www.palisadesnews.com
August 27 – September 23, 2021 Volume 25, Issue 51
Report Advises Against Most Westside Homeless Shelter Locations Following Bonin’s Call for Feasibility Study
City Administrative Officer concludes majority of proposed sites are infeasible for residential use B y S am C atanzaro
Bringing homeless shelters to Will Rogers and Dockweiler beaches, Mar Vista and Westchester parks alongside other locations is infeasible, city officials concluded in a recent report. On August 10, the Los Angeles City Administrative Officer (CAO) finished a feasibility analysis of potential shelter locations in the 11th District. The analysis comes after Los Angeles City Council voted in May to approve Bonin’s proposal to look into bringing more homeless housing centers to the Westside. In the Tuesday report, the CAO concluded the majority of the sites Bonin prosed were infeasible for homeless shelters. “My thanks to the CAO for conducting the study and for underscoring the challenge of finding locations on the Westside,” Bonin said in a statement. “I believe very strongly that every part of the city, including the Westside, must provide solutions to homelessness, and I will keep working with
neighbors to find them.” According to Bonin, he will not push the City to continue pursuing the sites the CAO deemed infeasible. Among the locations deemed infeasible is the Los Angeles County-owned parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach,17000 Pacific Coast Highway, pegged as a potential temporary site for single-occupancy tinyhomes or safe camping. The CAO cited high infrastructure costs and logistical issues at this site and also for a similar proposal at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey. “The beach sites were not built for 24/7 residential use, and thus, the sewer infrastructure is not suitable for homeless housing,” reads the analysis. “The power capacity would have to be increased at both beaches, and the nearest transformer is located 1,000 feet from the sites.” In addition, the report cited the lack of nearby fire hydrants at these two beaches as among the reasons why the sites would be infeasible for residential use. Following the report, the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) issued a statement celebrating the findings. “We would like to thank the many members of our community, as well as our colleagues throughout CD 11, who have worked to support PPCC’s efforts in this matter,” the PPCC wrote. “Our Chair wishes especially to thank Chris Spitz, PPCC Secretary, for her unrelenting efforts including legal research and drafting of the
Photo: beaches.lacounty.gov
Will Rogers State Beach.
many letters and memoranda that PPCC sent to the CAO and other decision makers. We are confident that this research and advocacy was instrumental in achieving the positive result for our community and for all who visit and enjoy this treasured beach.” The CAO report also deemed it infeasible to bring safe sleeping to a privately owned plot of land in Del Rey citing lack of access and utilities. In addition, the analysis concluded bringing safe sleeping sites at Mar Vista and Westchester parks would be
infeasible because the sites are widely used by the public and generate revenue for the city. “Prior to the pandemic, both Westchester and Mar Vista Parks experienced varied and robust recreational usage. Data from both parks show that on average more than 6,000 youth participants attend and utilize the parks and facilities. The parking lots are needed for pick up and drop off for
Homeless Shelter, see page 6
Esteemed Italian Osteria Opening Palisades Restaurant Angelini Osteria opening in Palisades Village this winter By Kerry Slater
An esteemed Italian osteria is opening a restaurant in Pacific Palisades in the coming months. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, Angelini Osteria is preparing to open a restaurant in the Palisades Village. The restaurant, which is expected to open at some point in the winter, will be called Angelini Ristorante & Bar and will be helmed by chef-owner Gino Angelini and his friend and restaurateur Tancredi Deluca, known for Amici, Ombra Wine Bar and Deluca’s Deli. According to Angelini, the menu will contain many of the same dishes popular at
Angelini Osteria, including lasagna verde, taglioni limone and spaghetti chitarra alla norcina. The restaurant will occupy a space adjacent to Hank’s Bar and Grill in the Palisades Village, a location that Deluca says reminds him of Italy. “It reminds me of my little town where I grew up in Italy where there is a piazza, people gather together and you eat on the sidewalk,” Deluca told the Times. “Gino is definitely going to bring a whole different level of Italian food to that community.” Deluca and Angelini told the Times that a patio and bar area will seat around 60 people while a smaller indoor space will include around 40 seats. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with future plans for weekend brunch. Visit angelinirestaurantgroup.com for more information.
Linguine Santa Barbara Sea Urchin from Angelini Osteria.
Photo: Facebook (@angeliniosteria)