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ABOUT LA - I got a couple of calls a few days ago wanting to know what I thought about a new apartment project at 920 South La Brea Avenue. I was glad to see it is an affordable housing project, but for the life of me I don’t see why it had to be so ugly. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this building is little more than an old 1960’s Soviet (khrushchevkas) style building splashed in red paint. I’m not sure if the color is on purpose as some sort of statement or just a personal preference. It is hard to tell in LA anymore.
The Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA) has worked very hard over the decades to preserve the architecture in this area which is why they were concerned about this project. It has taken several overlay zones which required enormous cooperation from city hall and support from several prior councilmembers. As the MMRA’s past President I had the good fortune to work with 3 councilmembers who helped in that effort and believed at their core that their job was one of service. They were people who loved the neighborhoods they represented, knew the value of listening to the people and in the end told you the truth about what they could and couldn’t do. I also worked with another who could not be farther away from that description.
I was fortunate to work with Council President John Ferraro and his planning deputy Renee Weitzer in the beginning of my community service. John Ferraro single handedly saved the May company building from demolition and in the process came up with an inspired 4 parcel deal that brought in the Palazzo apartments. It was a monumental feat that took years to accomplish. Without that deal I’m not sure we would have Museum Row on Wilshire today. He was responsible for approving the Courtyard building (5750 Wilshire) which became the centerpiece of the new Miracle Mile in the late 80’s. Tom LaBonge followed John Ferraro and pushed through the Miracle Mile Community Design (CDO) Overlay which set out guidelines for new designs on Wilshire. 920 South LaBrea could not be built on Wilshire Blvd. because of the CDO. Later he agreed to support the Miracle Mile Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) which had been called for in the Wilshire Community Plan. We knew there would be opposition from the crowd that wanted to do away with single family homes, but he did it anyway. He asked me if the neighborhood had the funds to do the historic survey and if I was prepared to see it through regardless of what would come? I said yes to both, and we shook hands on it. That was that. Someday there needs to be a plaque somewhere in the Miracle Mile thanking Tom for his support. I didn’t always agree with Tom, but he always told me the truth and kept his word. In my world you can’t ask for more. I also cannot forget David Ryu who succeeded Tom after he was termed out. He carried the HPOZ torch across the finish line when the opposition wanted to exclude all the R-3 multifamily apartments from protection. I believe that cost him in the next election. He lost to Nithya Raman and her coalition of supporters which included the Democratic Socialists of America and Ground Game L.A. I did not enjoy working with Nithya and was happy to see her go when we became part of CD 5.
Some I’ve talked to wonder if today’ City hall will be receptive to hearing from the group and listening to their ideas about this project and others. I think they might be, but can Councilmember Yaroslavsky actually produce any results? I’m hoping she can.
A recent LA Times story about LA’s cracked and ruptured sidewalks caught my eye but they have been that way for decades with no relief in sight. Besides I could easily top that with the mini LaBrea Tar pit that popped up on my street over a year ago. In several places tar bubbles form, then pop releasing methane gas just like they do at the bigger tar pits. So far street services have covered the area with sand and put up a couple of barricades to warn drivers away who still manage to splash tar up onto their cars. The city doesn’t seem to know what to do but the neighbors do because we have had similar problems on our properties. Several of the buildings on Wilshire also have it coming up in their subterranean basement. Maybe the problem is worse than we think but, in that case, we should know sooner rather than later. That is something our Councilperson should be able to report back on.
Right now I’m trying to work through a recent interview she gave to the Westside Current. So far, I have a few questions, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. So I look forward to what Councilmember Yaroslavsky has to say about 920 S. LaBrea, the tar in the street and other topics as they come up.
(James O’Sullivan is the retired ex-president (25 years) and current ex-officio of the Miracle Mile Residential Association.)
