Meeting Date: 06/22/04 07:00 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Will and Ariel Durant Library
Community Room
7140 W. Sunset Blvd.
corner of Detroit, parking in back
Details: Area 7
Spaulding Square/Sunset Flats
Meeting Announcement
Tuesday, June 22nd
7:00 PM
Will and Ariel Durant Library
Community Room
7140 W. Sunset Blvd.
corner of Detroit, parking in back
1. Greeting and introductions by Anthony Deckoff, committee chair.
2. Discussion of DGA/Legacy Partners’ proposal for mixed residential/commercial development at 7950 Sunset Blvd. Possible vote.
3. Discussion of the desirability of creating marked bicycle lanes along Fountain Avenue, connecting existing lanes further east on Sunset Blvd. and further west on Santa Monica Blvd. Possible vote.
4. Presentation by stakeholder Cheryl Holland on progress on sidestreet barrier proposals along Sunset discussed at previous two meetings. Discussion and possible vote regarding HHWNC involvement.
5. Discussion of hiring of private security patrols for Sunset Boulevard, possibly in connection with a new Business Improvement District. Possible vote regarding HHWNC financial support for such patrols.
6. General discussion of concerns regarding criminal activity in our neighborhood.
7. Discussion of the impacts — positive and negative — of Cheebo, the restaurant at 7533 Sunset, on its neighbors.
8. General public comment.
9. Adjourn (by 9 p.m.).
Area 7
Spaulding Square/Sunset Flats
Minutes
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Will and Ariel Durant Library
Community Room
7140 W. Sunset Blvd.
Anthony Deckoff, committee chair, called the meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
LAPD Capt. Michael Downing of the Hollywood Division spoke about the murders that occurred in Area 7 on June 13 and discussed ways in which the LAPD is combating crime of various sorts in the neighborhood. Officer Bill Solly also discussed efforts to fight gang activity in the area, which has been on the rise. A summer task force is currently in effect to regulate the gang presence on weekend evenings along the Sunset Strip. Committee members expressed their concerns about prostitution and drug dealing in some of the alleys off Sunset.
Kimberlina Whettam from Councilman Jack Weiss’s office and Eric Sanjurjo from Councilman Tom LaBonge’s office discussed the effort to start a neighborhood-funded security patrol covering the blocks along Sunset from Havenhurst to Crescent Heights along Sunset during the summer, an effort spearheaded by local businesses and organized by Gary Minzer. The committee voted 13 to none to allocate $2000 of HHWNC funds to the security patrol.
Possibilities for future uses of the former Durant Library on Gardner were touched on, though Capt. Downing suggested a stop-in center for the police was not a likely outcome.
Committee member Cheryl Holland discussed her efforts to organize the use of temporary street barricades on Friday and Saturday nights to discourage illegal turns onto the side streets along Sunset. Capt. Downing indicated the scheme has attracted opposition due to questions regarding the scarcity of resources.
The committee discussed the Legacy Partners proposal for the site at 7950 Sunset Blvd.- a mixed use structure of apartments and retail space. The committee voted 15 to 5 to support the mixed use variance on the site, under the conditions that the resulting building be no higher than what would have been permitted under the existing commercial zoning and that proper attention be paid to mitigation of traffic impacts and visual density of the structure.
Committee Chair Anthony Deckoff discussed the possibility of requesting the cities of West Hollywood and Los Angeles to develop bicycle lanes along Fountain Avenue from Sunset Blvd. to La Cienega. Committee members felt further research was necessary, and the issue was tabled.
Eric Sanjurjo discussed the desirability of a Business Improvement District along Sunset Blvd west of La Brea, citing the physical and security improvements that could result. It was agreed to organize a presentation at a future meeting.
Owner Sandro Reinhardt of Cheebo, the restaurant at 7533 Sunset Blvd.- fielded committee concerns and questions regarding the restaurant’s operations and its impact on its neighbors. Complaints were made in particular regarding customers double-parking outside the restaurant’s pick-up window on Sierra Bonita Ave. and about the reckless driving of the restaurant’s parking valets. Mr. Reinhardt agreed not to reinstall seating along Sierra Bonita and to consider reorganizing the location of the valet parking facility. All agreed that the painting of a proper crosswalk across Sunset at Sierra Bonita would make it simpler to adjust the valet parking situation. The committee voted by acclamation to request such a crosswalk from the city.
Chair adjourned the meeting voicing appreciation for the large turnout of residents and the quality of the discussions.