Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
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south gate ca. permit no. 294
MAY 2010
vol. 47, no. 5 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • miracle mile
SECTION ONE
Design for Living Larchmont chronicLe maY 2010
Residents meet with T-Mobile to find new site
Election set for Greater Wilshire Council board
Cell tower opposed
I
t's easy to walk past a home a dozen times and never notice it. And then, one day, someone restores it, the overgrowth disappears, the sun streams through the windows and suddenly—WOW! There it is—an 85-year-old gem in all its splendor and glory. (Turn to page 24)
S
even gardens were open during the Hancock Park Garden Party and Tour April 25. Proceeds benefit landscaping at John Burroughs Middle School. (Turn to page 20)
ANNUAL ISSUE features homes and gardens. 19-29 BOOK teaches kids value of saving. 14 FIREMEN serve breakfast. 16
BEAUTY and personality, Samoyeds have it all. 18 WATER PARK on Wilton is a splash.
25
ORGANIC garden tips. 28
SECTION TWO Real Estate Home & Garden
GAYLORD lobby gets a facelift.
6
PRESERVATION awards. 4 MAH JONGG among offerings at libraries. 5 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
Neighbors met recently to work out a compromise with T-Mobile after appealing the location of the firm’s cell tower on First St. and Wilton Pl. The residents had filed an appeal with the city Bureau of Engineering after being notified a 45-foot tall monopole and four-foot-high cabinet were going to be installed on either side of First St. Brian Terr, who alerted the Ridgewood-Wilton Neighborhood Association to the plan, said the pole would be 11 feet from his bedroom window. T-Mobile had earlier been denied a permit to erect an antenna on the roof of an historic apartment building and sought the alternate site. But neighbors opposed. “We want an open dialogue with T-Mobile to find an appropriate site,” said Alysoun Higgins, Ridgewood-Wilton president. At the April 23 meeting, residents said commercial areas along Third St. or Beverly Blvd. would be better sites.
Board represents residents, businesses
CLOSEd. Popular eatery’s last day was April 18.
Thanks for the eggs Benedict, au revoir Larchmont's Café du Village By Suzan Filipek Café du Village served its last eggs Benedict April 18, after nearly 13 years of bringing that certain je ne sais quoi to Larchmont Blvd. “That’s life,” said Serge Peri. “We knew it could happen.” Les pancakes, homemade corned beef hash and break-
fast in general were popular, said Peri at the eatery at 139 N. Larchmont. He was one of three owners who were given notice in early April by landlord David Adelipour. They had been open month to month since 2007, when See Cafe du Village, p. 7
Wilshire Park, Windsor Village on track Historic areas combine preservation plans to save city money By Suzan Filipek Wilshire Park and Windsor Village have been patient, historically speaking. After three years of waiting, plans to create an historic preservation overlay zone (HPOZ) for Windsor Village is moving full speed ahead. “We’ve been frustrated… but the Planning Department has been really great, and we’re really on track and moving forward,” said Association vice president Julie Grist. Windsor Village is among 17 areas set to have a Preservation Plan adopted this fall. The city Planning Dept. kicks off the initiative at a workshop on Mon., May 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1711 N. Van Ness Ave. Also on board is Wilshire Park, which has been an historic zone since Nov. 2008, but it’s still without a Preservation Plan, said Wilshire Park Assoc.
president Robby O’Donnell. Preservation Plans are a set of guidelines for paint colors and window styles to landscape and setbacks ensuring the neighborhood’s charm and character. The Plans clarify the HPOZ process to neighborhood residents and provide stronger,
more focused protection to each neighborhood’s unique historic resources, says Ken Bernstein, manager of the city office of historic resources. At the May 3 workshop, city planning staff will explain proposed exemptions and delegations and review a new See Wilshire Park, p. 15
YEaH! Beverly Blvd. was re-paved from Rossmore to Western avenues. More upgrading is planned on area streets, says Councilman LaBonge in his column. See page 10
For the past five years members of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board have championed issues on behalf of residents and stakeholders. The Council’s five-year term is up, and an election for the 21-seat board will be held on Thurs., May 13 at Wilshire Crest School, 5241 W. Olympic Blvd., from 2 to 8 p.m. New and returning candidates are on the slate. “We urge a good voter turnout, “ said Liz Fuller, Council secretary-treasurer and a candidate for one of several geographic areas represented on the Council. Board members also represent businesses, renters, educational and religious designations. They research the issues and work with city officials in solving them. “We hold monthly meetings to support neighborhood representatives in their efforts to prevent inappropriate projects,” said Fuller. See Election, p. 6
On the Boulevard Glimpses by Jane Grandparents are revving up retail activity at children’s shops on the boulevard. Christine Meyer told us at Le Pain Quotidien she and Carl have welcomed grandson Dominic Charles Perachiotti, born on April 9 to daughter Colette and her husband Tony. They live in Novato. *** It’s grandchild number 11 for Mary Ann and Joe Turkmany, we learned at Baskin Robbins. Mary Ann said daughter Janet and her husband Fr. John Mefrige had a son, Andrew Blaise. They live in San Antonio. *** Edie and Christian Frere welcomed a second granddaughter recently, See BLVD., p. 38
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