In the shadow of the Capitol Records building, opponents of a massive Hollywood development played the earthquake card during a Monday morning press conference.
"It would be totally premature for the City Council to approve this project," said attorney Robert Silverstein.
The $664 million dollar Millennium Hollywood Project includes twin skyscrapers - 39 and 35 stories tall – as well as 1 million square feet of apartment, office and retail space around the iconic Capitol Records building.
Critics of the plan say there is evidence the project will be built on top of the active Hollywood earthquake fault.
Those are allegations the California Geological Survey, in a letter to the council over the weekend, says it wants to investigate.
"That this is an earthquake fault zone, that their investigation, the city’s investigation has been inadequate, and the state has now gotten involved," said Sliverstein.
The project developers called the attack "bluster."
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Project partner Philip Aarons said in a statement: "The charge that our project site is located on the Hollywood fault is refuted by the extensive geotechnical investigations that were conducted at the request of the city. The findings give us complete confidence that our project is safe."
Still, the issue has some past supporters of the development concerned.
"The fault lines and how close these are and do those truly exist and were they in fact ignored or was the project moved because of it, sure I have those questions and want those answers," said Councilman Mitch Englander, who is a member of the Planning & Land Use Committee.
The project is part of a plan to build more high-density residential along the Red Line Metro Rail, and has the backing of organized labor, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the business community.
Opponents have long argued it would result in gridlock on city streets and the 101 Freeway, and permanently alter the character of the city's most famous neighborhood.
A final vote is expected Wednesday.
