and side altars, statues, marble sections and mosaic tiles.

In addition, the church would develop a photographic record of the cathedral to make use of the items in the new structure.