December 2009
Larchmont Chronicle
INSIDE
Letters to the editor Sidewalks, not businesses
Section one RELIGIOUS NEWS
27
SCHOOLS
32
AROUND THE TOWN 37 ENTERTAINMENT Theater Review- 41 At the Movies - 45
41 GOOD works, bake sale for homeless. Sect. 1, 14
Section two REAL ESTATE
1-9
MUSEUM ROW
10
HOME & GARDEN
11
PROFESSOR KNOW-IT-ALL
15
CLASSIFIED
15
LIBRARIES
16
REAL ESTATE SALES 2
OIL PREDATES golf at club site. Sect. 2, 4
3
SecTION ONe
The uproar over the new business on Larchmont {Larchmont Bungalow} is reminiscent of the La Luna debacle which occurred because a young couple from Mexico City leased the space when La Luna failed to meet their lease obligations. A contingent of La Luna supporters, acting like the Larchmont Taliban, intimidated the new tenant by threatening a boycott and litigation. After signing a lease agreement, they sensed a level of hostility that shocked them and decided that this was not the place that they wanted to do business. Retail on Larchmont has changed just like retail everywhere else. Food has grown to be a much bigger part of lifestyles than ever before. The Larchmont Fair is a good example; a few years ago there would have been very little food served. The Fair was mostly food and, by the way, an extremely successful Fair. For every loud negative comment spoken about Larchmont today there are about 50 silent supporters, and they are the ones that are supporting the merchants on the street, not the naysayer. The Larchmont Bungalow is already a success and fills a void that the street (Please turn to page 38)
Not about chairs
The controversy over the illegal restaurant Larchmont Bungalow is not about whether or not they can have tables and chairs! It’s about stopping a developer from doing whatever he wants! The tables and chairs are a technicality, sort of like arresting Al Capone for tax evasion, but they illustrate the way Albert Mizrahi and his partners operate—say whatever it takes to the city councilmember to get the restaurant open, then act like you didn’t understand the rules and appeal to the sympathy of nice neighbors. The owner of the Larchmont Bungalow property, developer Mizrahi, and his Bungalow partners, Jonathan Ahron and Ken Bernard, operating manager of the restaurant, want you to think they are just a couple of guys being picked on by a small group of residents who don’t want you to have a new restaurant. How ironic, we’re the little guys, we don’t own a single square inch of Larchmont but they own 20,000 square feet! Mr. Mizrahi wants you to welcome him to the street as a hero in this economic recession for employing 40 or so people. But what about all the people who lost their jobs after he bought (Please turn to page 38)
Notes From the
Happiness is being at home for the Holidays. Happiness is having your loved ones with you on the Holidays. Happiness is shopping, eating and browsing through Larchmont Boulevard for the Holidays. The Boulevard has prepared for a wonderful holiday season – come join us for fun, friendship and that amazing sense of Community. Join us as you count your blessings in our wonderful Boulevard and our community. As we look back on the year I am struck by the expression and the question is this “the new normal”? Many in our community are trying to adjust to new circumstances which have not been always comfortable or pleasant. Change though difficult and harsh can be a positive experience. On the Boulevard we had many changes – we had new establishments come and we have lost old time favorites. We, at the Larchmont Boulevard Association, are committed to preserving the charm, character and sense of community that we have on Larchmont. It has been said by so many that the Larchmont experience is unique, special, quaint and still in “human scale”. There are the other adjectives that apply to larger shopping areas and complexes but not to us. We are a small island in the city surrounded by the best community in the world serving the needs of this surrounding community. Thank you for your support. www.Larchmont. com. Happy Holidays. Adv.
The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 157 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org. ADV.
GWNC TaCkles HoT-BuTToN Issues The November 11 meeting of the GWNC agenda was full of important land use and community issues including: • Cell Cell Phone Phone Tower Tower Proliferation Proliferation – – The GWNC Board of Directors voted unanimously to recommend a moratorium on all new cell phone towers until the laws can be reviewed and a new policy created. • Larchmont Larchmont Bungalow Bungalow ( (107 107 N. Larchmont) Larchmont) – Comments Comments were were heard from the managers of the Larchmont Bungalow and GWNC Board members members regarding regardingtothe thebusiness’ business’requirement requirement to to operate as a takeout facility. The GWNC Board voted 12 in favor, one opposed to support enforcement of “Q” conditions in general and the specific actions of the City of Los Angeles Building & Safety to enforce the requirements in this case. • Wilshire Wilshire Subway, Subway, Crenshaw Crenshaw Station Station – – Eight Eight GWNC board members voted in favor, one opposed and four abstained for a motion to oppose the building of a station at Crenshaw and Wilshire Boulevards. The GWNC will invite MTA planners to attend our January meeting to discuss options for development for the existing MTA-owned property at the corner of Crenshaw and Wilshire. • Proposed Proposed Medical Marijuana Ordinance – Twelve GWNC Board Medical Marijuana Ordinance – Twelve GWNC Board votes invotes favorinand favor oneand abstention one abstention for recommending for recommending the GWNC the GWNC support the support City the Attorney City Attorney and the fourth and the draft fourth of the draft proposed of the proposed ordinance.ordinance. • Windsor Village Developer Lawsuit – The Windsor Village Developer Lawsuit – The GWNC GWNC Board Board voted voted unanimously to request that the City of Los Angeles vigorously defend a lawsuit brought by the developer of the property located at 751-752 South Windsor Blvd. alleging “abuse of discretion” in denials of development permits within the Park Mile area. • Fire station station 29 29 New GPS Units purchased purchased – The The GWNC GWNC purchased and delivered five portable GPS units for Fire station 29 purchased and delivered five portable GPS units for Fire station The 29The station’s captain reports “they are thrilled” with the items. station’s captain reports “they are thrilled” with the items. • Robert Robert Burns Burns Park Park – – The The GWNC GWNC Board Board voted voted unanimously unanimously to spend $658.50 for five 24” boxed trees for the landscaping improvements at Robert Burns Park. The park has been temporarily closed for re-seeding of the lawn and new landscaping. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting – January 13, 2010, 7 p.m., @ the Wilshire Ebell – January 13, 2010, 7 p.m., @ the Wilshire Ebell , Parking available Parking available in the lot! in the lot!
We want to hear from you… if you haven’t joined our mailing list – please write to info@greaterwilshire.org and ask to be added.
©LC1209
By John Winther
The Windsor Square Association held its annual meeting (arguably, its 85th, because the WSA was founded in 1925), in the ballroom of the historic Ebell of Los Angeles on November 12th. Meeting highlights included: • Los Angeles Police Department Captains Davis (Wilshire) and Blake (Olympic) and Senior Lead Officers Cordova (Wilshire) and Pelayo (Olympic), who made reports on their joint coverage of our neighborhood, including the good news that crime was down in general. • The presentation of the annual “Squeaky Wheel Award.” The Award honors residents of Windsor Square whose persistence in addressing an issue of community concern protects or improves the quality of life in the neighborhood. This year’s Award was presented jointly to Michael Cornwell, Jane Usher, and Carolyn Ramsay, who collectively served a quartercentury as WSA President. • Councilmember Tom LaBonge also attended. Among other matters, he spoke about welcoming new businesses to Larchmont Boulevard and about the importance of also respecting zoning conditions on the Boulevard. Councilman LaBonge additionally made a special award to former WSA President Mike Cornwell, who continues to coordinate Windsor Square filming permits. The Councilmember presented Mike with a one-foot-long piece of the trolley line steel rail that used to run down the center of Larchmont Boulevard. The WSA joins Councilmember LaBonge in encouraging compliance with, and enforcement of, local zoning laws, and the WSA urges residents to review the “Q Conditions” zoning regulation that affects Larchmont Boulevard. Residents can view the adopted Larchmont Ordinance and also keep up to date regarding general activity on the Boulevard by visiting the web site: www.ilovelarchmontblvd.com
© LC 1209
LBA