Why Costco Doesn't Have Day Care

Los Angeles Independent, January 10, 1996 from the Los Angeles Public Library

THIS THOUGHT HAS OCCURRED to me on more than one occasion. All these rugrats running under carts at our cramped Costco: Can't someone babysit them here? In a word, no, thanks to Franciscan Pottery. From the entry for 2901 Los Feliz Bvld. at California's EnviroStor database: "The Franciscan site is a former ceramics manufacturing facility, situated on 45 acres in Atwater Village. It was in operation for approximately 70 years, during which time ceramic waste and sludges were disposed of onsite. Elevated levels of zinc, cadmium, and lead were identified in the soils, both in the surface and in the subsurface. Soils contaminated with weathered diesel fuel were also found on the eastern boundary of the site. Asbestos was also discovered, as a result of various salvaging and demolition activities, inside the building structures and along the immediate perimeter of the site." Amongst the prohibited uses: DAY CARE CENTER PROHIBITED ELDER CARE CENTER PROHIBITED RAISING OF FOOD PROHIBITED HOSPITAL USE PROHIBITED RESIDENCE USE PROHIBITED PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR PERSONS UNDER 21 PROHIBITED Alas, then, no day care at Costco. But how did Toys'R'Us end up in the same parking lot?