Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
paid
south gate ca. permit no. 294
JUNE 2010
vol. 47, no. 6 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • Miracle Mile
SECTION ONE
Hearing held for 13-story condo 'Residences'
Intervention set for failing Los Angeles High
Proposed at Ross site
GRADUATIONS 22 - 26 PERMIT PARKING on Highland? 5 PARTY, and feast in Brookside.
8
WILSHIRE BLVD. on Historic Society agenda. 11 OFF, OFF Broadway at Burroughs. 11 PAWN SHOP gets its 15 minutes. 17 CHRONICLE intern pens impressions. 21 BIG SUNDAY project aids temple. 35 PATTY HILL covers the society scene. 42
SECTION TWO Real Estate Home & Garden
SUSTAINABLE and welcoming. 6 LA CONSERVANCY annual meeting. 2 SOLD! Fixer-uppers to mansions. 7 JUNE BRIDES rooted in Roman mythology. 15
For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
By Suzan Filipek A 300-unit condo development at the Ross Dress for Less site was considered by the city Planning Deputy Advisory Agency at a May 19 hearing. Arguments for, but mostly against the Casden Properties development were heard, said city planner Henry Chu. Third Street Residences, at 6298 W. Third St., is “a smartgrowth, mixed-income” project, says Casden spokesman Brian Lewis. The developer seeks to replace Q conditions on the three-acre parcel to build four buildings—from five to 13 stories tall. Jim Tokunaga of the city Planning Deputy Advisory Agency took the case under advisement, pending the request for a zone change, input from the Los Angeles Unified School District and design recommendations. Renee Weitzer, chief of land use planning for Councilman Tom LaBonge, did not supSee Residences, p. 18
'Roman Circle' to help
Senior beat The better years will be featured in our annual Senior Outlook published in the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Ad deadline is Tues., June 15. Call 323-462-2241, ext. 11.
KIDS HAVE ALL THE FUN. Youngsters—on the climbing tree at last year’s Park La Brea Outreach Day—will be able to climb again and enjoy other activities on Sat., June 5. More activities are in store at the Brookside Block Party on Sun., June 27. See page 8
Bungalow civil case delays outcome Arraignment set for June 23 in Hollywood division court Larchmont Bungalow’s legality is still up in the air, in the courts anyway. Not to assistant city attorney Tina Hess, who says it’s acting like a restaurant, but without a permit, and has little chance of getting one, as the number allowed on Larchmont Blvd. is maxed out. But her criminal case is being held up by a civil case. “I suspect this judge is going to want to trail behind the civil case,” says Hess. L.A. Superior Court Judge Spurgeon Smith agreed to Bungalow attorney Fred Gaines’ request last month and continued an arraignment on the criminal charges to Wed., June 23 in the Hollywood division. Gaines seeks the extension while waiting the outcome of a writ of mandate he filed in February. He would not comment for this article.
The writ seeks to overturn the city Building and Safety Board of Commissioners denial of an appeal of the city’s
revocation of the Bungalow’s certificate of occupancy. The certificate was revoked See Bungalow, p. 5
By Suzan Filipek A 40-percent drop out rate and low student test scores have prompted state and federal agencies to require Los Angeles High School to make some serious changes. “It’s been identified as a lowperformance school. It needs some form of intervention,” said Douglas Waybright, director of Local District Three which oversees the campus for the Los Angeles Unified School District. It’s a sad turn of events for the 137-year old school and the city’s first public high school, according to Bruce Corwin. He is president of the board of a trust willed to the school in 1895 by Alice Harrison. Educators are weighing four options: finding a partner to help manage the school, replace its faculty and administration entirely, transform it into a charter school and closing it altogether. The latter two options are not realistic, said Waybright, as it is unlikely any one will step up to take the site over as a charter. And closing the campus is also not practical in a city the size of L.A. Its year-round calendar which was in place to combat overcrowded classrooms ends See LA High, p. 15
On the Boulevard Glimpses by Jane We heard recently from a couple in San Diego that they are planning a vacation and want to be near Larchmont. Move over, Disneyland, we are also a tourist destination. ***
HOMELESS COUNT. Kerry Morrison heads the Hollywood Registry. Above, she interviews a veteran known as “The Godfather.” Story on page 14
We met up with Jo Wandling at Le Petit Greek. She told us she was one of the many friends and neighbors of Jan Daley’s, applauding Jan at her recent concert.
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
See BLVD., p. 5