|
Dear Friend:
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission just voted overwhelmingly to approve NOHO West, a critical redevelopment project that will revitalize Laurel Plaza and make this East San Fernando Valley commercial corridor thrive once again. This is a huge step forward for what I believe will be the cornerstone of a bright commercial future in the area. Securing a worthy redevelopment project here and in Valley Plaza has been my top economic development priority since I took office in January 2010. With NOHO West, we can all look forward to 24+ acres of top-notch, brand new retail, entertainment, office and housing options for Valley residents.
Back in the 1960s and 70s, Laurel Plaza was a source of economic activity, jobs, entertainment and community services. It was a primary symbol of the Valley's postwar building boom. Facing a decline since
the 80s,
the site has been underutilized and neglected, attracting blight and not much else to the corridor.
After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Los Angeles adopted the
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Earthquake Disaster Assistance Plan for the Laurel Canyon commercial corridor
.
Despite the creation of the CRA and several development proposals, the area failed to redevelop for more than two decades. Now, the only retail building still at Laurel Plaza, Macy's, is set to close next week, which will leave this lot almost entirely vacant.
My goal has always been to reinvigorate this commercial corridor and make it work for the surrounding community, which is why I have partnered with residents to ensure that the NOHO West project will enhance the neighborhood and be a catalyst for economic resurgence.
Building with the Neighborhood in Mind
 |
|
|
Councilmember Krekorian speaking to the City Planning Commission in support of the NOHO West project. | Photo: CD2
|
Since NOHO West was first proposed, my office has engaged with residents and expressed their questions and concerns to the developer. While most residents welcome this project, my job is to make sure the developer puts the neighborhood's quality of life and safety first. This is why I demanded that the original proposal be adjusted to better suit the needs of the neighborhood and preserve its charming character.
Ultimately, my office secured many important project improvements that will benefit the community, including l
owering the amount of housing by 100 units;
increasing the amount of open space and green space on the project, in addition to the courtyards and plazas already included in the original proposal;
adding nearly 30,000 square feet of additional commercial space to the project;
lowering the overall height of the project; a
dding landscaping and maintaining the medians surrounding the property, including those on Erwin Street, Radford Avenue, Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Oxnard Street;
improving building design elements to break up the massing of the buildings; and e
nsuring that 75 percent of the 1,200 construction jobs for the commercial center are quality union jobs.
My office was only able to secure these improvements because we worked hand in hand with the community to win them. Our partnership with the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council,
Laurel Hall School
, the Laurel Grove Neighborhood Association and others in the surrounding community were critical to making this excellent project even better.
NOHO West is an opportunity for the Valley to realize the commercial potential that still exists on this site by bringing shopping and entertainment options back to Laurel Plaza.
But my support for this improved project does not mean I am letting the developer off the hook.
I fully expect the developer to continue to work closely with community groups to address any outstanding issues that remain, and to continue this dialogue through the construction phase. I will personally monitor this to make sure it happens.
Read my letter to the Planning Commission about NOHO West here: bit.ly/2crQ3KU.
See NOHO West renderings and get more info at nohowest.com. NOHO West will come before the City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee and then the full City Council soon.
If you have comments about NOHO West, please contact me at
[email protected]
or (213) 473-7002.
Very truly yours,
Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2
|
 |
City Council Takes Action on Granny Flats
|
LOS ANGELES - This week, the City Council voted to grant legal status to existing second dwelling units, i.e., granny flats, and impose greater restrictions on future units. To help understand the Council's new ruling, here is a breakdown of how it will impact you.
What are the New Restrictions?
As a result of the City Council's recent action, granny flats
that were constructed, under construction or received building permits, between June 23, 2003, and
September 30, 2016 are granted legal status
. The law applies to roughly 550
granny
flats
citywide, many of which were constructed years ago.
Secondly, the City Council also fixed LA's
granny
flats
law to keep it more restrictive than state law. Beginning in October, anyone who applies for a
granny
flat
can only build one that is 640 square feet or smaller, on a lot larger than 7,500 square feet. Granny flats will
have the same setback, height and floor area limitations as primary residences and will not be permitted in hillside neighborhoods.
Why is the new ordinance necessary?
Prior to 2002, LA permitted the construction of granny flats under a discretionary Conditional Use Permit process. In 2002, the state legislature enacted AB 1866, which required California cities to allow granny flats by right. The state law removed LA's local discretion from the process. The new city ordinance appropriately bridges the local and state guidelines
Why is grandfathering fair?
People across Los Angeles who built, were building or applied to build a granny flat from 2003 to today were treading in legally ambiguous waters. They had done everything right under city rules, but those rules were found to be faulty. The Planning Department said, and the City Council agreed, that it would be fundamentally unfair to deny legal status to granny flats in this situation, especially since Angelenos invested considerable time and money to comply with the law that existed when they applied for a granny flat permit.
The grandfathering period expires on
Sept. 30
, in less than a week. The City Attorney recommended a date certain to provide a clear end to the grandfather period to prevent confusion for future permit seekers. Over the past six months, the Department of Building and Safety has reported only about 20 applications for
granny
flats
citywide. There has not been a "rush to the counter" by developers or others seeking to grandfather a granny flat.
How this will impact your neighborhood?
There should be little impact and minimal disruption to your neighborhood resulting from this ordinance. It fixes a legal problem for the city and provides certainty and fairness to homeowners moving forward. Homeowners have been able to build granny flats throughout California for many years. Now, there is the benefit of certainty about exactly what is and is not legal.
|
|
LOS ANGELES - The City of Los Angeles has been a leader in water conservation. Last year, Angelenos cut water usage by 13 percent to meet the city's pledge to reduce water consumption by 2017 and to meet the goals of our state's water conservation mandate.
As a result of this effort, residents across LA are taking important steps to become water wise, altering water-use habits and creating spaces in their homes and communities to conserve. Efficient irrigation, drought-tolerant landscapes, stormwater capture systems and better appliances are just some of the ways Angelenos have been defending against the drought.
If you or someone you know has been leading water conservation efforts in your community, tell us about your role as a drop defender for a chance to win at savethedropla.com/dropdefenders.
|
UCLA Helps Strathern Elementary Spruce Up the Campus
|
NORTH HOLLYWOOD - This week, nearly 100 bright-eyed Bruins visited Strathern Elementary School in North Hollywood during the university's annual day of service.
The student volunteers joined school officials and Councilmember Krekorian to plant trees, clean up the grounds and add new murals to the campus.
Last year, more than 6,000 Bruins participated at 52 community sites across LA's 15 council districts. The service projects provide critical beautification, mentoring, and volunteer support to schools, senior centers, food banks, parks, and shelters, while encouraging greater civic engagement.
|
City Launches Online Business Portal
|
LOS ANGELES - The City of Los Angeles is making it easy to start a business with the launch of its new online platform: Los Angeles Business Portal, a one-stop-shop that has all the information you need to get your business of the ground.
The online portal is a hub of resources that will guide new business owners through what can sometimes be a daunting process. The site's features, such as the "Start Up Guide," can quickly map out how to register your new business and be compliant city city rules, while other features share information on growth and management. The easy-to-navigate resource finder details what roles each city department plays for your business.
|
|
Aussie Coffee in Studio City
|
Small businesses are dedicated to providing services, showcasing unique flavors, bringing new crafts, goods and jobs to the East Valley. Our Valley News will spotlight neighborhood shops monthly that enhance our community through a new section called "Open for Business." As always, we look forward to your feedback about the places that are important to you. You can still let us know about the shops on your corner by completing our quick community survey: Click Here.
Red Window Coffee, a small walk-up coffee shack in Studio City, packs a big punch when it comes to delivering a fresh brew with an Aussie twist. Owners Dan and Leah Pringle, originally from Australia, opened the spot last year to much fanfare from the community. Its Blue Bottle cold brews and Aussie-style cappuccino are must orders at the window.
|
|
|
|
Councilmember Krekorian joined Barry Wise at the 20th anniversary celebration of Studio City Lifestyle Magazine. | Photo: John Walker
|
|
2016 California Friendly Landscape Training
Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Van Nuys
The LADWP and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California invite you to a series of free workshops about how you can become a waterwise gardener. Learn six ways make your garden California friendly and conserve water.
All workshops are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free parking is available. Class space is limited. so please RSVP to
[email protected]
and indicate what date you want to attend, include your name, LADWP service address, phone number, and name of guest (limit one guest); or call (800) 544-4498 press option 5 for more information.
|
Summer Movies in the Park - Blue Crush
Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.
North Hollywood Park
5099 Tujunga Ave.
North
Hollywood, CA 91606
This is the last movie in the Summer Movies in the Park series. Join the community for a screening of this summer thriller,
Blue Crush, starring Kate Bosworth
and Michelle Rodriguez
. Bring a picnic, blanket and the whole family to watch this fun film under the stars.
|
LACMA in NoHo -
Sumi-e Ink Painting
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m.
Valley Plaza Branch Library
12311 Vanowen St.
North Hollywood, CA 91605
Sumi-e is the Japanese word for black ink and a painting style that was developed in China in the early 7th century and adopted in other East Asian countries. Take a look at LACMA's exhibition
Japanese Painting: From the Zen Mind, and learn how to hold the brush and create a text-based artwork.
|
Native American Indian Gallery Grand Opening
Sunday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Andres Pico Adobe
10940 Sepulveda Blvd.
Mission Hills, CA 91345
The San Fernando Historical Society officially opens its new
Native American Indian Gallery
at the Andres Pico Adobe in Mission Hills. The free event celebrates the art and culture of the first peoples of North America in a new permanent exhibit featuring artifacts and historical objects from indigenous tribes throughout the United States. For m
ore information, visit
www.facebook.com/SFVHS.
|
LACMA in NoHo - Maya Ceramic Art
Monday, Sept. 26, 2 p.m.
North Hollywood (Amelia Earhart) Regional Library
5211 Tujunga Ave
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Be inspired by the ancient examples of Mayan ceramics from LACMA's permanent collection and
create your own clay pictographs as you
learn about the Maya civilization and the use of hieroglyphs during this LACMA workshop.
|
One Chickenfest 2016 - Environmental Festival
Sunday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
AAASC Community Center
5839 Cahuenga Blvd.
North Hollywood
One Chicken Fest is a community festival in North Hollywood that encourages a sustainable lifestyle and promotes environmental-friendly products. The free festival boasts fun activities for the whole family, including kids activities, live music, unique crafts sales, an e-waste recycling drive and local and sustainable food trucks. Visit
www.onechickenfest.org for more information about this year's event.
|
LA Historic Neighborhoods Conference
Saturday, Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm
St. John's Cathedral
514 W. Adams Blvd. (at Figueroa)
Los Angeles
The Department of City Planning and the Los Angeles Conservancy invite you to sign up for the LA Historic Neighborhoods Conference.
This year's theme is "community character," with sessions focused on
neighborhood conservation tools, re:code LA, community engagement and more.
The registration fee (only $25 if you register by
October 6
, $30 by
October 14
, or $35 at the door) covers all conference activities, including morning refreshments, lunch and your choice of walking tours. To register, visit www.laconservancy.org/neighborhoods.
|
Village Run/Walk 5K
Sunday, Oct. 16, 7 a.m.
LA Valley College, Parking Lot A
5800 Fulton Ave.
Valley Glen
Join the
Village Family Services, Valley Village and Councilmember Paul Krekorian for the third annual Village Run/Walk 5K, a San Fernando Valley Community event that raises awareness and resources for two essential human service nonprofits. Visit www.villagerunwalk.org for more information and to register for this year's event.
|
|
|
|
