area newsletter AUGUST 2018 • SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
20 18 TM
Community News Metro approves light rail on Van Nuys Blvd.
The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority recently approved plans to build a light rail line along Van Nuys Blvd. The project, called the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, will connect the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station in the north to the Van Nuys station of Orange Line rapid busline in the south. The trains will run on tracks built in the middle of the road, about 6.7 miles on Van Nuys Blvd. and 2.5 miles on San Fernando Rd. The plan also calls for construction of 14 stations along the route, including stops at the major intersections of Van Nuys Blvd. as well the Van Nuys Metrolink station, the Panorama Mall, and Arleta High School. Metro expects the entire trip would take about 29 minutes each way. The East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor is included among the 28 projects that Metro hopes to complete before 2028 Olympics.
Two more towers proposed for Warner Center The “Manhattanization� of Warner Center is taking another step forward as a developer has filed plans to build two residential towers at 6400 N. Canoga Ave., south of Victory Blvd. The development is the latest in a series of projects designed to convert Warner Center into a high-density, transit-centric community. These latest towers would stand 25 and 27 stories and create 610 new residential units. An existing office building on the property will also be
expanded. Other projects under development in the area include a ten building project at Burbank Blvd. and De Soto Blvd. and a $1.5 billion mixed-use development at 6100 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., where a Westfield mall currently stands. The Canoga Ave. project is also located near the former Rocketdyne facility, which is set to be developed as well, possibly by the owners of the Mall of America.
Residential and retail complex planned for Van Nuys Developers have submitted plans to the City of Los Angeles to build a mixed-use complex at the intersection of Van Nuys Blvd. and Kittridge St. Named Van Nuys Plaza, the project calls for the construction of a six story building on the southwestern corner of the intersection which would include 174 apartments and 18,400 square feet of ground floor commercial space. The site is located about a mile from the Orange Line rapid bus line and would be one of the few residential buildings on an otherwise commercial district of Van Nuys. If approved by city officials, the project is expected to break ground in Autumn 2018 and be completed in 15 months.
Community News New apartments planned for Encino
Plans have been filed with the City of Los Angeles to build a new apartment complex on Ventura Blvd. in Encino. Located at 16161 W. Ventura Blvd., between Libbit Ave. and Woodley Ave., the building would contain 114 residential units, including 32 studios, 65 one bedrooms, 15 two bedrooms, and 2 live/work units. The project also calls for two levels of parking and will feature a fitness center and terrace decks. Construction of the project would require the demolition of an existing two-story commercial building, which is currently occuplied by a sushi bar and a private mailbox facility.
Progress in fight against homelessness
Officials recently announced that the number of homeless people in the county of Los Angeles
has decreased to 53,195 people, a drop of 3% since 2017. This marks the first improvement in four years and follows a 23% increase from 2016 to 2017. The decline also mirrors increased government efforts to provide housing and services to LA’s homeless population. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced plans to build 15 emergency shelters around the city, and the City Council also unanimously passed a resolution to build transitional housing in each of the city’s 15 districts. Among Garcetti’s announced shelters is a project located at 11010 Santa Monica Boulevard, at a city-owned parking lot in West LA. Recent changes to state law allows the city to build the shelters quickly, bypassing much of the typical red tape that is typically required.
New spec mansion includes shark tank In recent years ambitious developers have taken to building outsized mansions that also happen to come furnished with a modern art collection, a luxury car collection, even a fully paid household staff. But the latest spec mansion to causes waves in L.A. is a $35 million house in the Doheny Estates area of the Hollywood Hills that comes with a fully stocked shark tank. The 300-gallon tank is actually configured like a 2 foot deep pond with stepping stones, allowing guests to step into the tank and be surrounded by marine life. The tank is filled with 3 houndsharks, 1 remora shark, 1 horn shark, 1 catshark, as well as 8 stingrays. Aside from the shark tank, the mansion also features 7 bedrooms, 11 baths, a wine cellar, and a walk-in tequila freezer.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Barrel & Ashes
Santino’s NY Pizza
Gasolina Café
11801 Ventura Boulevard Studio City
4319 Woodman Avenue Sherman Oaks
21014 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills
This barbecue restaurant in Studio City focuses on family-style service with daily specials from Chefs Tim Hollingsworth, a former chef de cuisine at The French Laundry, Rory Herrmann, former chef de cuisine of Bouchon in Beverly Hills, and Michael Kahikina. Meats are smoked over coastal California Red Oak and cooked over White Oak. Their buttery hoe cake goes perfectly with the ribs, brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken. A popular item on the menu: a Frito pie piled with chili, cheddar, sour cream, and green onions. If you decide to eat at Barrel & Ashes, expect a wait even if you have a reservation and expect it to be slightly expensive. The restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
New York is alive and well in Sherman Oaks. This restaurant is owned and operated by husband and wife Cynthia and Daniel. The couple has built a reputation among locals as the best New York and Neapolitan pizza around. Their house-made dough is fermented for up to 48 hours for the perfect taste. All pizza can be ordered as a round or square. A popular pizza on the menu is the 4 Creamy Cheeses, which has rich creamy Alfredo sauce, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, jack cheese and is topped with parmesan. Santino’s NY Pizza was voted “Best Pizza in LA” by The Huffington Post. The pizzeria is open 11:30am-9pm on weekdays, and 11:30am-10pm on Friday and Saturday.
Fuel up on Spanish dishes at Gasolina Café! The small breakfast-lunch spot is in the flats of Woodland Hills and is bringing to southern California a unique blend of Spain crossed with the best of New California cuisine. Here you can get omelets stuffed with Spanish chorizo for breakfast, smoked trout salads for lunch and Spanish churros anytime. One of their best dishes is the patatas bravas—crispy fries with chorizo, jamon and an egg served sunny-side up. Gasolina Café works with local ingredients where they can and bring their coffee from James Coffee in San Diego. They are open 8am-3pm, seven days a week.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
Annenberg Space for Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10 Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION: Not An Ostrich: and Other Images From America’s Library April 21 - September 9, 2018 Noted curator Anne Wilkes Tucker has displays nearly 500 images selected from the archives of the U.S. Library of Congress including photos that are rarely seen by the public as well as iconic portraits of Abraham Lincoln, Cesar Chavez, and Elizabeth Taylor. The exhibit shows a vivid cross-section of the history the United States in photographic form.
LACMA
MOCA Grand Avenue
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
152 North Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
A Universal History of Infamy: Those of This America January 27 - October 6, 2018
Jackson Pollock’s Number 1, 1949: A Conservation Treatment March 4 - September 7, 2018
As part of LACMA’s community art education program, this exhibition is presented at their satellite gallery at Charles White Elementary School, featuring the work of contemporary Latino artists, writers, and activists, alongside pieces from LACMA’s permanent collection. Public hours are on Saturdays, 1-4 pm.
In collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute, MOCA is undertaking an extensive restoration of a Jackson Pollock painting in a gallery that will be open to the public. Three other Pollocks from the MOCA collection will also be displayed.
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