Planning commission approves relocation of Advance America cash‑advance services downtown

The Inglewood Planning Commission on May 6 approved a special use permit to allow Advance America to relocate a permitted alternative financial services business to 425 East Manchester Boulevard following the prior site’s displacement for the Englewood Transit Connector project.

Assistant planner Brian Espinosa described the proposed 1,900‑square‑foot tenant space within a multi‑tenant shopping center in the downtown transit‑oriented district. The operation will offer short‑term loans (statutory flat fee set by California rules), money orders and money transmission services; Espinosa said the business will not cash checks at the new site but that the services fall under the municipal code’s check‑cashing classification.

Bruce Evans, counsel for Advance America, and Jeff Wheeler, operations director, told the commission the company has operated in Englewood for more than 26 years and that the relocation is driven by an eminent‑domain acquisition for the transit connector. Counsel said the typical loan sizes are small (state rules cap loans at $300 and allow a one‑time flat fee) and that the firm carries minimal on‑site cash. Wheeler said the operation had not experienced security incidents at the prior location.

Planner and applicant testimony described proposed hours of operation and staffing (three staff per shift). With no written opposition, the commission voted to affirm categorical exemption EAC2026‑042 and adopt the resolution approving SUP26‑00007; appeal rights were announced (20 days).