LOS ANGELES : Vacant Hospital Likely to Become Drug Rehab Unit

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday refused to bid $3.6 million to buy the vacant Lake View Medical Center, a move that virtually ensures that the Phoenix House drug rehabilitation group will purchase it at a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday.

By a 9-4 vote, the council rejected an appeal by Councilman Ernani Bernardi, who wanted the city to buy the site to house various civic services, including a child-care center, library and police substation. Bernardi represents the area whose constituents are opposed to a drug treatment center because they say it would attract crime.

In 1989, Phoenix House aborted its bid to buy the same property for $7.6 million after former First Lady Nancy Reagan, originally a key financial backer, dropped her support for the project amid opposition.