1st Amendment Group Files Lawsuit over
Transcription
1st Amendment Group Files Lawsuit over
Los Feliz Ledger Vol 12. No. 3 Read by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood Hills Not Vote Trading But Definitely Something Possible DASH Changes Eliminate Service on Hillhurst Ave By Allison B. Cohen By Allison B. Cohen and Belen Cahill LOS FELIZ—Initial findings from an analysis conducted by the city’s Dept. of Transportation (LADOT) recommends eliminating the DASH bus line north of Franklin Avenue on Vermont Avenue and entirely from Hillhurst Avenue, to provide service connecting Los Feliz and Silver Lake. The elimination would mean connectivity of Los Feliz Village to Marshall High and Thomas Starr King Middle schools at the expense of service north on Vermont Avenue to Los Feliz Boulevard and all service on Hillhurst Avenue. see DASH page 3 East Hollywood BID Has New Plan for “Triangle” By Erin Hickey Ledger Contributing Writer LOS FELIZ—For the last several years, the Vermont Triangle, a traffic median-cumpark located at the three-point intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vermont and Prospect avenues, has been host to a constant rotation of homeless encampments. Now, four years after taking over upkeep of the area, the East Hollywood Business Improvement District (BID) might actually be able to do something about it. According to East Hollywood BID Vice Chair Jeff see TRIANGLE page 21 Street Level: Undocumented Immigration, page 3 September 2016 As part of the Los Feliz Improvement Assoc.’s (LFIA) centennial celebration, the non-profit resident group is collaborating with Los Feliz Village businesses to exhibit, 100 Years: Historic Moments in Los Feliz through Sept. 12. Historic photos can be seen at Alcove Café, Café Los Feliz, Chase Bank, Co-Op 28, Covell, Desert Rose, Farfalla, Los Feliz Branch Library, McCall’s Meat & Fish Co., Palermo, Rockwell Table & Stage, Skylight Books, Spitz, Tropicalia Brazilian Grill, Twenty40 Café and Yuca’s on Hollywood. The photographs are available for purchase at lfia.org. The photo above shows the Shakespeare Bridge from 1928 and can be viewed at the Los Feliz Library. Proceeds support LFIA’s neighborhood programs. Photo Courtesy: LFIA. Historic Status Can’t Save Lytton By Erin Hickey Ledger Contributing Writer Historic designation may not save the former Lytton Savings building, with its Googie accordion roof and mid-century modern design, from demolition. The building, located at the east end of the Sunset Strip, is in danger of being torn down to make way for a mixed-use apartment complex, designed by Frank Gehry and approved by the Los Angeles City Planning Commission at a July hearing. Designed in 1960 by Swiss-born architect Kurt Meyer and considered by many to be an iconic example see LYTTON page 20 Editorial: The other side of the “Vermont Triangle,” page 6 A popular notion amongst the online blogging community is that the Los Angeles City Council engages in what is called “vote trading,” the illegal activity where a councilmember promises a “yes” vote on a colleague’s motion, provided they receive the same courtesy later on their own. But according to experts, such 15-0 unanimous vote tallies are instead the result of an increasingly politically and ideologically aligned city council and due to a decades long weakening of political sway in Sacramento while Los Angeles city politics has strengthened. According to an analysis by the Los Feliz Ledger, in see VOTE page 7 1st Amendment Group Files Lawsuit over LaBonge Destroyed Documents By Allison B. Cohen The First Amendment Coalition filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court August 23rd against the city of Los Angeles, alleging it has illegally destroyed public records and therefore has used taxpayer funds to “implement, enforce or otherwise carry out illegal policies and practices,” in doing so. The coalition, a non-profit based out of San Rafael, CA, last February sent a California Public Records Act request to Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson requesting emails, letters, memos and notes either written by or sent to former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge in 2014 related the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, the California Film Commission and con- Lifestyles: You’re the Worst, shows our better side, page 8 Real Estate: Echo Park Thriving, page 11 Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. cerning a proposed development in Sherman Oaks. A March 2016 response to the coalition from Wesson’s as- sistant Chief Deputy, Edward Johnson, indicated: “Our office conducted a search and have concluded that our office has no documents consistent with your request.” It is unclear why the coalition requested the documents from Wesson’s office rather than the Los Angeles City Clerk. A request for comment from the attorney filing the complaint was not immediately returned. In the 59-page suit, an attorney for the coalition claims the city has violated the California Public Records Act by being unable to supply the requested documents and for wrongfully desee LAWSUIT page 18 Out & About: Country singer Kacey Musgraves plays the Greek Sept. 14. losfelizledger.com Los Feliz Ledger FOUNDED 20 05 Delivered the last Thursday of each month to 34,500 homes and businesses in the Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Echo Park and Hollywood Hills communities. 1933 Hillhurst Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 (323) 741-0019 PUBLISHER /EDITOR Allison B. Cohen A SSISTANT EDITOR Sheila Lane Erin Hickey ADVERTISING SALES Libby Butler-Gluck 323-644-5536 libby@losfelizledger.com GR APHIC DESIGN & L AYOUT Tiffany Sims For more stories and updates: LosFelizLedger.com Despite what was promised, the Silver Lake Reservoir is in danger of not being filled for years. Please join us to save our reservoir www.RefillSilverLakeNow.org Available at these locations: Atwater Library 3379 Glendale Blvd. Bruce Q’s Barbershop & Salon 3013 W. Los Feliz Blvd. Casita del Campo 1920 Hyperion Ave Citibank 1965 Hillhurst Avenue Courtney + Kurt Real Estate 3167 Glendale Blvd. Dresden Restaurant 1760 N. Vermont Avenue House of Pies 1869 N. Vermont Los Feliz Public Library 1874 Hillhurst Avenue Los Feliz 3 Theaters 1822 N. Vermont Muddy Paws Coffee 3320 Sunset Blvd. Newsstand Vermont and Melbourne Palermo 1858 N. Vermont Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont The Village Bakery and Café 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. • ART • MUSIC FOOD SIGN THE PETITION! www.RefillPetition.com DWP Do What’s Promised! Daily Happy Hour 3pm-7pm George Hanna, DDS KEEP CALM AND FLOSS WELL services: crowns implants cosmetic whitening and more... 1655 Hillhurst Ave. Suite 101 Los Feliz, CA 90027 (323) 660-8088 notoothleftbehind.com We are Looking forward to serving you “our inspiration is to see you smile” Page 2 Gorgeous Garden Patio A S I LV E R L A K E C L A S S I C S I N C E 1 9 6 2 Delicious Authentic Mexican Cuisine “Best Handmade Margaritas with Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice in Silver Lake” 1920 Hyperion Avenue, Silver Lake Open Daily from 11 am 323-662-4255 www.casitadelcampo.net AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger DASH from page 1 [street level] Undocumented Immigration By Michael Darling , Ledger Contributing Writer The issue of undocumented immigration has become a hot topic on both sides of the political aisle in this election year. What is your opinion on undocumented immigration and have you, or do you know anyone that has, been affected by it? “It’s hard to think about because it gets into questions of entitlement. Like, just because I was born here, does that mean I deserve it more than someone who wasn’t?” – Matt M., outside the Echo Park Time Travel Mart on Sunset Boulevard. “People who came to this country are the hardest working people in the country and people like Donald Trump are disgusting.” – Erica B., outside Blue Bottle Coffee on Sunset Boulevard. “Personally, I’m not affected by it, but are my taxes paying for their healthcare? I don’t know. I’m not really sure I have an opinion, sorry.” – Phil B., outside Stories Books and Cafe on Sunset Boulevard. “I think I have too many opinions because it does affect me. I’m first generation, so I know a lot of undocumented people. People want to be with their families and it’s hard, especially when you don’t have the access to resources that legal immigrants and citizens have.” – Nan S., outside Stories Books and Cafe on Sunset Boulevard. “It doesn’t really affect me. I feel like they should be treated better. There’s a stigma, they’re stereotyped as see STREET LEVEL page 7 According to LADOT officials, in reference to the Vermont Avenue route, the weekend “Observatory Shuttle” from the Sunset/Vermont Metro station will continue to run to the Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park and the Greek Theater as a separate line, and might become daily in the future. DASH lines are bus routes intended to serve self-contained neighborhoods, as opposed to other lines that travel the length and breadth of the city. According to a June ridership study by the LADOT, there were 44 DASH boardings on Hillhurst at four stops: Los Feliz Boulevard and Ambrose, Finley and Franklin avenues, amounting to 18% of the total daily boardings along the entire Los Feliz DASH line. “DASH Los Feliz currently ranks near the bottom of the list of DASH services in ridership,” said LADOT’s Phil Aker. “We’ve come up with a revised route that extends eastward into...Silver Lake in an effort to improve its performance.” The possible changes confounded both the Los Feliz Village Business Improve- changes has been extended until Sept. 30th. “From my perspective,” said LFNC councilmember Linda Demmers when she finally learned of the plan, “it is a mistake to eliminate Hillhurst north of Franklin from the route.... The vitality of the businesses on A map of the proposed changes to the Dash Los Feliz. Hillhurst are priThe area indicated with a blue line would be the new mary to the ecoroute. The gray line shows the areas the DASH would be nomic well-being eliminated, including all of Hillhurst Avenue. of Los Feliz.” Some busiment District and the Los nesses on Hillhurst Avenue Feliz Neighborhood Council had mixed reactions to the (LFNC). possible elimination of the old According to representaDASH route. tives from both organizations, The manager of Little neither was provided any adDom’s was surprised by the vance notice of the possible news and noted that businesschanges or information on es were not made aware of this eight associated August public development, while the owner hearings. of Café Los Feliz said he susAccording to Aker, about pected the shift would affect 1/3 of the city’s 96 neighborhis employee base more than hood councils were inadveranything. tently left off the list notifying But the owner of Hillhurst them of the possible changes Liquors, Kamy Azizi, said he and public meetings. expects the possible changes As a result, Aker said, the would diminish his customer deadline for public comment see DASH page 16 on any of the recommended HYBRIDS September 2016 www.losfelizledger.com COMMUNITY NEWS Page 3 Los Feliz Ledger “Sci-Fi” Square Beloved Local, Ackerman, Up for Honor By Erin Hickey, Ledger Contributing Writer Forrest J Ackerman in 1972. Photo by Rob Mieremet, courtesy the Dutch National Archives. The intersection of Franklin and Vermont avenues may soon be known as “Forrest J Ackerman Square,” thanks to an August motion by Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu (CD 4). The square would honor Ackerman, a lifetime Angeleno best known for coining the term “sci-fi.” Ackerman, referred to affectionately as “Uncle Forry” by friends and fans, founded and edited Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine that reportedly inspired such greats as Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson to become filmmakers. According to Ackerman’s long time friend and business advisor Sean Fernald, del Toro was so inspired by the magazine as a child that he once visited Ackerman at his home to ask if he would adopt him. Famous Monsters was “a beacon in the dark for horror and science fiction fans,” said Fernald. “Before the Internet, it was the only way for scifi nerds to know that others shared their interests.” One such fan was Paul Davids, who directed The SciFi Boys, a 2006 documentary about the countless contemporary filmmakers who were inspired by Ackerman. Davids first met Ackerman as a teenager, when he won an amateur filmmaking contest sponsored by Famous Monsters. According to Davids, that encounter solidified his interest in filmmaking and spawned a 50-year friendship. “Forry had a large hand Page 4 COMMUNITY NEWS in inspiring and molding all the kids who became our great filmmakers. As one of Los Angeles’s native sons, we should be honoring him,” said Davids. According to Joe Moe, Ackerman’s best friend—and during his later years, his caregiver—Ackerman was the “Johnny Appleseed” of science fiction, sowing the seeds of sci- “ Ackerman possessed a massive movie memorabilia collection, and would open his Glendower Avenue home to the public each Saturday as an unofficial science fiction museum. He continued the tradition, albeit with a smaller collection when he moved to Russell Avenue in 2002. Although the commission ruled the bungalow did not represent a strong enough connection with Ackerman to qualify for historic status, they suggested the city instead designate the corner of Hillhurst and Russell avenues as a square in his honor. According to Concerned Citizens of Los Feliz member Alexandra Kondracke, representatives for Ryu approached the group immediately following the commission hearing to discuss next steps for designating the square. “We’re totally thrilled about Ackerman Square,” said Kondracke. “We feel like we’ve got a great councilman who’s really listening to us.” Although the intersection at Hillhurst and Russell avenues was initially suggested as the site for the square, the corner of Franklin and Vermont avenues was deemed more appropriate, both for its higher foot-traffic and its proximity to Ackerman’s favorite restaurant. “Forry could always be found there at the House of Pies,” said Davids, who said Ackerman ate at the restaurant several times a week, often dining with such science fic- Forry had a large hand in inspiring and molding all the kids who became our great filmmakers. As one of Los Angeles’s native sons, we should be honoring him. — Director Paul Davids fi fandom in young filmmakers, and encouraging them to pursue their craft. “Forry was that rare figure in show business that truly was about other people,” said Moe. “His spirit of generosity…continues to inspire others to throw their hats in the ring.” The notion of honoring Ackerman with a city square was first brought up at a March meeting of the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission, where a group called “Concerned Citizens of Los Feliz” tried and failed to gain historic status for a bungalow on Russell Avenue, which Ackerman called home for the final six years of his life. Ackerman referred to the bungalow as his “Acker-MiniMansion,” in reference to the “Ackermansion,” his former home on Glendower Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. ” tion luminaries as Ray Bradbury. Fernald, too, mentioned Ackerman’s affinity for the diner, and said a key factor in his decision to move to Russell Avenue was being able to walk to House of Pies. “There’s no better place to honor him,” said Fernald. If the motion is passed, the designation of the square, along with a public ceremony, is planned for November 24th, to coincide with what would have been Ackerman’s 100th birthday, according to Ryu spokesperson Estevan Montemayor. Additionally, Ackerman’s hand and foot prints can be seen in front of the Vista Theater on Hillhurst Avenue and Sunset Drive, where he had a lifetime free movie pass. For more on city squares, read “Hip To Be Square” online at losfelizledger.com. [silver lake neighborhood council] Community Outreach andParticipation By Co-Chair Anne-Marie Johnson It’s been another busy month for the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC). On July 27, the executive committee hosted a Town Hall meeting so residents and stakeholders could learn more about Frost/Chaddock’s Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Sunset-Gateway development. It was standing room only in the community room of the Holy Mary Virgin Cathedral as key members of the Frost/ Chaddock development team presented aspects of their proposals, answered questions and heard comments from over 100 people. (The official public comment period con- cluded on August 15th.) It was also standing room only at the Ivanhoe Elementary auditorium at our August 3rd board meeting. Not only was the board asked to provide its opinion on Frost/Chaddock’s proposed development, we also heard a motion to support Botanica Restaurant and Market on Silver Lake Boulevard. After serious consideration, the board voted to support Botanica’s proposal, with conditions. And with regard to Frost/Chaddock, the board voted to refer the proposed development back to the SLNC’s Urban Design and Preservation Advisory Committee for see SLNC page 5 Find Your Career and Dream Job! • Parents...wanting to help your son or daughter launch their career? • Finishing a degree and embarking on your job search? • Changing your career path after several years of experience? • Wanting to make a transition in your current industry? COMPLIMENTARY Introduction Session with Scott Turner! I have over 20+ years of combined corporate and academic experience and offer career coaching services tailored to your individual goals, lifestyle, and personal needs. To learn more, visit my website at: www.findingyourcareer.org; or call to schedule your complimentary introductory session! (310) 486-6701. #FindingYourCareer WORRIED? STRESSED? DEPRESSED? There are answers in this book. BUY AND READ DIANETiCS THE MODERN SCIENCE OF M E N TA L H E A LT H THE #1 BEST SELLING BOOK ON THE HUMAN MIND BY L. RON HUBBARD MAY YOU NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN PRICE: $25 4810 W. Sunset Blvd., LA CA 90027 Open daily: 9am - 10pm www.scientology-losangeles.org/books www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger [assemblymember gatto] [los feliz neighborhood council] Good Vibrations Making Moves By California Assemblymember Mike Gatto By Luke H. Klipp, President and District E Representative Los Feliz Neighborhood Council I still get stopped on the street by people who ask what happened to the idea of using our roads to generate electricity. Shortly after being elected, I had a conversation with a friend who had just returned from Israel. Expecting to hear emotional descriptions of religious sites, I was surprised to hear my friend rave instead about a road that produced energy. mission (CEC) to study the issue. After years of research, the CEC announced it would be funding multiple piezoelectric pilot projects throughout California. Piezoelectric technology has been used for years in sonar and electric guitars. In 2009, the East Japan Railway Company installed piezoelectric flooring in their Tokyo railway station, using the energy generated by passing pedestrians to power all displays in California is the car capital of the world, and we recycle just about everything. So why not capture the energy from road vibrations and put it to good use? After researching the issue, I found that engineers in Israel, Italy and Japan had successfully installed piezoelectric sensors underneath roadways and railways. The technique uses tiny devices that look like watch batteries, embedded in pavement, to recapture energy that would be otherwise lost as vehicles rumble along. The energy from the tiny vibrations can be converted into electricity to power roadside lights, call boxes and neighboring communities. In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed my bill AB 306, which would have implemented two piezoelectricpilot projects on California freeways. Undeterred, I asked the California Energy Com- the station. Israel has already placed this technology under some highways, and Italy has signed a contract to place the technology under a stretch of the Venice-to-Trieste Autostrada. Even a dance club in San Francisco has piloted the technology under their dance floor to run their lighting. Scientists estimate, for example, the energy generated from a 10-mile stretch of four-lane roadway can power the entire city of Burbank. California is the car capital of the world and we recycle just about everything. So why not capture the energy from road vibrations and put it to good use? Thanks to your support, we will be seeing this technology on our roads very soon. SLNC from page 4 the game and the SLNC will continue to do our best to keep Silver Lake engaged and involved. If you’d like to know more about the SLNC and what’s going on in our vibrant community, you can sign up to receive our terrific email newsletters at silverlakenc.org. Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend! further vetting. It is very exciting that the SLNC board received over 150 emails, expressing a wide variety of opinions, regarding Frost/Chaddock and Botanica. This kind of participation is so important and appreciated by all involved. Outreach is the name of September 2016 www.losfelizledger.com As the new Los Feliz Neighborhood Council governing board settles into their roles, we have restarted stakeholder committees on everything from environmental affairs, to public safety, to outreach. Every one of our council committees addresses key issues in our community, and every Los Feliz stakeholder is welcome to attend any and all meetings. Additionally, we have a new location: the Founders Metropolitan Community Church, on Prospect Avenue at Rodney Drive. The staff at the church have been incredibly gracious as we make what is a significant transition for the council. While Founders MCC will only be the home for future board meetings, all of our committees are also working to identify their own meeting locations that are as accessible and convenient to you as possible. Through all of this transition, we want to hear from you. Our updated website includes information on the committees mentioned above and offers the ability to provide feedback on other items, such as requesting streetlights or sharing locations that may need more or less red-curbing. Furthermore, we encourage you to sign up for our newsletter and to stay abreast of our work. One item that recently came up is a new effort by the council to address issues along Hillhurst Avenue. Hillhurst is one of our busiest—and as such, one of our least safe— streets, having been identified by the city as part of its “high injury network.” This impacts all of us, and to address the issues—from business to traffic to parking to cleanliness to public safety—the council has created a new committee to initiate a conversation with stakeholders and local leaders to identify bettering strategies for Hillhurst. Additionally, the council now has a vacancy for a seat representing District B, which is the area west of Vermont Avenue, east of Western Avenue, north of Hollywood Boulevard and south of Los Feliz Boulevard. We are accepting applications for residents or property owners in that district, which will be considered and voted upon at our September 20th board meeting. Look for our annual school guide next month [REPRESENTATIVE SCHIFF] Climate Change Impacts on Southern California Wildfires By Rep. Adam Schiff The summer months in California bring with them a devastating but familiar threat—fire. This season is unfortunately no different, as six active fires continue to burn across the state. That number would be even higher, were it not for the swift and effective response from firefighters throughout California working to protect people, their homes and our natural resources. With nearly 100 homes destroyed, in addition to historic landmarks in the area, the Blue Cut fire was a particularly fierce and devastating blaze in Southern California this season. The number, severity and size of these fires in our state have increased considerably— presenting a critical threat to our residents, our homes and infrastructure and to the environment. According to the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, this year California experienced 300 more wildfires than at this see SCHIFF page 10 POLITICS Page 5 Los Feliz Ledger Cove Tenants Allowed to Stay [editorial] The Other Side of the “Triangle” By Erin Hickey, Ledger Contributing Writer By Jordan Rachel Blanketed in the strong smell of coffee and an air conditioner amped up high, I experience instant relief from the California heat just inside Starbucks’ doors. I wonder how this must be for the person I am meeting for coffee, Shama, who lives at the homeless encampment right across the street at the Vermont Triangle, a median at the intersection of Vermont and Prospect avenues and Hollywood Boulevard. She comes back from the restroom and informs me that seeing her messy-haired reflection in the mirror explains why everyone in Starbucks is looking at her strangely. Her embarrassment demonstrates the significance this editorial: the story of an individual who wants the Los Feliz community to do nothing more than recognize her humanity. I have appreciated the consistent updates from the Los Feliz Ledger on the Triangle. I have read the perspectives of local business owners, politicians and organizations, all of which demonstrate a commitment to improving Los Feliz and finding a solution to homelessness here. I am saddened, however, by some comments about making the homeless uncomfortable and pushing them to another location as a means of solving “our” situation. Here is another perspective. Shama has lived at the Triangle, which she calls the “Island,” for 1½ years. She feels fortunate to have found this location. Although the Los Feliz Ledger reported that Jeff Zarrinman, the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council’s treasurer, believes that the homeless “like it dark,” which is meant to account for the rocks thrown at the Triangle streetlights, Shama says she prefers the light. As a woman of color in particular, the constant stress over her safety, she says, has been alleviated by the visibility of the Island. Perhaps one aspect of this perspective derives from the fact that the homeless are not a homogenous group or identity, but a collection of individuals who have a shared experience. Although some other streets and cities may have room for her, Shama has stayed in Los Feliz because the Island has become a home full of people she considers friends and family, offering warmth in comparison to other encampments where she has lived. This does not mean that Shama wants to be here. She does not. Page 6 However, given her options and life history, Shama considers the Island a blessing. When Shama learned that a 2013 Los Feliz Improvement Assoc. article published on their website referred to those experiencing homelessness as “vagrants,” she expressed a state of despondence that often plagues her because she is not a vagrant—no one is— and no one person can represent an entire group of people that have been stereotyped and pigeon-holed with such as opposed to equality, meaning that investment should be allocated according to the unique nature and extent of a person’s or group’s disadvantage. I realize the story is oftentimes framed differently, but I hope that hearing about Shama can help bring a different narrative to the table. Back at Starbucks, I ask Shama what she wishes Los Feliz residents could do for her. She responds with such a simple, yet powerful plea. “I just want to be seen Perhaps one aspect of this perspective derives from the fact that the homeless are not a homogenous group or identity, but a collection of individuals who have a shared experience. blatant negativity. In contrast, I can say with certainty that Shama is brave and strong, always holding on to herself despite situations outside of her control that keep her on the streets. She speaks poetically, although she laughs at me when I point this out. She was also open to talking to me, a stranger, with candor and patience. I admire her for that. Shama is a survivor, weathering the heat, hunger, danger and harassment that comes with homelessness, all of which I can never understand as someone who has not experienced it. I know, however, that I am one unexpected circumstance away from homelessness. We all are. I would hope that all Los Feliz residents would see people like Shama as members of our community that are currently at a disadvantage, rather than a problem of which we need to rid ourselves. Shama invests in Los Feliz by trying to keep the Island as clean as possible. In fact, cleaning the surrounding area with a broom is the task I see her performing the most. I have also watched her step up to care for others that live on the Island who might be in immediate need or crisis. Shama has also comforted friends that were discriminated against during job interviews because they are homeless. She has endured harassment by residents of Los Feliz who are not homeless and has been judged to the point that she feels self-conscious when drinking coffee with me at Starbucks, as though she is an outsider. Although investment should go both ways, Los Feliz can prosper most from equity EDITORIAL / OPEN MIKE without judgment,” she says. The next time you pass by the Vermont Triangle, please remember Shama’s simple request. With this in mind, try not to think only about how the homeless may negatively affect Los Feliz, but also how our interactions and biases can impact the wellbeing of people like Shama. A more humane community is always a better community. Rachel is a graduate student at the University of Southern California and has lived in Los Feliz for five years. LOS FELIZ—Just over a year after receiving false notice that they would have to move, residents of Los Feliz’s Cove apartment complex can finally rest at ease. After a hard-won battle with developers, which forced some tenants out, those that remain continue to pay between $1,000 and $1,900 a month for their rent-stabilized apartments, while the building’s new tenants pay $3,000 per month for the same, albeit renovated, units. “What’s unfortunate in this situation,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu Field Deputy Catherine Landers, “is that it took a number of months” to enforce tenants’ rights laws, “and in that time, a number of tenants moved out.” Trouble at the Cove began in May of 2015, when the three-story, 43-unit apartment complex on Commonwealth Avenue was purchased by Ness Property Management. According to tenants, Ness left notices on tenants’ doors, informing them the building would be converted to condos in 90 days, and advising them to contact the on-site manager to negotiate a relocation fee. These notices led tenants to believe that Ness was invoking the Ellis Act—a 1985 California law originally intended to allow landlords to retire from the rental business, but one increasingly exploited by investors and developers as rents rise—to evict them. But further investigation revealed Ness had not filed any of the necessary paperwork for such a conversion, leading residents to speculate that the developer was instead attempting to frighten them into moving so they could raise rents, the Ledger reported last August. According to Cove resident J.P. Lavin, the false condo conversion notices were just one of several “bullying tactics” used by Ness to get tenants to take a buyout, sign away their legal rights and move. Among other practices, the developer conducted short-notice unit inspections, ignored maintenance requests and had two tenants cited for hoarding, said Lavin. It was around that time when Ryu stepped in. In a strongly worded letter, Ryu informed the management company that their practices violated both state law and city code, and amounted to “tenant intimidation.” Additionally, Ryu assigned Landers to assist tenants and monitor the situation. “Ness did a complete 180 when Ryu’s office got involved,” said Lavin. But according to Landers, while tenant relations improved, the developer’s pracsee COVE page 20 if the grass is always greener, the drop wishes they you’re doing it wrong. could all be California - friendly landscapes. water your yard twice a week max. trade in your lawn for a beautiful california-friendly garden www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger Courtney + Kurt Real Estate By Kimberly Gomez, Ledger Columnist VOTE from page 1 [STARGAZING] [OUR BREAD AND BUTTER] September Brings New Seasons Anthony Cook, Ledger Columnist Kurt Wisner and Courtney Smith of Courtney + Kurt Real estate are top in national sales volume, by serving the neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles, first. Photo: Kimberly Gomez. ATWATER VILLAGE—A brick and mortar approach to real estate in today’s Internet world may not sound cutting edge, but Courtney Smith and Kurt Wisner of Courtney and Kurt Real Estate wouldn’t have it any other way. Friendliness is ample and genuine in the Courtney + Kurt office at 3169 Glendale Blvd., where a neighborhood fruit exchange bin—take some, leave some—sits at the entrance. Beyond the plate munity, but need more space,” said Smith. “Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods are interconnected, so a family with a small two-bedroom house in Echo Park can move to a larger home in Eagle Rock, but still stay within the...community.” According to Smith, a real estate transaction can be a complicated puzzle, requiring not just one experienced advocate in your corner, but instead, a team of specialists to share the load. Their “We Heart NELA” program, which has donated $20,000 to local charities of their clients’ choice, is just one testament to their commitment to all things local. glass windows, Smith and Wisner keep their desks at barely an arm’s length from each other so as to stay in constant communication. And they converted the location’s back parking lot into a community space where local groups often hold meetings and where art is displayed. But they offer clients cutting edge technological resources, too, and are now able to do so even more due to their recent partnership with Compass, which positions itself as a real estate company “powered by data [and] technology.” Over the last 13 years, Courtney + Kurt Real Estate have held a legitimate claim in the Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) market, from Los Feliz and Silver Lake to up-andcoming Highland Park, and all neighborhoods in between. Their “We Heart NELA” program, which has donated $20,000 to local charities of their clients’ choice, is just one testament to their commitment to all things local. “One of the things we specialize in is helping families who want to stay in the comSeptember 2016 “We came to the conclusion that the best service we could provide to our clients was not spreading ourselves too thin,” said Smith, the business strategist of the operation. Because of their team approach, a dozen specialists are on hand to do the work at which they individually excel. “That’s the way we add value to each other and for our clients,” Smith said. Smith and Wisner seem to be on to something. Real Trends, a real estate website, and the Wall Street Journal have both recognized Courtney and Kurt Real Estate as one of the top agencies in nationwide sales volume. It’s that kind of performance, said Wisner, which gives them the freedom to make a real difference in the lives of their clients. “Our priorities are straight. It’s not about the money. It’s about doing what’s right for folks,” said Wisner. “It’s a 95% feel-good business and it’s all very rewarding, but you feel the best when you help people achieve their goals.” www.losfelizledger.com Autumn begins in the northern hemisphere when the sun crosses the celestial equator, heading south, at 7:21 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time on September 22nd. This is the autumnal equinox. At the same time, spring begins in the southern hemisphere. Autumn will end with the start of winter, the winter solstice, on December 22nd. The moon is new on the 1st, first quarter on the 9th, full on the 16th, and last quarter on the 23rd. Because the full moon happens near the autumnal equinox, it is called the harvest moon due to the extra light it provides starting immediately after sunset. Also, because of the season, moonrise happens close to sunset for several consecutive nights at this time of year. Before modern artificial lighting, the moonlight allowed farmers extra hours to continue a harvest into the night as the growing season came to a close. The brightest planet, Ve- STREET LEVEL from page 3 criminals, but all the undocumented immigrants I’ve met have been great people.” – Zach R., outside Blue Bottle Coffee on Sunset Boulevard. “I just moved from Portland and I worked with people that were undo c u me nt e d . Unfortunately, many of them got deported.” – Morgan T., outside Stories Books and Cafe on Sunset Boulevard. nus, is briefly visible low in the west-southwest after sunset. The golden planet Saturn, in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, appears in the southwest sky as darkness falls. Orange Mars appears to the upper left of Saturn by an angular distance that increases from six degrees to 21 degrees over the course of the month. Mars moves from the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion to Ophiuchus on the 2nd, then enters the imaginary boundary of Sagittarius the Archer on the 21st. The moon appears close to Saturn on the 8th and Mars on the 9th. The innermost planet can be seen 30 minutes before sunrise in the eastern sky starting on the 19th. The slender crescent moon poses below Mercury on the 28th. 2015 the city council, under the leadership of current President Herb Wesson voted unanimously 99.99032% of the time. In all, over 5,600 council votes were analyzed. Of that amount, 55 were not unanimous. A similar study was conducted for 2010, when current Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, served as president. In that analysis, there were more incidences of vote disparity by the council, but it was still rare. In 2010, the city council voted on 5,466 motions. Of those, 99.96% were unanimous. “Back in the 1970s, people would have laughed at the notion of unanimous votes then,” said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director, Pat Brown Institute. According to Sonenshein, the relatively recent phenomenon is due to the influx of Los Angeles City Councilmembers from the California State Assembly. see VOTE page 16 Our Annual Back to School Guide Now separate pull out section! Target families with your school tours and open house message. Everything every parent needs to know for public & private schools and getting the school year off to a strong start. $15/column inch (our lowest price ever)* Ad deadline: September 8th Delivers: September 29th Contact: Libby Butler-Gluck at (323) 644-5536 or libby@losfelizledger.com * Pricing only for pull-out school guide You have a PC Expert in your neighborhood! Get your Back to School Computer Tune Up! Michael@michaelmartin.net • 323-810-6453 • www.michaelmartin.net LIFESTYLES Page 7 Los Feliz Ledger You’re the Worst Makes the Best of Los Feliz-Silver Lake By Michael Darling, Ledger Contributing Writer You’re the Worst creator Stephen Falk (standing, left) and crew with stars Aya Cash and Chris Geere filming in Los Feliz. Credit Byron Cohen/FX. The FXX comedy You’re The Worst begins its third season Wednesday, August 31st. Set largely in the Los FelizSilver Lake-Echo Park area, this smart romantic-comedy focuses on the relationship between writer Jimmy ShiveOverly (Chris Geere) and music publicist Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash), two cynical Angelenos who embark on a relationship after hooking-up at Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend’s wedding. The show has received critical acclaim for its depiction of modern romance, depression and contemporary Los Angeles life. The Ledger sat down with You’re The Worst creator Stephen Falk to discuss the show and its use of real life eastside locations. First, where did the idea for the show come from? It came from a couple of places, one my frustration with network television. I had just Adios Annexation: Franklin Hills Boundary Line Stays As-Is By Erin Hickey, Ledger Contributing Writer After much controversy, an application to extend the boundaries of Franklin Hills has expired once and for all. In July, Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu (CD4) moved to reactivate the application, initially filed by the Franklin Hills Residents Assoc. (FHRA) during Ryu’s predecessor Tom LaBonge’s tenure, which had expired per city policy, the Ledger reported last month. The motion reignited tensions between those for and against the boundary change, which would have incorporated an area of Los Feliz near Marshall high school into Franklin Hills. The issue came to a head at a July Los Feliz Neighborhood Council meeting, when some members of the council, who had heard and voted on the issue once before, questioned why it was being revived. At that meeting, several members of the public spoke out against the boundary change, citing concerns about property values and crime rates. Others claimed stakeholders were misled as to the nature of the boundary change petiPage 8 LIFESTYLES tion, which would rename a portion of Los Feliz as Franklin Hills, and said some of the 96 signatures for the change were ill-gotten, while members of the FHRA were adamant that all signatures were above board. At the meeting, Ryu Deputy Adam Miller said anyone who no longer wanted their name on the petition could request that it be removed. According to public records, 11 such requests were submitted to the city clerk’s office following the meeting. Ultimately, the motion to reactivate was never voted on, but was instead “received and filed” at Ryu’s request, and the application remains expired. “Received and filed means the motion is pretty much dead,” said an employee at the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office. According to the City Clerk staffer, “If [the FHRA] wanted to try again, they’d have to start all over again… including collecting new signatures.” FHRA President Tim Cowell did not return a request for comment. created a network show that got canceled before it could air. At the same time I really love rom-coms and I thought there hadn’t been a good one on TV in a while, and I felt that the 20-year run of romantic comedy movies had gone stale and that the genre itself was in need of a little updating and a sort of complicating. I thought television was the place to do it and the TV landscape was ready for characters who didn’t behave, quote unquote, well, thanks to cable and the influx of British sitcoms where characters could be flawed, but still serve as actual protagonists. I thought FX was a good place to do that and to my luck they agreed. Why did you set You’re The Worst in L. A., specifically in the Los Feliz-Silver LakeEcho Park area? I had to move to New York to film the network show and having to uproot my life was a big inconvenience, especially when I had to uproot it back six months later, so a big part of it was selfishness and laziness. I live in Los Feliz and just wanted to shoot things in my neighborhood, jump on my bike or Vespa [RESTAURANT REVIEW] Trois Familia’s Flavorful Fusion By Pat Saperstein When French chef Ludo Lefebvre first started doing innovative popups around town and then opened the tasting menu-focused Trois Mec and its little sister Petit Trois, he probably wasn’t thinking MexicanFrench fusion. But the perpetually forward-thinking Lefebvre doesn’t slow down for long, and so when the former Alegria location in a Silver Lake minimall came up for lease, he decided to honor the space’s roots in his own European way, with help from partners Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook of Animal. Trois Familia serves only breakfast, brunch and lunch in a much more casual atmosphere than Lefebvre’s other restaurants, with colorfully painted walls, picnic table seating and no reservations. These are Mexican dishes filtered through Lefebvre’s lens of French technique, and they’re unlikely to be like any you’ve seen before. see TROIS page 9 see WORST page 21 SILVERLAKE Optometry Make Your Back to School Exam TODAY! Dr. Michel N. Kahwaji Dr. Roxana De la Rosa • ComprehensiveEyeExams • TreatmentofEyeDisease • Vintage&DesignerEyewear • ContactLenses • FreeLasikConsultation • RetinalPhotographyforDiabetic &HypertensionPatients (323) 664-1996 WeacceptVSP,Medi-Cal,Medicare&mostotherinsurance 2771RowenaAve.(cornerofGlendaleBlvd.) LosAngeles,CA90039 www.silverlakeoptometry.com Visit us online for our Labor Day Intro Special. Save over $50! 3178 Glendale Boulevard, L os Angeles, CA 90039 323.906.0088 www.pilatesmetro.com www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger [theater review] TROIS from page 8 Fountain Theater Presents “Baby Doll” By Marilyn Tower Oliver, Ledger Theater Critic Salacious, vulgar, lewd and provocative are a few of the words used to describe the 1955 movie Baby Doll written by Tennessee Williams directed by Elia Kazan, and starring Karl Malden, Carroll Baker and Eli Wallach. The play onstage at the Fountain Theatre is the first adaptation of the screenplay approved by the Williams estate and written for the stage by Pierre Laville and Emily Mann. This is the story of 19-yearold married virgin, Baby Doll Meighan (Lindsay LaVanchy), who at 20 must consummate her marriage to middle aged Archie Lee Meighan (John Prosky), provided he keeps his promise to her father to provide her with a comfortable life. As the play opens, he is ogling her through a hole in the wall of their decrepit Mississippi plantation house. Her room is furnished with a large baby crib and she is provocatively dressed as a young girl. Archie Lee has fallen on hard times as his cotton gin can’t compete with the newer version owned by his Sicilian ri- September 2016 val, Silva Vacarro (Daniel Bess). When men arrive to repossess all the furniture due to Archie Lee’s failure to make payments, he decides to burn down Vacarro’s gin. When Vacarro comes to get revenge, he uses Baby Doll as a pawn who implicates her husband in the arson. Although adapted from the screenplay, Williams’ original dialog remains intact. The play crackles with sexuality, innuendo, desperation and humanity. Williams has created characters that are caught in the webs created by the backwater world in which they live. Vacarro, a foreigner, is an outsider whose very presence creates suspicion. Archie Lee is the product of his environment, in which a white man, regardless of his ignorance, feels a sense of superiority. Williams is a master at creating memorable female characters who are caught in situations over which they have little control. Baby Doll is stuck in a relationship and wishes to escape. When Vaccaro attempts to seduce her in order to get her to impli- www.losfelizledger.com Baby Doll (Lindsay La Vanchy) and Vacarro (Daniel Bess) flirtingly manipulate one another in Tenessee Williams’ play, Baby Doll, at the Fountain Theater. Photo credit: Ed Krieger. cate her husband in arson, she uses her nascent sexuality to advance her own cause. Baby Doll’s elderly Aunt Rose Comfort (Karen Kondazian), who tends to the house, is a character who must depend on others for her very existence. John Prosky captures perfectly the crude Archie Lee, a near stereotype of an uncouth Southerner who manhandles his wife in order to force her to do his dirty work. Daniel Bess’s Vacarro is seductive and wily. LaVanchy’s interpretation of the central character is moving, although I had some problems with her diction. The play is ably directed by Simon Levy, a long time award-winning director of the Fountain Theatre. Baby Doll runs through September 25. Fridays & Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. & Mondays September 5, 12, 19 at 8 p.m. $15 to $35. Pay-what-you-can Mondays. 5060 Fountain Ave. On-site parking $5. (323) 663-1525 or FountainTheatre.com A beet “tartare” tostada is only nominally Mexican, though it rests on a perfectly crunchy and tender tortilla round and is topped with a delicate avocado crema that could be the snooty cousin to guacamole. If there’s a signature dish, it’s the hash brown chilaquiles. Crispy potatoes stand in for the traditional tortilla chips, while “salsa macho” gives the dish an acid jolt. There’s very little resemblance to the dish it’s named for, but it has its own terrific flavor. The only issue is that you’ll really want two, and at $9.95 a pop, you’ve spent $20 for two eggs—before even ordering the $5 cup of Heart coffee. I’ve never made it as far as the churro French toast, because as much as I love Salt & Straw ice cream, who needs it for breakfast? Fans of homey desserts will go wild for the tres leches birthday cake. There’s no alcohol, but there are a few decadent drinks like the housemade horchata and the Nutella malted “iced hot chocolate.” Trois Familia 3510 Sunset Boulevard 323-725-7800 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 9 Los Feliz Ledger The True Cost of that Pothole Poor road conditions in the Los Angeles area cost the average motorist about $3,000 a year due to higher vehicle costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays, according to a report released August 17th by a national transportation group called TRIP. According to TRIP’s report, 83% of roadways in the Los Angeles-Long BeachSanta Ana urban area are in poor or mediocre condition, costing the average motorist an additional $892 each year in extra vehicle operating costs, including accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs and increased fuel consumption and tire wear. “This is a problem that will not fix itself,” said Michel Martinez, a Santa Ana City Councilmember and president of the Southern California Assoc. of Governments. “The only real solution is to make investing in our transporta- tion infrastructure the urgent priority it needs to be. As a region, and as a state, we need to speak with a unified voice to ensure that this message is being heard.” The survey—released at a news conference in downtown Los Angeles—also found that traffic congestion in the Los Angeles area is worsening, causing 80 hours of delay per year for the average motorist and costing each driver $1,711 annually in lost time and wasted fuel. To make matters worse, 8% of bridges in the area are structurally deficient and 23% are functionally obsolete, according to the Washington, D.C. based organization. “These conditions are only going to get worse if greater funding is not made available at the state and local levels,” said Will Wilkins, TRIP’s executive director. “Without adequate investment, California’s transportation system SCHIFF from page 5 clean energy and reducing our environmental impact. California’s Dept. of Fire Protection does not solely respond to incidents of wildfire; the department also takes preventative measures. These measures include vegetation management programs, clearing brush in areas particularly prone to wildfire as well as constructing firebreaks to slow the spread of fires when they are already in progress. Prevention is also crucial at an individual level, and it is important to educate ourselves about what we can do to directly reduce the possibility of man-made wildfires. Whenever we plan outdoor activity, it is important to remain highly vigilant of potential fire hazards. These proactive steps can contribute to mitigating the threat of wildfires, but they are no substitute for taking even stronger action against climate change. We are extremely fortunate as Southern Californians to have an exceptional amount of open space in our region. Protecting that environment must remain a priority both in Congress and as a state, a responsibility that begins with understanding the contribution that climate change makes to the problem. With another fire season in full swing, we are again reminded that the challenge posed by climate change is no distant prospect, but as real and vivid as the danger that burns just over the next hillside. point in 2015, and the numbers of acres burned is 50% greater than the five-year average. With fires continually endangering large populations in Southern California, the cost of fighting these fires has put a strain on our state’s financial resources. A number of factors have contributed to the steady rise in number and intensity of wildfires in our state. Last year, researchers from the University of California collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service and Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to understand what has driven this steady growth of wildfires in our region. They found that temperature rise and longer dry periods coupled with lack of precipitation have contributed significantly to the increase of these devastating fires—all direct consequences of climate change. This era of intense fires is a new reality for our state and one that we must learn to address in our drier, hotter climate. According to a report published last year by the U.S. government, the fire season now lasts an additional 78 days longer than it did in 1970. Significant investments have been made by government at both the federal and state level to address the wildfire threat in California and our state has led the way in its commitment to combat climate change by investing in Page 10 will become increasingly deteriorated and congested, hampering economic growth and the quality of life of the state’s residents.” The report found that throughout the state, 37% of major locally and statemaintained roads are in poor condition and one quarter of California’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The state’s major urban roads are becoming increasingly congested, with drivers wasting significant amounts of time and fuel each year, and more than 14,000 people were killed in crashes on California’s roadways from 2010 to 2014. “The TRIP report confirms what everyone in California knows: the transportation system in this state is in bad shape,” said Will Kempton, executive director of Transportation California. It is past time for our elected officials in Sacramento to step up and deal with this problem.” 20% Off* with this Ad St. Vincent de Paul’s 54,000 square-foot thrift store offers clothing, shoes, furniture, housewares and appliances. * mattresses and cars are excluded. Expires 10/1/16 — no photocopies — not to be used with other promotions. 210 N. Avenue 21, Los Angeles, CA 90031 www.svdpla.org coupon code 122 Make the most of the sunshine before hitting the lights. Go to SaveEnergyLA.org for rebates and to discover more ways to save. www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger Echo Park Prices Still Thriving Despite July Dip By Erin Hickey, Ledger Contributing Writer Southern California real estate sales in July 2016 were down slightly more than 11% from June and down just over 10% from the same time last year, according to Core Logic, a real estate analysis firm out of La Jolla, CA. July’s year-over-year drop “marked the largest annual decline for any month in almost two years, while the 11 percent June-to-July sales decrease was the largest in five years,” said Andrew LePage, a research analyst with CoreLogic, in a released statement. According to LePage, this is likely due to a “quirk of the calendar,” as there were only 20 business days for home sales to be recorded this July—as opposed to the usual 22—which was the result of there being five weekends in July 2016. “The last time sales dropped sharply…between June and July was in 2011, which was also the last time the month of July had only 20 business days,” said LePage. But while the number of homes sold this July was down from 2015, prices were up. The median price paid for a home in Southern California this July was $465,000—the same median as the month prior, but up over 6% from the previous year. According to LePage, this continues a “nine-year high” for median home prices in Southern California. Locally, there were 58 single-family homes and 27 condos sold in our coverage area this July, according to Core Logic data. Echo Park’s 90026 zip code had the most homes sold, 31, at a median price of $710,000—down 9% from July 2015. The same area saw only five condo sales this July, at a median price of $560,000, down more than 30% from July 2015’s median. But according to Tracy Do, a local realtor with Compass, month-over-month data can be misleading, and in her experience, Echo Park prices are still going up. “What I usually look at is the daily market activity,” said Do. “From my day-to-day survey, we’re still in an appreciating market.” Meanwhile, 18 homes sold in Silver Lake’s 90039 zip code, at a median price of $802,000, down about half a percent from July of last year. However, July condo 1639 Scott Avenue, a 4br, 2ba bungalow in Echo Park recently sold for $936,569. Tracy Do of Compass was the listing agent, and Mica Campbell of Keller Williams Los Feliz represented the buyer. prices for the zip code were up nearly 20% from the previous year, to a median price of $691,000 for the two sold. Los Feliz’s 90027 zip code saw 17 homes sell, for a median price of $1.25 million, up slightly more than 11% from July of last year. The median condo price in the area went up as well, more than 25% to $744,000 for the five condos sold. In the Hollywood Hills’ 90068 zip code, 16 single family homes sold this July at a median price of $1.54 million, up more than 6% from last July. Additionally, seven condos sold in 90068 for a median price of $525,000, an increase of more than 25% over last July. The Oaks of Los Feliz | $14,950,000 5743 Spring Oak Drive | $2,849,000 9743 Elderidge Drive | $2,169,000 12065 Laurel Terrace | $1,299,000 1618 Fairfax Avenue | $11,000/Mo. 2051 Outpost Drive | $8,000/Mo. September 2016 SHERRI ROGERS ANTHONY STELLINI ELISA RITT srogers@RSRrealestate.com astellini@RSRrealestate.com eritt@RSRrealestate.com 323.810.1473 310.963.4205 310.308.4287 bre #01420104 bre #01710680 bre #01410040 www.losfelizledger.com www.RSRrealestate.com Su Casa REAL ESTATE Page 11 BEVERLY BEVERLY HILLS HILLS Libby Libby Shapiro Shapiro II Brokerage Brokerage Manager Manager p: p: 310.274.4000 310.274.4000 II f:f: 310.278.9900 310.278.9900 421 421 N N Beverly Beverly Dr. Dr. Suite Suite 200, 200, 90210 90210 BRENTWOOD BRENTWOOD Karen Karen Lewis Lewis II Brokerage Brokerage Manager Manager HOLLY HOLLYWOOD WOOD Howard Howard Lorey Lorey II Brokerage Brokerage Manager Manager p: p: 310. 310.300. 300.33333333 II ff:: 310. 310.300. 300.2000 2000 11999 11999 San San Vicente Vicente Blvd. Blvd. Ste Ste 100, 100, 90049 90049 p: p: 323 323.462.6262 .462.6262 II ff:: 323 323.462.626 .462.62644 6525 6525 Sunset Sunset Blvd. Blvd. Suite Suite G2, G2, 90028 90028 ATWATER VILLAGE BEVERLY HILLS BEVERLYWOOD DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES River community, Southwestern style bungalow. Great location near DTLA and Dodger Stadium. Esau Tenorio & Peter Celli (323) 906-2477 2-story limestone entry w/duel staircase. Step down liv rm w/coffered ceilings & fireplace Steve Frankel (310) 281-3981 Art Deco home on market for the first time in 70 yrs! Rear yard w/ patio for entertaining Ken Winick (323) 906-2431 Bright modern loft w/ sweeping views from San Gabriel mtns to Westside | KerryMarsico.com Kerry Marsico (213) 700-6515 GLENDALE HANCOCK PARK HANCOCK PARK HANCOCK PARK Spacious 2 bed/2bath condo offers bright floor plan, private balcony with hillside views! Laura Markosian (323) 333-1431 Great opportunity to own in Windsor Square! Great potential! 3+2+sunroom. Sold As-Is. June Lee/James Song 323-860-4262x4255 Lovely Spanish remodeled with quality & attention to detail. 3+2+converted garage+backyard Betsy Malloy (323) 806-0203 This 4+4.5 Spanish was gutted & remodeled w/new 2nd story + garage & salt water pool & spa Lisa Hutchins (323) 460-7626 HANCOCK PARK HOLLYWOOD HILLS LOS ANGELES LOS FELIZ Architect Paul R. Williams. Grand style with sophistication, updated kitchen and bathrooms Chris Abbott (323) 210-1430 Celebrity inspired design. Private hillside residence recently remodeled and updated. Claudia Hipolito (323) 906-2425 Just Reduced! Lincoln Heights Duplex, close to shops & eateries with plenty of potential! John Anthony Christopher (323) 906-2468 Resurgence of “Cool” in Los Feliz. 1bd + 2bth w/ views of Los Feliz hills to DTLA skyline. Isaac Fast & Claudia Hipolito (323) 791-5553 MIRACLE MILE MOUNT OLYMPUS SILVER LAKE SILVER LAKE Renovated Duplex to perfection. New kitchens, 2 BD + 2 BA each. Pool Naomi & Leah 323-860-4245x4259 A true triumph of style & elegance perched atop L.A.’s very own Mt. Olympus. 4BR, 4.5BA. Vangelis Korasidis (310) 247-1500 Versatile home w/ many possibilities! 3bd/2bth home nearby popular Silver Lake areas! Yolanda Querubin (323) 210-1419 Prem SLK Quintessential Mid-Cent Arch in /Renov 2+2 w/studio & mostly flat lot over 10K SF Grace Gaerlan (323) 428-9747 STUDIO CITY SUNSET STRIP VENICE WEST HOLLYWOOD 3669 Berry Drive. www.3669Berry.com Head-on vus,back yard,3,230sf. Mark Goldsmith (310) 777-6291 New Construction – Fall 2016 | Custom Contemporary 4BD+5BA w/open floor plan, Pool & View Laura Marie (213) 840-5353 Large top floor unit w/ 2 story living rm overlooking tree top views. High walking score! Jane Schore (323) 573-6562 Character duplex in heart of West Hollywood’s coveted Design District. Many custom details Lisa Brende & Chris Corkum (323) 445-1868 $560,000 $500,000 $3,559,000 $1,595,000 $1,799,000 $10,699,000 $1,390,000 $949,000 $6,295,000 Price Upon Request $879,000 $1,650,000 $489,000 $925,000 $1,250,000 $585,000 $2,849,000 $850,000 $1,699,000 $1,495,000 ©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International® and the Coldwell Banker Previews International Logo, are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. Los Feliz Ledger [house and holmes] Man in the Mirror By Rob Loos, Ledger Columnist 1920s era bathrooms are half the size of contemporary lavatories—they have fewer electrical outlets, the lighting is either “torches” or a single overhead light and it’s impossible to store the neighborhood-size toilet paper that the drone delivers from the big discount store. Our bathroom drives me crazy. It has a mirror over the sink, but it’s just a mirror. There is no magic medicine cabinet concealed in the wall behind it. Where am I supposed to put all of my manly supplies? Currently, I use a “dopp” kit that swings from the back of the door and makes me feel like I am on my way to summer camp. But recently, I came up with the perfect plan to solve my crisis. I’ll remove the inferior mirror, break through the nearly 100-year-old old tile and replace it with a beautiful, recessed mirrored cabinet. I discovered the cabinet of my dreams could be delivered within 48-hours, but my wife subtly suggested I should check with my contractor buddy, Dave, first. I didn’t get Dave on my first, my second, or even my third call. But, just as I was preparing to attack the bathroom wall with a sledgehammer, I did. After listening carefully, there was a long pause, and then Dave asked, “Why do you always try to make things so difficult? Buy a medicine cabinet that hangs on the outside of the wall....You don’t have to destroy the wall, match old tile, or make a huge mess.” Dave was right. I found a 3-inch deep medicine cabinet with plenty of room for my virile accouterments and installation was simple with just two screws. All of which goes to show, once again, that if I can’t figure it out—and I know I can’t—Dave always can. [KEEN TO BE GREEN] Environmental Training for the Next Generation River House Grand Opening Marks 1st New Homes for Sale Along Revitalized LA River The grand opening of River House is a historic moment for the Los Angeles real estate market, marking the first new residences for sale along the revitalized LA River. Located on the river next to Marsh Park and in the hip, emerging neighborhood of Elysian Valley (aka Frogtown), the community comprised of 56 townhomes and flats is now available for prospective buyers to tour Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm. “The key to buying real estate in Los Angeles is identifying the next hot spot and getting in on the ground floor. River House provides that very opportunity for new homeowners, or those looking to upgrade,” stated Sales Manager Pamela Gillett. “Come in, take a tour, and become a homeowner in a community undergoing a true renaissance.” The community surrounding River House provides residents an array of activities at their doorstep, including kayaking, bicycling, and jogging. Southern California television station KCET.org dubbed Marsh Park as “one of Elysian Valley’s LA River-adjacent gems.” Priced from the $500,000’s, River House features 56 stylish townhomes and flats ranging from 833 sq. ft. to 2,123 sq. ft. A variety of thoughtfully designed floorplans offer 1-5 bedroom homes at affordable prices. By Meher McArthur, Ledger Columnist It’s a hot August afternoon and Kim Jones is getting her classroom ready for her students enrolled in the environmental sciences magnet program at Thomas Starr King Middle School. The six-year-old program was recently granted a new name—the Environmental STEAM Magnet. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. As one of the Silver Lake school’s three magnet programs, the Environmental STEAM Magnet trains students to engage with their environment and solve problems relating to food, energy, water and waste. Students take field trips to the Los Angeles River, the zoo and recycling centers. They learn to grow vegetables, conserve water and energy and write letters to government representatives. But why teach children these skills so young? “They are inheriting a planet that is crowded,” explained Jones with passion and conviction. “Our children need to learn how to use their limited resources.” To this end, she and her fellow teachers in the program help students understand and strengthen connections between themselves, their community and the natural world. “Kids today often don’t know where their food comes from,” said Jones. “In supermarkets, they don’t see the raw materials.” Jones, who grew up in Tennessee on a farm with no running water, appreciates the value of resources and is dedicated to sharing her insight with her students—while also listening to their unique, hopeful voices. “As we get older, we lose the magical way of thinking that children have,” says Jones. “Sometimes they can find solutions that adults don’t see. We want to encourage them to look at all the possibilities and find their own solutions.” Residences include high ceilings; environmentally conscious appliances, lighting, and air conditioning; luxury bathrooms; designer selected wood, tile, and carpet flooring; walk-in closets; quartz countertops; European cabinetry; and gourmet kitchens. Designed to invoke the tight-knit community encompassing River House, the gated residences surround an inviting courtyard, which is highlighted by an outdoor doublesided fireplace, barbeques, comfortable lounge seating, shade sails, and water-conscious California landscaping. For more information about River House, visit www.RiverHouseLA.com. Contact us: 323-664-1990 or RiverHouseLA@Gmail.com River House is located at 2970 Ripple Place Los Angeles 90039 Advertise in the Los Feliz Ledger (323) 644-5536 September 2016 www.losfelizledger.com ADVERTORIAL Su Casa REAL ESTATE Page 15 Los Feliz Ledger VOTE from page 7 In the 1990s, restrictions were imposed on the California Legislature, including term limits, the reduction of assemblymembers’ salaries and a cutting of their staff. As a result, being a politician in the state’s capitol lost a bit of its luster. Los Angeles, Sonenshein said, started looking more attractive. “Then [those politicians’] eyes settled on the Los Angeles City Council. They used to look down on it,” Sonenshein said. “They thought [Los Angeles] was a hick town.” Back then, some Sacramento politicians did migrate to Los Angeles, but without local name recognition, lost out on early city council races to others more local. “So, it took a while,” Sonenshein said, for the shift to fully root. According to an analysis from 1990 to date, almost 25% of Los Angeles City Councilmembers first served in the state Legislature. But none more so than today. Of the current 15-member Los Angeles City Council, almost half first served in Sacramento—including Gil Cedillo, Paul Krekorian, Bob Blumenfield, Paul Koretz, Fe- lipe Fuentes, Curren D. Price, Jr. and Wesson—and often in key roles or committees. While Sacramento was getting weaker, the Los Angeles City Council, meanwhile, was getting stronger after charter reforms of the 1990s. “You could become a front-bencher” on the City tive director of the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, said he’s not sure how he feels about it. “It has pros and cons,” he said. “The council as a body is much more effective...and they get things done in a cohesive manner that could not be done before. It’s vastly less While Sacramento was getting weaker, the Los Angeles City Council, meanwhile, was getting stronger after charter reforms of the 1990s. Council, Sonenshein said. While some scoff at the City Council’s often hard to follow quick voting process, Sonenshein said, it mostly occurs because of the strength of President Wesson, who was Speaker of the California Assembly from 2002 to 2004. “He has turned out to be a phenomenally successful legislative leader with considerable discipline,” Sonenshein said. “He’s funny, charming, tough and skilled.” Still, Sonenshein, who has authored three books about Los Angeles politics and government and served as execu- entertaining, but that does not mean it’s not effective.” Recent dissentions in city council have, by far, been on ideological lines. Mitchell Englander, in the 2015 analysis, was often the sole dissenting vote on such items as gun control and whether a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame should be erected for filmmaker Quentin Tarantino after he staged police brutality protests in New York in 2015. Englander is the current council’s sole Republican and a volunteer reserve police officer. Leasing… LINDSAY VICTORY BRE LIC. # 02005995 BRE LIC. # 01970611 2324 Bancroft Ave. Silver Lake 3 bed 2 bath, $3,950 LEASED 3733 Brunswick Ave. Atwater Village 3 bed 2 bath, $4,000 LEASED 2413 1/2 Hidalgo Ave. Silver Lake 1 bed 1 bath, $2,295 LEASED 1701 Clinton St. #402 Echo Park 2 bed 1 bath, $2,800 LEASED 1831 Redcliff St. Silver Lake 3 bed 2 bath, $5,900 LEASED 2949 Partridge Ave. Elysian Valley 3 bed 2 bath, $3,495 4206 Virginia Ave. Silver Lake 2 bed 1 bath, $3,295 LEASED 3524 London Ave. Silver Lake 2 bed 1 bath, $2,895 Page 16 Su Casa REAL ESTATE foot traffic. Azizi added that he wished business owners had been consulted in the decision-making process and believes that the move would be a mistake. For Los Feliz, the recommended new bus line would go from Franklin Avenue to St. George Street, Rowena, Hyperion and Fountain avenues, and then back to Vermont Avenue near the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station. The recommendation for the changes was the result of an analysis started in 2015 by the LADOT. According to Aker, the city received over 1,600 suggestions on citywide changes and 167 requests for new routes or the modification of existing ones. To comment on the recommended changes by September 30th, visit: ladottransit. com/movingforwardtogether. According to LADOT officials, after all input is received, the agency will make a final presentation on their findings and recommendations to a sub-committee of the Los Angeles City Council, which ultimately will vote on the changes. Silver Lake & Echo Park (cell) 310.694.7577 victory@therentalgirl.com SOLD LEASED 1856 Silverwood Ter. Silver Lake 3 bed 2.5 bath, $4,300 4026 Cumberland Ave. Los Feliz 2 bed 1 bath, $3,000 (p) 323.275.9273 LEASED SOLD 3176 LA CLEDE AVE. › ATWATER VILLAGE 2 BED/1 BATH › 1156 SQ/FT SOLD: $680,000 › REPRESENTED BUYER 1419 CONRAD ST. › EAGLE ROCK 3 BED/2 BATH › 1380 SQ/FT SOLD: $825,000 › REPRESENTED BUYER ALISON GILBERT ALISON GILBERT ALISON@ALISONPROPERTIES.COM (P) 323.369.3464 › BRE LIC. # 01879624 ALISON@ALISONPROPERTIES.COM (P) 323.369.3464 › BRE LIC. # 01879624 PENDING LEASED PENDING 3857-3859 REVERE AVE. › ATWATER VILLAGE 4 BED/2 BATH › 1580 SQ/FT LISTED: $699,000 › REPRESENTED SELLER 3608-3610 GRIFFIN AVE. › MONTECITO HEIGHTS (3) 2 BED/1 BATH › 1368 SQ/FT › TRIPLEX LISTED: $689,000 › REPRESENTED BUYER MONA GHOSSEIN MONA GHOSSEIN MONA@MONAANDBRITA.COM (P) 323.243.0550 › BRE LIC. # 01342592 MONA@MONAANDBRITA.COM (P) 323.243.0550 › BRE LIC. # 01342592 BRITA KLEINGARTNER BRITA KLEINGARTNER BRITA@MONAANDBRITA.COM (P) 619.723.7190 › BRE LIC. # 01977100 BRITA@MONAANDBRITA.COM (P) 619.723.7190 › BRE LIC. # 01977100 2895 Sunnynook Ave. Atwater Village 3 bed 1 bath, $3,195 PENDING LEASED see VOTE page 23 DASH from page 3 Sales... JASMINE WARD Los Feliz & Atwater Village (cell) 323.470.4635 jasmine@therentalgirl.com LEASED But others fear the mostly homogenous council leads to a lack of public debate, and that, they say, is not good for an electorate. “The council is more ideologically aligned,” said Frank V. Zerunyan, J.D., a professor and director at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. “There is a problem,” he said, “when you have a political system that is too much of the same.” Zerunyan dismissed conspiracy theories that the council is trading votes, due to the Brown Act, a state law enacted in 1953, which prevents elected officials from discussing issues out of public view. “Brown Act violations can be quite severe,” he said. “To talk ahead and trade votes... would be a violation of the law, big time.” Ryu, campaigned in 2015, in part, on a promise of transparency. During the campaign, he, along with other candidates, signed a pledge, authored by the Miracle Mile Residential Assoc., that he would not look the other way when voting on real estate development issues in Council District 4. “Time and time again,” the pledge read, [con- LEASED 4103 Brunswick Ave. Atwater Village 2 bed 1 bath, $2,495 PENDING JUST LISTED 248 W. LORAINE ST. UNIT #107› GLENDALE 2 BED/2 BATH › 1250 SQ/FT LISTED: $525,000 › REPRESENTING BUYER 944 E. HOWARD ST. › PASADENA 3 BED/2 BATH › 1560 SQ/FT LISTED: $799,000 › REPRESENTING SELLER 822 SANBORN AVE. #822 1/2 › SILVER LAKE 1 BED/1 BATH › 974 SQ/FT LISTED: $450,000 › REPRESENTING SELLER CRISTINA BROW ELIZABETH M CDONALD ELIZABETH M CDONALD CRISTINA@BROWHOMES.COM (P) 818.632.5400 › BRE LIC. # 01964062 LIZ@THERENTALGIRL.COM (P) 323.313.5780 › BRE LIC. # 01449897 LIZ@THERENTALGIRL.COM (P) 323.313.5780 › BRE LIC. # 01449897 www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 NOURMAND & ASSOCIATES REALTORS 5743 SPRING OAK DR, LOS FELIZ $2,849,000 4 B e d r o o m Tr a d i t i o n a l h o m e w i t h l a r g e l u s h l o t & p o o l . RSR Real Estate 310.888.3377 1653 REDCLIFF ST, SILVER LAKE $2,300,000 Investment opportunity. Triplex zoned RD2. North of Sunset. Laura Epstein 213.359.4711 1413 N. MANSFIELD AVE, HOLLYWOOD $1,825,000 Updated 5 unit building with excellent income. Thomas Hilal 310.486.1065 2447 CLAREMONT AVE, LOS FELIZ $1,395,000 Monterey-style, 3+3, Bonus Studio, Views, Remodeled. Gina Isaac 323.829.8009 2235 LOMA VISTA PL, SILVER LAKE $1,250,000 Beautiful Moroccan 4+4 w/ pool on Historic Step Street. Levi Freeman 310.388.7916 1922 N. CARMEN, BEACHWOOD CYN $1,049,000+ 6 new 3-story w/ roof deck. Panoramahollywood.com Chris Furstenberg 323.422.2244 3546 ROSEVIEW, MT. WASHINGTON $899,000 B o h e m i a n M o d e r n w / v i e w s i n h i l l s o f M t . Wa s h i n g t o n Linda Chamberlain 323.828.7269 941 N. AVENUE 63, HIGHLAND PARK $899,000 A C h a r m i n g 1 9 2 8 Tu d o r i n H i g h l a n d P a r k . Travis Bayles 626.230.4759 2260 EVERLEE, EAGLE ROCK $875,000 Brand new heyday development. 7 LEED certified homes. Chris Furstenberg 323.422.2244 2332 CABOT DR, FROGTOWN $749,000 I n d u s t r i a l M o d e r n B u n g a l o w. 3 B e d s + 2 B a t h s . Linda Chamberlain 323.828.7269 3221 GLENHURST, ATWATER VLG $739,000 3BR/2BA newly renovated traditional home. Shannon Fenton/Joey Fenton 310.365.6118 3266 INGLEDALE TER, ATWATER VLG $699,000 Tr a d . 3 + 2 i n h e a r t o f A t w a t e r V i l l a g e , l a r g e b a c k y a r d . Shannon Fenton/Joey Fenton 310.365.6118 3115 HOLLYDALE DR, ATWATER VLG $659,000 A t w a t e r V i l l a g e Tr a d i t i o n a l 2 B R / 1 B A + f a m i l y r o o m . Shannon Fenton/Joey Fenton 310.365.6118 5666 MERIDIAN, HIGHLAND PARK $579,000 Classic 1912 CA 2+1 Bungalow in Highland Park. Howard Lorey 323.828.7269 2669 BRONHOLLY, BEACHWOOD CYN $349,000 Bronson Cyn lot. Approved plans for mod 3BR/3.5BA. Mika Lequericabeascoa 323.309.0895 Three Offices. NourmandRE One Respec ted Name. @NourmandL A w w w.nour mand.com @NourmandL A Nourmand & Associates Hollywood Howard Lorey I Brokerage Manager 323.462.6262 I hlorey@nourmand.com 6525 Sunset Blvd. Ste. G2 90028 Los Feliz Ledger LAWSUIT from page 1 stroying public records. It has been widely reported, and city documents reveal, that at least 113 boxes of documents from LaBonge’s office were ordered for destruction in the weeks prior to LaBonge’s last day in office in July of 2015. Some of the boxes, however, were salvaged before they could be destroyed and were turned over to LaBonge’s replacement Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu. The lawsuit additionally claims the city used taxpayer funds to violate state law, specifically that it “used taxpayer funds to implement, enforce or otherwise carry out illegal policies and practices,” regarding the destruction of LaBonge’s documents. As a result, the lawsuit is seeking an injunction against the city from “destroying any public records less than two years old...and from spending the money of the [c]ity and the State of California in furtherance of its illegal policies and practices which further the destruction of records that are less than two years old.” The lawsuit is the second known filing seeking remedies related to the destruction of LaBonge documents. In the first, a Hollywood Hills homeowner had requested an approval of a land-use issue as a punitive measure against the city for allegedly allowing documents related to his case be destroyed. A judge this summer ruled against the homeowner. The latest lawsuit, however, may not be the last regarding the issue. Los Feliz residents Michael Miller and Stephanie Scher, two former city attorneys for multiple cities in Southern California, said they are continuing to seek their own remedy related to what has been confirmed as the wholesale destruction of public records by the city. The couple said they plan to submit a request to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti this week demanding he perform his duty to ensure California and city law are “complied with in view of the fact they’ve not been in the past,” especially concerning transitioning councilmembers. Scher and Miller claim Garcetti has failed in his duties overseeing the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office, which has, according to City Clerk Holly Wolcott, allowed the destruc- tion of not just LaBonge’s public records, but other public officials’ records for years. “We have a record here of serious violations of these duties,” said Miller. “The mayor needs to correct this now and show us how it has been corrected.” For 15 years: Experience Value Results Clint Lukens Realty manages over 600 units in Los Angeles 24/7 Call for a complimentary property evaluation 4427 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029 (323) 668-7500 clukens@clintlukensrealty.com www.ClintLukensRealty.com BRE Lic #01367014 HABITAT 6 LIVE WELL 6 MODERN HOMES BUILT FOR BETTER LIVING Co-listed with Sonya Coke Sotheby’s International Realty 323-671-2304 Habitat6.com 1829 N Kenmore Ave. Los Feliz Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associated and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Boni Bryant CalBRE 01245334. Joe Reichling CalBRE 01427385. Sonya Coke CalBRE 01277084. Page 18 Su Casa REAL ESTATE www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 FOR SALE 4 BED | 2 BATH | $749,000 Enchanting Fourplex in Prime Silver Lake Beautiful Remodeled Triplex in Eagle Rock 2247 Glendale Blvd, Silver Lake 4831 La Roda Ave, Eagle Rock 5 BED + BONUS | 4 BED | 4 BATH | $2,150,000 3 BATH | $1,500,000 Craftsman Triplex with Spacious Yard Contemporary Home with Majestic Views Mediterranean Revival with Old World Charm 5 BED | 3 BED | 4 BED | 1126 N Beachwood Dr, Hollywood 3 BATH | $1,050,000 3355 Scarboro St, Mt Washington 2 BATH | $849,000 1901 N. Hobart Blvd, Los Feliz 3.5 BATH | $1,599,000 Tracy Do – Tracy Do tracy@tracydo.com 323.842.4001 Ranked #1 in the neighborhoods I serve including Los Feliz, Silver Lake Echo Park, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and surrounding communities. My knowledge and experience means you have the very best ally in your home search or sale. CalBRE #01991628 www.tracydo.com * Data source: BrokerMetrics/ MLS for 4.30.15 through 5.1.16. Tracy Do is dedicated to our community and proud to support: Mobile Film Classroom is a production studio on wheels. Traveling throughout LA County, we bring digital media instruction to at-risk and under-served youth in grades 3-12 who do not have access to technology at their school or home. The benefits are tangible as we empower young people to become more than just consumers of media, but producers of it. Mobile Film Classroom is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping all students as they discover their voice and tell their story. As we serve our community, we also rely upon it for support. We welcome your financial contribution of any amount, which will help keep Mobile Film Classroom and our programs rolling. Thank you. 239 1/2 S. Hoover Street LA, 90004 l 424.704.1632 l mobilefilmclassroom.org Los Feliz Ledger LYTTON from page 1 of post-war architecture, the building may soon become a historic cultural monument, thanks to the efforts of two non-profit organizations, Friends of Lytton and the Los Angeles Conservancy. The Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously in August to consider Lytton for landmark status, with two commissioners referring to the decision as a “no-brainer.” The issue will go back in front of the heritage commission for a second vote September 15th, but regardless of the outcome, their vote may be for naught. According to Ken Bernstein with the Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources, historic designation would delay the process, but not necessarily save the bank from demolition. “Historic cultural monuments can still be demolished in the city of L.A.,” said Bernstein. According to Bernstein, if a building is designated a historic cultural monument, the Cultural Heritage Commission may object to its demolition for a period of 180 days, while the developer conducts a “fuller exploration of preservation options.” Additionally, he said, the Los Angeles City Council may vote to extend the delay by another 180 days. However, according to Bernstein, the developer can still choose to demolish the building at the end of those 360 days, and developer Townscape Partners has indicated they will do just that. “We explored ways to incorporate the structure into our plans but could not find a way to do so feasibly and still realize Frank Gehry’s vision for the site,” said Townscape Partners in a statement to the Ledger. “The Frank Gehry design for 8150 Sunset Boulevard received unan- imous approval from the Los Angeles City Planning Commission…and we continue to move forward with these plans.” But while the developer calls preservation unfeasible, others have said the decision to demolish the bank is more a matter of taste than necessity. “That [Gehry] would prefer to start from a clean slate at this site and not integrate the historic Lytton Savings building is not a relevant factor in determining the feasibility of the [p]reservation [a]lternatives,” wrote attorneys for the Los Angeles Conservancy in a July letter to the City Planning Commission. According to the conservancy’s Adrian Scott Fine, Townscape Partners consulted with the organization during the project’s early stages, and were initially open to saving the Lytton building. Previous versions of the 334,000 square-foot, mixeduse complex included two “preservation alternatives,” said Fine, which would incorporate the Lytton building into the new project’s design, rather than demolishing it. However, according to Fine, Townscape abandoned that concept once Gehry came on board. “We were having really fruitful conversations with the developers,” said Fine. “When they pursued Mr. Gehry, that changed.” Fine said he knows that historic status won’t necessarily save Lytton, but hopes it will “raise the flag of awareness” about the demolishing of historic resources for new development, which he said has become all too common. At a City Planning Commission meeting in July, members of the public spent five hours commenting on the proposed development, with some decrying the project as “egregious overdevel- opment” and “celebrity architecture overreach,” while others praised it as an iconic piece of art, likening Gehry to Michelangelo. Others took no issue with Gehry’s vision, but demanded that Lytton be saved if the project were approved. When the Cultural Heritage Commission heard the case for Lytton’s preservation in August, Commissioner Richard Barron warned speakers not to let Gehry’s prestige color the issue. “We’re all aware of a project that’s being planned for this site by a famous architect, and I don’t want to go into that,” said Barron. “That’s not what we do here. We’ll only talk about the merits of [the Lytton] building.” According to several speakers at the hearing, those merits include the building’s unique zigzag folded plate roof, a floating staircase and a stained glass partition designed by the pioneering French glass muralist Roger Darricarrere. “It’s a rare type of architecture,” said area resident Tony Villanueva. “I travel a lot for work, and in other parts of the world, you don’t see things like this.” Additionally, according to Friends of Lytton CoFounder Steven Lufftman, the building was Meyer’s first major commission and likely altered the course of the architect’s career. “Kurt Meyer was a very important architect in L.A.’s history,” said Lufftman. “You shouldn’t destroy one masterpiece to create another.” Gehry has said he took inspiration for the new development’s design from the Garden of Allah Hotel, a fixture of Hollywood’s golden age, once frequented by the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Marlene Dietrich. That hotel was demolished in 1959 and replaced by Lytton Savings. COVE from page 6 tices were still not entirely above-board. At one point, said Landers, after the developer was denied a construction permit by the Dept. of Building Safety, they simply returned to the ply with city regulations, and according to Lavin, renovations on the building are now complete. While tenant fears did not play out at the Cove, according to posts on the neighborhood forum Nextdoor, last month the residents of two eight-unit According to city officials, Ness’s tactics were not entirely above-board. same department and re-filed their request at a different, “express” window, where it was approved. Additionally, she said, the developer lied to the city, falsely claiming there were no tenants living in the building to avoid submitting what is known as a “tenant habitability report.” Eventually, Ness did com- apartment buildings, both on Rodney Drive, were served Ellis Act notices by an investment group who had recently purchased the building. “We’re losing more affordable rent-stabilized units every year,” said Landers. “We need to be doing more, not just to make tenants aware of their rights, but knowing how to enforce their rights.” Shopping for Bargains in Beverly Hills? S elling your home is likely the largest and most complicated transaction you’ll ever do. You’ll want the best all-around Realtor® for your commission dollar, right? So why would you hire an “expert” from the other side of town? It’s like going to Beverly Hills to find a bargain. Doesn’t make sense. Here’s why: Myth: A Westside agent will bring Westside buyers with lots of money. Wrong! In our neighborhood, most buyers come from our local community. The buyers of the most expensive house ever sold in Los Feliz, $11million, could walk from their old house to their new one. Myth: An out-of-area broker will service my listing just as well as a Los Feliz broker. Impossible! Have you driven to Beverly Hills lately? Plan on at least an hour’s drive—each way. Only a broker who lives and works locally can show your property on short notice. Most out-of-area brokers send their buyers to view listings unaccompanied. In my experience, these agents are just looking for a shortcut. Myth: The internet is more important than face-to-face representation. Wrong! There is no substitute for on-theground observation. As your agent, I am your eyes and ears-an invaluable advantage during negotiations. Personal service cannot be done solely by remote control. Myth: Local expertise is over-rated. Wrong! Accurate, comprehensive disclosures are the best way to keep yourself from post-sale problems that can lead to litigation. Why would you hire an agent who is ignorant of neighborhood peculiarities such as Griffith Park issues, HPOZs or HOA details? There is no shortcut to neighborhood expertise, which takes time and experience. Myth: Small, and/or out-of-area, brokerages will work for less and save me money. Wrong! They’ll work for less because they deliver less in every way. You get what you pay for. Slow getting Organized? Team up with a Professional! Myth: I’ll get more and better service from a big team of agents and assistants. Wrong! When everybody is responsible, no one is responsible. I recently sold a house represented by two agents and their five assistants. When escrow closed, no one could find my buyers’ house key! These agents think using assistants is a lazy shortcut to riches. ✣ Myth: Westside agents are more sophisticated and know more about real estate. Wrong! Truth is, hundreds of agents work in Beverly Hills brokerages not because they want to compete for listings in that town of fewer than 35,000 people, but instead to affect prestige. Do you want a show horse or a work horse? If you want a work horse, CALL ME! Home - Office - Time Richard Stanley Into The Light Organizing Service (213) 247-0611 #1 Agent - Los Feliz Office, 2015 and 1995-2009 Estates Director Architectural and Historic Properties Specialist rstanley@coldwellbanker.com 213 300-4567 cell / voice mail kathleen@intothelightorganizing.com ©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and operated by NRT LLC. All rights reserved. If your property is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. CalBRE license #: 00971211 Working throughout the L.A. area since 2002 Member-National Association of Professional Organizers Page 20 www.losfelizledger.com September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger TRIANGLE from page 1 Zarrinnam, the BID has maintained the Triangle since 2012, when they discovered it was included on their boundary map, not the Los Feliz BID’s. The Los Feliz BID, constrained by budget, eagerly handed over Triangle upkeep when the error was discovered, but the East Hollywood BID has thus far been limited in their efforts to mitigate homeless encampments at the location. “We could manage, water and prune [the Triangle], but we couldn’t technically do anything with it,” said Zarrinnam. At issue is what is known as a revocable permit, required for any obstruction of a public right-of-way—putting up a temporary construction fence, for example. According to Zarrinnam, when the East Hollywood BID tried to get that permit, they were surprised to discover the Los Feliz BID’s permit had never been revoked, which prohibited East Hollywood from applying for a new one. “It was a mistake,” said Zarrinnam. “The permit should never have been given “ would remove all of the Triangle’s existing walkways, it would also require the four crosswalks to the median be removed, which he said will likely be the plan’s biggest hurdle in gaining community support. But other members of the East Hollywood BID seemed amenable to that aspect of the plan when Zarrinnam presented it at an August meeting. “[Removing the crosswalks] is totally reasonable,” said Treasurer Susanna Furios. “People can walk a bit.” According to Zarrinnam, the plan is just a starting point, and the East Hollywood BID intends to get feedback from the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council, the Los Feliz Improvement Assoc., the Los Feliz BID and other stakeholders before moving forward. “Everybody has to have a voice in this,” he said. “That’s what’s important to me.” Up next, said Zarrinnam, is figuring out how to pay for the redesign. “Until we find out what we’re going to do, we don’t know what kind of funding we’ll need,” he said. The coalition is currently raising funds to renew a $150,000 homeless outreach contract, which Zarrinnam said would play an important role in ridding the Triangle of homeless encampments. to the Los Feliz BID to begin with.” This July, the Los Feliz BID’s permit was finally revoked, opening the door for the East Hollywood BID to apply for their own. According to Zarrinam, the organization is still waiting for that permit, and it is unclear when the paperwork will be finalized. In the meantime, Zarrinnam has prepared a preliminary plan for the Triangle that he hopes will prevent future encampments. Central to that plan, which would fully landscape the Triangle and remove the existing seating areas and sidewalks, is changing public perception of what the Triangle is. “The Triangle is a median,” said Zarrinnam. “It’s not a park. It never has been a park. People were trying to turn it into a park, but it’s a traffic median.” In 2008, Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge transformed the Triangle into a micro-park, installing landscaping, seating and lighting at a cost of $800,000. Because Zarrinnam’s plan September 2016 ” According to Zarrinnam, one contributor will be OSH Hardware who, at Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu’s request, agreed to contribute an unspecified amount between $5,000 and $75,000 to the Triangle redesign in conjunction with a new location they are building adjacent to it on Hollywood Boulevard. Additionally, OSH will give $25,000 to the East Hollywood Los Feliz Homeless Coalition, of which Zarrinnam is also a member. The coalition is currently raising funds to renew a $150,000 homeless outreach contract, which Zarrinnam said would play an important role in ridding the Triangle of homeless encampments. “We’re trying to find permanent supportive housing” for people living in the triangle through the coalition, he said. “We’re not trying to displace anyone.” According to Zarrinnam, pending community input, he expects to present an updated redesign plan to the East Hollywood BID within the next couple of months. www.losfelizledger.com WORST from page 8 and roll up to set, since we shoot only on location. I like television where the location is meaningful to the tone of the show. I wanted this to be a case of this couldn’t just exist anywhere. I didn’t want you to watch my show and say “Is this set in Milwaukee? New York? Austin? I don’t know and I don’t care.” I think for a lot of shows, that’s fine as it’s not central to the show, but I wanted the environment to be a part of the show and to say something about this specific neighborhood in which our characters live. On that note, was it important the show use real locations? The eastside of Los Angeles was underexplored on screen at the time I conceived of the show. There’s been a giant wave of creative types to the eastside in the last 15 years. For so long, comedy writers lived on the westside of L.A., so a lot of shows had that Beverly Hills, Brentwood kind of feel. I wanted to explore something a little different. I had a lot of fun figuring out what parts of the eastside to shoot for the pilot. It’s really gratifying being able to say “I’m going to set this scene in a record store. Well, I’ll put it in this record store on Sunset.” It’s also nice because it gives these establishments, which aren’t big retail chains, a few bucks. It’s actually putting money back in the community. What’s the writing process like when it comes to working real locations into the story? For instance, Gretchen and Lindsay doing brunch at Brite Spot. Did you have Brite Spot in mind when the scene was written or did you say: “We need a diner. They’d probably live near Brite Spot?” I’d say it’s 70/30. Usually we write “a bar” or “a diner,” then we go to our location team who have a vast knowledge of what businesses are out there open to shooting and fun to shoot at. They show me photos and I say “Yes, that looks like what I had in mind.” Then we look at it and try to work out a deal. In the show, Jimmy, Gretchen and Edgar live in a house that overlooks the Silver Lake Reservoir. Is that a real house or a standing set? It’s an actual house in the hills that’s empty right now. Usually my location manager goes knocking on doors because they know what I’m looking for. In an ironic twist of living in the neighborhood, the location team actually knocked on my door the other day because they were looking for a house with a specific kind of tree in the backyard and they left a card with my nanny saying “You’re The Worst locations” and she thought “Isn’t that his show?” That house specifically is an architecturally significant house. It’s a Rudolph Schindler. I’m fascinated with Schindler and when the location guy for the pilot walked me into the house, I immediately identified it because of its characteristics. I said “Oh my God, it’s a Schindler! It has the reservoir as a backdrop. We’re shooting here.” The downside is it’s not very film friendly because it has tight corners and a cramped environment that’s not friendly for crew people, but it’s a beautiful house. I suppose the cramped environment really worked when you got into Gretchen’s depression arc in season 2. see WORST page 23 Have you seen our New TitleTrack Newsletter? 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To reach the Compass main office call 626.205.4040 Los Feliz Ledger VOTE from page 16 stituents] have been forced to defend our neighborhoods through legal actions when the [c]ity disregards these plans to our detriment.” While many feel Ryu is holding true to that pledge regarding issues in his district, in a recent email thread forwarded to the Ledger, one Ryu constituent who lives in the Beachwood Canyon area, where managing tourism to the Hollywood Sign has become a rallying cry for some, indicated she no longer had faith in Ryu after he voted yes on a controversial real estate project in neighboring Council District 13. “Ryu’s ‘yes’ vote on the Palladium Towers was the last straw for me,” the constituent wrote. “He and his staff person said it was because the developers promised him a viewing center that would draw tourists out of our community. This is pie in the sky and doesn’t he know that developers lie?” But according to Ryu, it’s not about vote trading, but instead trusting his fellow city councilmembers’ judgment on issues they know better firsthand. “For someone to come in at the tail end and to dis- September 2016 agree with my recommendation after meetings with the community on dozens of occasions and with other city departments and after I have involved stakeholders,” doesn’t make sense, he said. “I make a decision...and my colleagues respect it. Even if they might disagree with my decision, they abide by it because they were not there during those community meetings.” On controversial issues, especially regarding development, Ryu said he has to pick his battles. “I could vote no on [on a project],” he said. “But would that make a difference? Sometimes it’s just better to vote [with the council]. It’s better to work with them and get some concessions” later, Ryu said. Similar patterns in unanimity exhibit themselves in the vote results of San Diego’s city council, but are less consistent than those of Los Angeles. According to the results of all votes taken by the San Diego City Council in 2015, the highest percentage of dissenting votes occurred in February (21.54%) and the lowest occurred in June (1.14%). The mean percentage of not unanimous voting was 5.41%. www.losfelizledger.com WORST from page 21 Absolutely. This year however, since the reservoir was going to be drained, the neighborhood didn’t love having filming constantly happening. [So], we’ve recreated the house on a stage. So for the third season we won’t be in the actual house, but you won’t be able to tell the difference. This will be the first time the show will film on set? Yes, this is the first time we’ve done setwork. We’re still about 70% of the time on lo- cation, but this is the only set we’ve built for the show. What new locations will we see in season 3 and how do they play a role in the plot? We just shot at Jeni’s Ice Cream on Hillhurst Avenue. That’s a scene where Gretchen is trying to woo a new client, Ben Folds, and the meeting is at Jeni’s. I thought it would be more interesting to have them meet over ice cream than over breakfast. We’ve shot big sequences at the L.A. River and outside the “Happy Foot/Sad Foot” sign at the Sunset Foot Clinic. There’s nothing like filming at a real location, even if you recreate it. There’s something about the fabric of real places, and showing the real Los Angeles, at least through my very specific eyes, is very gratifying and adds to the reality of the show. Editor’s Note: You’re the Worst additionally shot at Glaze Fire on Hillhurst Avenue on August 1st. Season 2 also mentions Silver Lake’s “Camelot Kids Preschool.” Kids Grow here. Glenfeliz Blvd. Elementary has been designated a School for Advanced Studies in Farm to Table Gardening and Culinary Arts. This is an innovative program that’s the first of its kind in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Schedule a tour today. We’d love to welcome you to Glenfeliz! Glenfeliz Blvd. Elementary School School for Advanced Studies 3955 Glenfeliz Blvd. • (323) 666 -1431 Karen Sulahian, Principal glenfeliz-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com FAMILY & SCHOOL Page 23 Los Feliz Ledger [mother of invention] The Genius of the 5-Hour Rule By Rita Mauceri, Ledger Columnist terestingly, however, young Franklin began to establish a pattern of self-directed exploration and learning in his life. He set aside one hour every day to learn, reflect and read. Essentially, he created “empty space” that he used to explore and grow—and he was religious about it. The “slack” that Franklin created in his day generated huge results. It produced his famous 13 Virtues and led to the formation of a think tank of like-minded philosophers and learners called the Junto. Franklin, the school dropout, went on to become one of the greatest minds in American history. other manic school year, I find myself missing those unfilled hours and wondering how I can get some of the slowness of summer back. Along those lines: I recently came across an article on Inc.com by Michael Simmons entitled Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah Winfrey All Use the 5-Hour Rule. The piece begins with the life of Benjamin Franklin, who dropped out of school at age 10. Franklin became at apprentice to his father, briefly, and then his older brother who was a printer. Most in- see 5-HOUR page 25 NOW ENROLLING ! Holy Trinity School We had a slow summer. No big trips. No long campfilled stretches. No classes. My kids did one week of Rec Center camp and, otherwise, a lot of old-fashioned lazing around, pool splashing and ice cream eating—and admittedly, a bit of video gaming. It was the first school break that played out this way for us. Going into it, I wasn’t sure if we would love it, hate it, or just grin and bear it. As it turned out, it was amazing. The extra time we had to fill with “whatever” was healthy for all of us, especially for my kids who were forced to learn how not to be bored. Now, as we launch into an- Imagine a school where All are welcome in a loving, supportive family environment Character, values, and service to others is paramount Small class sizes and personalized attention means students grow to their highest potential Specialized classes and programs provide for a balanced whole-child education Now, imagine your child at Holy Trinity School Transitional Kindergarten-8th grade Call for a Tour Today! 323-663-2064 m 3716 Boyce Ave - Atwater Village www.HolyTrinityla.com Learn how a Stratford education prepares your child to be a problem solver, innovator, and leader… Join us for a CAMPUS TOUR Our STEAM-infused curriculum (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) is enhanced with music, foreign language, and physical education. Stratford School is the perfect balance… where tradition meets 21st Century learning. SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY! StratfordSchools.com/tours The curiosity to reach. The courage to grasp. TM WE S CARNEGIE www.losfelizledger.com LS S OF O Page 24 FAMILY & SCHOOL ASSOCIAT I Accrediting Commission for Schools O Preschool State License Numbers: 198018494, 198018875. © 2016 Stratford Schools, Inc. All Rights Reserved. RN ON SCH Connect with us GE 2046 Allen Avenue Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 498-2810 LE Altadena Allen 1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038 (323) 988-9505 TE Los Angeles Melrose AND CO L WASC September 2016 Los Feliz Ledger [OUR MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL] [FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY] Fifth-Grade Fun With the Service Club Setting Goals for the School Year By Amalia Mauceri, 5th Grade By Emma Haag, 7th grade where we sign up to help out with various things around the school. On the first day of classes, I found out my Service Club assignment. My job is super cool. I help manage the bathroom breaks for the kindergarten girls. It’s awesome because it gives me responsibility, and also I love being around all the cute little kindergartners. There are a lot of options for Service Club jobs. For example, there is stair monitor, a person who helps keep everything quiet 5-HOUR from page 24 Reflection is becoming almost standard practice among forward-thinking companies, especially in the tech sphere. The senior team at AOL is required to spend four hours a week “just thinking” and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner schedules “two hours of thinking time per day.” Simmons goes on to profile other famous and wildly successful people who have embraced a similar philosophy of “deliberate” or “constant” learning. Among them: Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk. In a society that focuses on constantly squeezing every ounce of productivity out of every single day, these people consciously carve out time to stop down. Simmons dubs this the “5-Hour Rule,” saying that every workday should have an hour of free time in it. With that time, you should do several key things: Read. Reflect. Experiment. Reading is a common denominator among so many visionaries and iconic entrepreneurs from Nike founder Phil Knight—who had a library behind his main office and required visitors to remove their shoes and bow before entering—to Steve Jobs, who had an “inexhaustible interest” in the books of William Blake. As for experimentation, it is essential in order to test ideas—large and small— make mistakes, have failures and ultimately have that one great success. Simmons makes a good case for why the 5-Hour Rule should be part of daily life, the same way exercise or taking vitamins is. For more, check out his entire piece, which is well worth the read. For busy moms who can barely squeeze in that 30-minute hike while the kids are in school, it may not sound doable. Then again, doesn’t an hour of “empty space” sound like a welcome break from all the chaos? on the stairs. Some people get assigned as room helpers and volunteer in classrooms at recess and lunch. Others get placed in the office where they help do sorting, filing, and other tasks. I’m looking forward to the rest of Service Club and the awesome fifth grade year ahead of me. I try to remember what it was like to be a kindergartner or a first grader and how cool it was to have older kids helping me out. Now I’m one of the helpers and I hope I can do the best job possible! Welcome back to school, Dolphins! Julius Erving once said, “Goals determine what you are going to be.” It’s a new year and a new you, so set goals and work hard to achieve them. Goals are hard to achieve alone, so we always have some help. This year to help us, we have a new Student Council, two new teachers, Mrs. Hel- ton and Ms. Karagezyan, and our new returning principal, Ms. Essman. After the first weeks of school have ended, and the hard work has begun, it is good to have fun once in a while! Our Mother of Good Counsel School has many activities for fun, such as the yearly chocolate sale, the Fall Festival, the Talent Show, and so many more! I know this will be the year that all of us students, parents, and teachers will remember forever. BLUTHNER-LEDGER 5.9X4.qxp_Layout 1 8/22/16 11:02 AM Page 1 Leipzig, Germany since 1853 Concert, Recording, Home Rentals Henle Editions Helga Kasimoff LA’s oldest family piano store kasimoffpianoslosangeles.com ¨ It’s hard to believe summer is gone and another school year has begun! I just started fifth grade, and that means I am now in the oldest group of kids in the school. There is a lot of emotion and energy among the fifth graders at Franklin. We know it is our last year at this school, which is exciting but also a little bit sad. As fifth graders, one of the things we can participate in this year is Service Club, KASIMOFF-BLUTHNER PIANO CO. 337 N. LARCHMONT BL. • HOLLYWOOD, CA 90004 323- 466-7707 liz le! e b s F ila o L va sA u B OPEN HOUSE PROGRAMS: Erika J. Glazer Early Childhood Center November 5 January 7 START YOUR JOURNEY WITH US Year-round rolling admissions! 3663 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010 wbtecc.org (213) 835-2125 ejgecc@wbtla.org • Baby & Me (birth - 2 years) • New classrooms and playground • Nursery School • Open until 5 p.m. (18 months - 5 years) Our students matriculate to the top private elementary schools in the area, including Brawerman, Campbell Hall, Curtis, John Thomas Dye, Laurence, Mirman, Oakwood, and Turning Point. Visit us at our next prospective parent tours: 9/29, 11/7, 11/15, 12/1 September 2016 www.losfelizledger.com Learn how Westridge girls take on academic challenges, are intellectually adventurous, and are prepared to succeed. For more information or to RSVP for an open house contact: 626.799.1053 ext. 256 or admissions@westridge.org Bus transportation available from Los Feliz and the San Fernando Valley 324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105 Westridge.org FAMILY & SCHOOL Page 25 Los Feliz Ledger [senior moments] Sunset Hall - Curriculum and Advocacy A New Lexicon for a Livable Community Thanks to our ad sponsor Sunset Hall. They offer... By Stephanie Vendig, Ledger Columnist With the Mayor’s Executive Directive No. 17 and the proclamation that Los Angeles is part of the American Assoc. of Retired Persons (AARP) Network of Age-Friendly Communities, you might be wondering what features would help L.A. become a livable city. How will the city’s structures and services be adapted to make them more accessible and inclusive for older people? Here are some of the specific terms or policies now being used by planners, policy makers, politicians and others working to achieve age-friendly goals. Transportation planners and engineers are using the term “Complete Streets” to describe designs enabling safe access for all users—pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. The streets are now no longer thought of just in terms of cars. Traditional zoning promotes a separation of land uses. By using what’s called “Form-Based Codes,” more attention will be paid to the re- lationships between buildings and the street, pedestrians and vehicles, public and private spaces and the size and types of roads and blocks. FormBased Codes would therefore be customized to fit the community. will encourage walkable communities, mixed-use and the availability of public transit. With “Universal Design,” homes, offices and public places are created or renovated so that they can accommodate all ages and physical abilities. For How will the city’s structures and services be adapted to make them more accessible and inclusive for older people? “Health Impact Assessments” would be a consideration when designing transportation policy and land-use planning. In that way, one could see a reduction of air pollution, traffic injuries and deaths and lower rates of chronic disease. By creating public spaces, known as “Placemaking,” sidewalks, buildings, streets and parks would be designed to attract people, inviting greater interaction and creating local identity. “Smart Growth” is a concept to support existing communities in growth, but not continuing sprawl. Mainly, it example, there could be a zero-step entrance into a building, or doorways and hallways would be wide enough for access by a wheelchair user. Using the term “Vision Zero,” the responsibility for safety is shifted to system design, rather than the goal of no deaths or serious injuries being connected to users. Laura Trejo, General Manager, of the city’s Dept. of Aging will discuss all these terms and new thinking at the Griffith Park Adult Community Center’s general meeting September 21st, 1:00 p.m. at Friendship Auditorium Riverside Drive in Los Feliz. Programs for free-thinking older adults (323) 660-5277 Conversational Spanish at GPACC on Thursdays at 3:00-4:30 Griffith Park Adult Community Center Calendar Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 12:00 – 2:30 pm, Lunch, General Meeting at Friendship Auditorium. Program: “Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Age-Friendly City Initiative: Purposeful Aging LA” a presentation by Laura Trejo, General Manager, Department of Aging You can sign up for lunch at GPACC between 10:30 and 11:30 am or call (323) 644-5579 Our Art Gallery in September and October will feature the photographic work of former Council Member Tom LaBonge highlighting local neighborhood images Classes resuming in September: Beginning Jewelry taught by Reiko Nakono starting Sept. 9th and Ukulele taught by Kate Friedricks starting Sept. 15th The Lunch Program: Lunch is served 5 days a week at the Center. $2 is the donation for those over 60 years. $4 for less than 60 years. Daily lunch is served at 12 pm. Come in for coffee and sign in at 10:30. For Information on the Griffith Park Adult Community Club and getting a newsletter, call Stephanie Vendig at (323) 667-3043, or e-mail at vendig@sbcglobal.net GPACC is located at 3203 Riverside Dr., just south of Los Feliz Bl. Sign up for the Los Feliz Ledger email newsletter in between our regular publication dates. To start receiving yours, please register at www.losfelizledger.com or email us at: newsletter@losfelizledger.com When the symptoms of dementia affect a loved one, it can be confusing and heartbreaking. Created in partnership with leading universities, Belmont Village memory programs help residents and family members focus on what is there — not what is lost. Through uniquely personalized care and research-based exercises and activities, our specially trained staff provides the structure and support you both need. He'll always be your dad. Distinctive Residential Settings | Chef-Prepared Dining and Bistro Premier Health and Wellness Programs | Award-Winning Memory Care Professionally Supervised Therapy and Rehabilitation Services The Community Built for Life.® belmontvillage.com BURBANK | ENCINO | HOLLYWOOD HILLS RANCHO PALOS VERDES | WESTWOOD | THOUSAND OAKS Winner of the Argentum 2016 Best of the Best and George Mason University Healthcare Awards for the Circle of Friends© memory program for Mild Cognitive Impairment. RCFE Lic. 197608468, 197608466, 197608467, 198601646, 565801746, 197608291 © 2016 Belmont Village, L.P. LozFeliz_memory_2016.indd 1 Page 26 SENIOR MOMENTS www.losfelizledger.com 7/14/16 10:09 PM September 2016 LOS FELIZ | web: 0308735 | 2340 North Vermont | Listed at $4,495,000 | New Listing Gated Mediterranean Estate Circa 1935. Gorgeous pool and completely separate guest house. Jeffrey Young 213.819.9630 LOS FELIZ | 2656 Aberdeen Avenue web: 0286642 | $6,195,000 Captivating and elegant English Norman estate in its purest architectural form in prime Los Feliz. Konstantine V. | Charlie Clark 323.252.9451 LOS FELIZ | Wallace Neff Villa web: 0286641 | $4,397,000 Circa 1924 gated Spanish Colonial Masterpiece restored to perfection. 5bd/6ba, pool, view. Konstantine V. | Rick Yohon 323.270.1725 LOS FELIZ | 4115 Dundee Drive | SOLD Listed at $3,988,000 Quintessential 1927 Spanish Estate. Elevator. Nestled on top of a hill with panoramic views. Rosemary Low 323.660.5885 LOS FELIZ | 2763 Glendower Avenue | SOLD Listed at $3,250,000 1st time on the market in over 50 years. Amazing courtyard Spanish has stunning 320 views. Rosemary Low 323.660.5885 LOS FELIZ | 11566 Morrison Street | In Escrow web: 0286718 | $1,795,000 This celebrity-owned home, located on a Magnolialined street, is a stunningly elegant newer 5 Bed and 4.5 Bath Contemporary Mediterranean Manvel Tabakian | Nadia de Winter 376.2222 SILVER LAKE | 2317 Micheltorena St. | In Escrow web: 0286690 | $1,599,000 Stunning mid-century modern c. 1952 in the Ivanhoe School District of Silver Lake. incredible views out to the city and ocean, tri-level. Rob Kallick 323.775.6305 LOS FELIZ | 1961 N Normandie Avenue web: 0286740 | $1,350,000 Unlimited possibilities abound with this mostly original condition 1920’s Mediterranean home. Views of Downtown and west to the ocean. Brad Lawrence 323.481.4700 LOS FELIZ | 3777 Effingham Place | SOLD Listed at $1,299,000 First time on the market in over 40 years! This very special Los Feliz Spanish home c. 1929 is a perfect restoration project for creating your dream home. Rob Kallick 323.775.6305 MORENO HIGHLANDS | 2049 Balmer Drive web: 0286729 | $1,000,000 Peaceful Spanish Fixer located in one of the hottest, areas in America. This Moreno Highlands whimsical retreat is decked out in custom wood. Gail Crosby 323.428.2864 GLASSELL PARK | 1474 W Avenue 43 | In Escrow web: 0286711 | $925,000 Incredible value in the hills of hot Glassell Park. 5bd/5ba modern home on a quiet & centrally located cul-de-sac street. Over 3,100 sq.ft. (app). Rob Kallick 323.775.6305 PASADENA | 1588 Corson Street | SOLD Listed at $798,000 Originally built in 1926, this lovingly redone California contemporary bungalow. 4bd/2ba, high ceilings, FDR, breakfast area, pool, spa & yard. Rosemary Low 323.660.5885 ECHO PARK | 2375 N Alvarado Street web: 0286727 | $695,000 Drive on to your own private gated circa 1921 rustic mini compound in a great area of Echo Park! 2+1 main house with 1+1 guest. Rick Yohon 323.270.1725 SILVER LAKE | 2018 Griffith Park Blvd #318 | In Escrow web: 0286721 | $535,000 A community turquoise blue pool perfect for summer fun isn’t the only positive feature that this Silver Lake condo-home has to offer! Gail Crosby 323.428.2864 SILVER LAKE | 2291 Edendale Place web: 0286725 | $3,800/month Sweet home with plenty of natural light. Views. Beamed ceilings. Shiny, clean floors. 2bd/1ba on main floor with 1bd/1ba downstairs. Gail Crosby 323.428.2864 ATWATER | 4112 Baywood Street | LEASED Listed at $2,500/month Impeccably maintained craftsman bungalow in sought-after Atwater Village! 2 + 2 with huge gorgeous gated yard. Just steps to the river. Rick Yohon 323.270.1725 LOS FELIZ | 3279 Lowry Road web: 0286583 | $1,800/month Guest House. Private single home perched atop garages large single room, w/decorative fireplace & mantle, kitchen, stove & refrigerator. 3/4 bath, Judy Dionzon 323.394.2330 LOS FELIZ BROKERAGE | 323.665.1700 Marc Giroux, Vice President | Brokerage Manager 1801 North Hillhurst Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90027 sothebyshomes.com/losangeles Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Keller Williams 2150 Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 323.668.7600 georgeandeileen.com CABRE 00560275,01194455,01950438 Los Feliz • Silver Lake • Franklin Hills • Atwater Village • Echo Park • Beachwood Canyon • Hollywood Hills • Glendale • Eagle Rock 4343 Finley Avenue #6 Los Feliz Call For Price A very stylish 2 + 1 Mid-Century condominium in the heart of Los Feliz Village. A great vibe in this spacious unit with nice natural light, large bedrooms, spacious living room. Large private balcony, lovely hillside and some downtown city views too! Charming vintage kitchen and dining area. Security building with underground parking. Great location in walking distance to great shopping, restaurants and more! Low H.O.A! In Escrow 2509 Silver Ridge Avenue Silver Lake $1,495,000 Gorgeous 4 bedrooms + 4.5 bath home with picturesque views from the Los Feliz Observatory to the San Gabriel mountains. LR w/ patio & views, large family room w/high pitched ceiling, hardwood floors, Cook’s kitchen, wonderful master suite with views & sumptuous bath, home office too. Bedrooms all have en-suite baths. a wonderful spacious yard, (possibly room for a pool!) fruit trees and patio too! 3400+ sqft. A definite winner! Just Sold In Hollywood Hills 946 Nordica Drive Mt. Washington $878,000 Mt. Washington Hills 3+2.5 home w/great downtown and canyon vu’s. Sunlit open floor plan, w/high ceilings, maple wood floors & fireplace. Spacious living & dining areas open to great kitchen w/new countertops, stainless appliances, breakfast bar. Cozy den. Great view balcony. Large master suite w/high ceilings, gorgeous bath and huge walk-in closet. 2167 Sq Ft. Award winning Mt Washington school district. Silver Lake 2092 Mound Street Hollywood Hills $2,500,000 Magical 4 + 4.5 Spanish Hacienda is tucked away in the hills & was adored by many of Hollywood royalty. Enter through a enchanting courtyard surrounded by greenery. Large living rm, expansive use of windows, beamed ceiling and offers a light and airy California feel. Formal dining rm and adjacent wine cellar. Enjoy a grand library, den, spectacular grounds, plus a charming guest house. Over 4500 sqft in this amazing home. Just Leased In Atwater Just Sold In Silver Lake 2621 Glendale Boulevard In Escrow In Escrow Coming Soon $880,000 A very sweet 3 bd + 2 ba 1922 built Spanish bungalow. Living room with fireplace and hardwood floors. Nicely renovated kitchen with Shaker style cabinets, granite tops and stainless appliances. Master suite with private bath and walk-in closet. Large patio plus potential for garden. Two car garage. A great location to many local Silver Lake hot spots, including coffee shops, restaurants and the new Whole Foods 365 market! 3510 Greensward Road Atwater 4442 Farmdale Avenue Studio City $1,149,000 Charming 3+2 Spanish on a nice residential street with great curb appeal & charm. Spacious living room with wood burning fireplace. Bright & sunny kitchen opens to a large dining room or possible family room. Great master suite w/large walk-in closet & sumptuous bath. Lovely archways and hardwood flrs. Master suite & dining room opens out to the lovely backyard and patio. AC & heat. 1,901 sq ft. 2 car detached garage. Just Sold In Hollywood Hills 1767 Orange Grove Avenue Hollywood Hills $1,565,000 A very chic 2 + 2.5 hillside villa plus romantic guest house with additional bathroom. Great original charm mixed with all of the modern amenities desired for today. Spacious open living room with fireplace and downtown city views. Kitchen with all Miele appliances. Wondeful master suite with deck that captures the sweeping city views. Home office. The cozy guest house offers privacy. Fabulous location close to restaurants and more! Just Leased In Silver Lake $4,500 Very charming 3+2 1930’s Spanish in a prime Atwater area. Tastefully renovated and a beautifully landscaped property. Light filled living room & great dining room. Spacious kitchen. Master suite w/private bath. French drs to lovely backyard and patio. Laundry and bonus room. 1400 sq ft. Central air & heat. Hardwood flrs. Close to nearby Atwater cafes, coffee shops and restaurants! 1 car garage plus plenty of parking on driveway. 3205 Berkeley Avenue Silver Lake $4,350 Stylish 3 + 2 home with great city vu’s. Wonderful Silver Lake area. Light filled living rm w/hardwd floors & views. Family rm with gas fireplace & built-in bookshelves. Large dining rm. Cook’s kitchen. Gorgeous baths. Nice patio off kitchen. Two bedrooms up and one bedroom down. A/C. Large basement rm with 2 sets of washer & dryers and built-in desk for possible home office. 2 car garage. A short distance to Sunset hot spots!