Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian announced his formal opposition to a proposed senior condominium development at the Weddington Golf & Tennis complex in Studio City along the L.A. River.

Krekorian, who generally has opposed development along the river, said that he “will always do everything in my power” to ensure that the property remains “a precious and cherished part of our quality of life in Studio City,” in a statement released Wednesday night

“This is the largest privately-owned open space adjacent to the Los Angeles River, and it is a vitally important component of my long-term vision for revitalization of the river as an environmental, aesthetic and recreational resource for the San Fernando Valley,” said Krekorian, whose Second Council District encompasses Studio City and stretches of the river.

The Weddington family, the founding family of North Hollywood, opened the golf course in 1955. They have been unsuccessfully attempting to put a residential development on the 16-acre parcel since 2000.

The latest project, dubbed the Studio City Senior Living Center, would construct 200 senior condos on about a fourth of the 16-acre property at 4141 Whitsett Ave., demolishing the tennis courts and leaving the nine-hole golf course, driving range and clubhouse in place.

The non-profit Save L.A. River would like to convert much of the property into a park, but would have to raise about $80 million to purchase it.

The city’s planning department extended the normal comment period on the project, and the councilman’s official statement said, “the vast majority of public commenters” agreed with his opposition to the project.

Weddington family attorney Michael C. Murphy of Burbank and development consultant Tom Stemnock, president of Planning Associates Inc. of Studio City, did not return calls for comment.