Larchmont Chronicle
vol. 53, no. 6
• delivered to 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • Miracle Mile • Park La Brea • Larchmont •
IN THIS ISSUE
june 2016
Wilshire/La Brea weekend detours to start this month Metro decking to replace road surface
GRADUATE SALUTE. Section 3
Mid-June marks the scheduled start for 22 weekends of street closures and detours related to construction of Metro's Wilshire/La Brea subway station. These closures will allow the installation of concrete decking on Wilshire Blvd. as a temporary (for several years) road surface. Detailed information and maps of the detour routes are
included in a pullout centerfold in the “View/Real Estate” section of this issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. A comprehensive update about the project was presented at John Burroughs Middle School auditorium on May 19. Speakers at the community meeting were Kasey Shuda of See Metro, Sec. 2, p 10
Paramount 25-year Residents and city master plan is join to tackle moving forward Mansionization Neighbors question 'sign district' FAREWELL to a favorite principal. 1-8
55TH Fashion Show. 1-14
GROWING vegetables made easy. 2-2 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
By Billy Taylor The new Master Plan for Paramount Pictures received its first public hearing on May 16 as part of the city’s approval process, with more than 100 people in attendance. Held at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, the threehour meeting was a chance for the Dept. of City Planning to obtain testimony on the project’s final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and land use entitlements before a final report and recommendation is sent to the City Planning Commission. Community response Guests arriving at the hearing were greeted by Paramount employees offering “YES” stickers, to be worn as See Paramount, p 3
'Single-family zones' topic at meetings By Suzan Filipek Want to know more about new zoning concepts and what they might mean for your neighborhood? Want to tell the city what you think? The City Planning Dept. is hosting a series of community meetings for areas protected with Interim Control Ordinances (limiting development) — including Larchmont Heights and La Brea-Hancock — to discuss issues confronting singlefamily neighborhoods, such as McMansions. And, what residents can do about them. The goal of the city’s Neighborhood Conservation Initiative is to find solutions where houses are being built outof-scale with their neighborSee Mansionization, p 4
GRADUATION! Read about local graduates in our special section. Above, Marlborough seniors toss their hats at last year's ceremony at the Rossmore Ave. campus.
Primary election June 7 includes seats for President, Senate Judicial election adds local flavor By John Welborne Los Angeles County ballots for the June 7 primary election include 39 candidates who have qualified to run for President of the United States (in seven different political parties) and an incumbent local judge being challenged by a Valley liquor store operator. With that many candidates
Design for Living
Our annual home and lifestyle special section will be featured in the July issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Wed., June 15. Contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11.
Local resident holds reins of city Planning Dept.
By Billy Taylor At the start of 2016, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tapped a long-time Windsor Square resident to run the city’s Planning Department. Following his first several months in the position, the Chronicle sat down with planning director Vince Bertoni in his fifth floor City Hall office to talk city planning. “Twenty years in the same house,” says Bertoni proudly when asked about his Windsor Square credentials. “It’s the first and only house I’ve ever owned.” In fact, once he and his partner — architect and landscape architect Damon Hein — decided to buy a property, he says they went straight for the Larchmont area. Having grown up in a walk-able east Sacramento neighborhood, Bertoni wanted to find a part of town with the same sense of community: “I wanted to be walking distance to Larchmont Blvd., so we spent nine months looking for the perfect place,” he laughs.
for president, there ought to be at least once choice for everyone who is registered to vote. In recent months, a number of big-name candidates, or their stand-ins like President Obama, have visited homes in Mid-Wilshire neighborhoods to greet friends and raise funds. Some neighbors say they will be very relieved when campaign season, and the resulting local street closures, end. But that does not happen until November.
Vote
Tuesday, June 7 In the meantime, the June 7 presidential primary ballot also includes a U.S. Senator contest, Congressional and State Legislative seats, the unopposed District Attorney, one State proposition from the Legislature and seven non-partisan contests to be a Superior Court Judge. It is that category — the judicial election — that provides a special, local flavor on June 7. See Election, p 13
Pets of Larchmont
LOS ANGELES planning director Vince Bertoni is prepared for the challenges ahead.
It’s clear from the start of the interview that Bertoni is passionate about city planning. He has dedicated his professional life to the field, earning a Bachelor of Arts in transportation See Vince Bertoni, p 11
Send us a photo of your favorite pet — all species are welcome — with the pet’s name and yours along with your address (only street names will be printed) to suzan@larchmontchronicle. com for publication in our annual pet section in July. Deadline is Wed., June 15.
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