Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 58, NO. 9
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
Vacancies on rise on Blvd. and nearby
When counting the numbers, numbers don’t always count
n 38 vacancies expected
BACK TO SCHOOL 11-24
POD members take a break. 12
BRITS are coming. 27
By John Welborne and Helene Seifer As reported in previous months, there have been a number of retail and other commercial spaces that appear vacant or “For Lease” along Larchmont Boulevard and in the immediate neighborhood. Although the situation has predated COVID-19 closures, the pandemic clearly is having an additional negative effect on tenants and landlords. Restaurants and retail stores, if back open, have experienced reduced customer visitation. Many existing office tenants have concluded they can operate with less rental space because some staff actually can work productively See Vacancies, p 8
Larchmont sidewalk sale is Sept. 4, 5, 6
n Deals on the Boulevard
BUTTERFLIES unmasked.
2-8
For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
By Suzan Filipek Stroll the boulevard in the open air at the Larchmont Boulevard semi-annual sidewalk sale Fri., Sept. 4, through Sun., Sept., 6. Candles, books and the latest fashion trends will be among items on sale, Joane Pickett, of Pickett Fences, told us. Other participating merchants in the event sponsored by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) include Landis Gifts & Stationery, Shopaholic, Alegria Bazaar by Paula Carlotto, Chevalier’s Books, See Sidewalk sale, p 4
n Homelessness, CD4
AL FRESCO program on Larchmont Boulevard provides extra outdoor dining areas for approved restaurants.
Photo by Billy Taylor
Dining Al Fresco, a life saver with planters and umbrellas
n City dining program extended to end of the year By Billy Taylor Local restaurants are facing hardships as a result of the pandemic, in part because indoor dining is currently prohibited locally. To help, the City of Los Angeles launched a program to assist called “L.A. Al Fresco.” For restaurants approved for the program, the City provides barriers, planters and umbrellas to expand outdoor dining areas beyond their usual footprint. On Aug. 21, Mayor Garcetti extended the program’s permits for the rest of the 2020 calendar year. On Larchmont Boulevard, two separate areas have been reserved for “parking lane dining,” which has taken a total of nine parking spaces. In other parts of the city, the program has established new
outdoor dining areas on sidewalks, parking lots and even “full street dining” where the See Dining, p 27
Supervisor, two council seats on local ballot n Voting begins October
By John Welborne The national political conventions — different as they were in this COVID-19 era — are over, and campaigning is gearing up locally as well as nationally. There are a number of competitive local races taking place in and adjoining our Mid-Wilshire area. Election contests garnerSee Election, p 10
By Suzan Filipek Homelessness is on the rise. People are living on the streets, in tents and in their cars more than ever before. We don’t need data and statistics to know the sad truth of what we see every day driving and walking the streets of Los Angeles. Yet, a complex, data-based numbers game takes place every year to determine the size and scope of the problem and to help create policies and erect shelters to help fix it. Does it help? Yes, and no, say city officials. “You can get bogged down in these statistics. We know homelessness is getting worse. We see it. We know it when we hear about people losing their houses… ” said Mark Pampanin, spokesman for Councilmember David Ryu of Council District Four (CD4). Ryu has been an advocate against relying too heavily on the homeless count, which showed a grave discrepancy in his district in 2019. (More on that later.) While Ryu’s critics say enough is not being done, the councilmember argues a steady, full-speed-ahead approach has taken place since he took office four years ago. 1,072 homeless Unfortunately, the number of homeless — 1,072 adults and youth in the 275,000-popSee Homeless, p 29
Warner Henry, remembered n Local luminary, a founder of LA Opera, died Aug. 1
Halloween & Harvest
Pumpkins and falling leaves mean change is in the air. Ghosts and goblins beware! Our debut Halloween & Harvest special section will be featured in the October issue. Advertising deadline is Mon., Sept. 14. For more information contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11.
SEPTEMBER 2020
WARNER HENRY, June 2003, Santa Ynez wine trip.
By James Conlon He was a larger-than-life personality, a man of dramatic contrasts. His favorite artists were Claude Monet and Hieronymus Bosch. He was a connoisseur of the world’s finest wines, but his favorite meal included meat loaf. His always-ready wit and sense of humor covered a very deep seriousness, like his preferred president, Ronald Reagan. In his free time, he watched the news, played solitaire with his iPhone, or both at once.
On August 1, Windsor Square lost one of its own. Warner Henry was born to “Pop” and Fran Henry on March 26, 1938 and was raised here, first on Ingraham St. (in Wilshire Park) and then on the corner of First St. and Plymouth Blvd. in Windsor Square. That was a residence Warner subsequently occupied with his own family before moving three blocks south to the corner of Fourth St. and Plymouth Blvd. Warner Henry became a See Warner Henry, p 30
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