Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
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south gate ca. permit no. 294
APRIL 2010
vol. 47, no. 4 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • Miracle Mile
Debate continues on value of Crenshaw subway station Audience voiced opinions at recent meeting
SUMMER CAMPS Pages 25 to 31
SECTION ONE ANGEL'S FLIGHT re-opens. 6 GARDENS visited on Society tour. 8 ART CENTER opens at Pilgrim. 13 WILSHIRE Police's right hand. 17 WRESTLE with a Sumo for Third St. School. 19 SIGN UPS begin for Big Sunday. 32 FATHER BOYLE pens memoirs. 33
SECTION TWO Real Estate Home & Garden
HOTEL recalls silent film era. 3 HISTORY of Tinseltown in new book.
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SPRING home sales.
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For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
PLAY BALL. Wilshire Girls Softball members sang the National Anthem to kick-off the league's recent opening night ceremonies at Queen Anne Park. Left to right are Julianna Klimeck, Lola Rose Porier, Poppy Crawford and Paulette Ely. Page 30
School project approved by Commission Neighbors protest By Chris H. Sieroty Despite concerns from residents about increased traffic congestion, design and safety, the Los Angeles Planning Commission has approved expansion of the Yeshivath Torath Emeth Academy, a Jewish private school at the southwest corner of Clinton St. and Sycamore Ave. School officials plan to build a three-story, 8,300 squarefoot building to replace an existing 3,700-square-foot building. The school is located on a 9,064 square foot lot in an area that is zoned for residential use, and with the commission’s approval gives the school various conditional use permits it needs to move forward with the project. Once completed, the school would accommodate 120 children ages two through six and 20 staff people. Christopher Koontz, planning deputy for City Councilman Paul Koretz, told the commission that the school had agreed to support modifications to its project to address the neighbors’ most pressing concerns. These include all exterior staircases be enclosed, the See School project, p. 21
By Jane Gilman Should Metro build a $150 million station at Crenshaw and Wilshire boulevards? The debate on the value of a station extending from the current Purple line at Western Ave. to the city of Santa Monica received another goround at the Westside Subway Extension community meeting March 17. More than 70 people attended the forum at Wilshire United Methodist Church, and close to half of the audience voiced their opinions on the viability of the station. Those favoring the construc-
Court date brews April 15 for Larchmont Bungalow City attorney filed criminal charges By Suzan Filipek Larchmont Bungalow is more than an Artisan Café Bakery & Brew at 107 N. Larchmont Blvd. It’s illegal. Criminal charges were filed against owner Albert Mizrahi last month by Tina Hess, supervising assistant city attorney for the Safe Neighborhoods division. Larchmont Village Partners One, LLC was charged with three counts of failing to comply with orders, providing false information and operating without a certificate of occupancy.
LICENSED as take-out, but operating as a restaurant.
An arraignment and plea have been set for Thurs., April 15 in L.A. Superior Court, Hollywood Division, 5925 Hollywood Blvd. Charges were filed after the city Building and Safety Dept. revoked the Bungalow’s certificate of occupancy last year, Hess said. Mizrahi’s attorney Fred Gaines did not return calls. Building & Safety officials visited the site after complaints that, while licensed as a take-out with retail, it operated as a restaurant. Bungalow owners were cited, they appealed and were denied by the Building and Safety Board of Commissioners. The integrity of zoning laws is at stake, said Patty Lombard. The area resident is among several neighbors and Larchmont business owners who pressed city officials to enforce zoning laws after the Bungalow opened last fall with 36 tables and chairs. Limiting restaurants preserves the character of the street and keeps traffic, trash and noise in check, said Lombard. “You want to have thoughtful planning,” added Lombard, one of the founders of ilovelarchmontblvd.org, a See Bungalow, p. 21
tion of the station stop felt it was a necessary part of the system. Doug Meyer of Windsor Square said the Crenshaw stop should be part of the Wilshire spine to the sea. He also commented that it would be a link to the airport. Another Windsor Square resident, Mary Pickhardt, favors the station and said it will bring together different segments of the community. Charles Dougherty, president of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, said his organization opposes the station. It’s one and one-half miles from the Western station, and would not draw enough additional ridership to justify the expense, he said. No one has shown reasons to justify construction of an unneeded subway station at Crenshaw, said John Welborne, land use chairman of the Windsor Square Association. Scarce subway construction See CRENSHAW, p. 21
Design for Living in May Area homes and gardens, their residents, architects and designers will be featured in our annual special section, “Design for Living.” Advertising deadline is Thurs., April 15. Call Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
On the Boulevard Glimpses by Jane The winter we didn’t have this year may emerge in April, but Larchmontians won’t feel the chill. They will be too busy with college tours with their children, Dodger games, fundraisers and garden tours. *** Marilyn Moulton’s three daughters paid her a visit on her birthday recently. See BLVD., p. 14
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