area newsletter DECEMBER 2018 • WESTSIDE
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Community News Apartments to replace two parking lots in Santa Monica
zoning allowances through the city’s Transit Oriented Communities program, which seeks to incentivize the construction of denser projects near mass transit lines. The new project, which is located between Olympic Blvd. and Pico Blvd., would feature 62 residential units, including 7 apartments set aside for low-income housing.
L.A. to finance housing at V.A.
Developer WS Communities has announced plans to build 2 mixed-use buildings on Lincoln Blvd. in downtown Santa Monica, replacing 2 parking lots in the process. The first project, located at 1318 Lincoln Blvd., would be a five-story structure including 43 residential units and 3,410 square feet of ground floor retail space. The building would also include 3 floors of subterranean parking and room for 102 vehicles. The second project, located at 1430 Lincoln Blvd., would feature 100 residential units on five stories, and 5,878 square feet of retail space. The below-ground parking for the project would accommodate 296 vehicles. Both projects are currently pending before Santa Monica’s Architectural Review Board but are expected to be approved. WS Communities is responsible for several developments in the Santa Monica area, particularly along the Lincoln Blvd. corridor. They are currently constructing the commercial-heavy mixed-use project at Lincoln and Colorado.
Vacant building in Westwood to be replaced A partially renovated building at 2301 Westwood Blvd. will soon be replaced, if pending applications are approved. The owners of the building, which has stood unfinished for at least 5 years, have sought
The Los Angeles City Council recently approved two resolutions that will help finance the construction of permanent supportive housing at the West LA campus of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The resolutions, proposed by Councilmember Mike Bonin, would allow the city to issue $43.7 million in bonds to facilitate the renovation of Buildings 205 and 208 at the VA, creating 480 housing units for homeless veterans. The project is part of the VA’s Draft Master Plan which calls for the construction of 1,200 units at the campus over the next 6-10 years. This is the third recent project at the VA to tackle homelessness, joining a temporary shelter for 100 homeless people, as well as a program that allows homeless people to park their cars on the campus overnight.
Community News State law opens the door for street vendors
Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed SB946, the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, a state law which creates a legal framework for the regulation of sidewalk vendors and prohibits local authorities from banning vendors outright. In the Los Angeles area, street vending has often been a contentious issue, with officials cracking down on popular food vendors in the name of public safety, but often at the encouragement of traditional brick-and-mortar venues threatened by the competition. Such conflicts have led to vendors facing fines, jail and the confiscation of their carts, effectively preventing these low-income entrepreneurs from making a living. Under the new law, cities would be able to determine their own standards for street vendors, such as limiting the hours of operation and banning sales near permitted farmers’ markets.
Crenshaw/LAX line delayed
The opening of Metro’s light rail to the LAX airport will be delayed until 2020. The Crenshaw/LAX line, which will run south from the Crenshaw station of the Expo line and west through the north end of Inglewood, was originally expected to begin operation in 2019. Although construction of the tracks is on schedule, officials indicate that the electrical work for the trains is taking longer than expected. Before the train begins running, the Crenshaw/LAX line is likely to be renamed as Metro is exploring a new naming convention for its various bus and train lines.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Da Kikokiko
Warehouse Restaurant
La Cabaña
12746 Jefferson Boulevard Playa Vista
4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey
738 Rose Avenue Venice
A fast-casual Westside Hawaiian restaurant is aiming at being your new go-to spot for poke bowls and musubi. Brooke Williamson, who also runs Playa Provisions, Hudson House, and The Tripel, brings her fourth Westside restaurant with her husband Nick Roberts to Playa Vista. Their signature bowls are packed with everything from the expected spicy yellowfin to Japanese eggplant tinged with lime shoyu. The real treat here is the DIY section, where you can customize from a great number of options and mix and match your fish, toppings, sauces, and bases. For dessert, try their Hawaiian-themed shaved ice made with in-house syrups.
This restaurant gets you as close to the water without actually having to go surfing. With an international menu and out¬standing entertainment, it is acclaimed as “Los Angeles’ most enjoyable restaurant.” Its menu includes seafood, steaks, pastas, and salads. Plus, they have a large selection of California and International wines. Marina del Rey’s longest-running original restaurant also offers brunch buffet on Sundays. The waterfront eatery opened in 1969 and has won dozens of awards as well as having been featured in many magazines and trade publications.
La Cabaña in Venice has been serving excellent Mexican food since 1963. The restaurant has a colorful patio where you can enjoy chips, salsa and more than 18 different margaritas. The Venice institution makes their tortillas in-house on a brick-layered fireplace, has a live mariachi band and guacamole prepared tableside.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
LACMA 5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036 CURRENT EXHIBITION: 3D: Double Vision July 15, 2018 - March 31, 2019 This exhibition explores the art of stereoscopy, the technique that allows a two-dimensional image to create the illusion that it occupies three dimensions of space. Following the history of the technology from the experimental photographs of the 1830’s to the sophisticated digital films of modern day, the exhibit creates a hands-on experience, allowing viewers to use various devices to view 3-D art from artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Ed Ruscha, and features over 60 photographs, videos, and holographic sculptures.
Annenberg Space for Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10 Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION: Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain May 12, 2018 - January 6, 2019 The Autry is presenting the first major retrospective of noted Native American artist Rick Bartow. The exhibition reflects Bartow’s personal journey as a Vietnam veteran who battled PTSD and alcoholism to develop a career as a self-taught artist, creating a body of work that is both deeply personal and culturally relevant. Featured work includes large-scale paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures.
The Broad 221South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 CURRENT EXHIBITION: A Journey That Wasn’t June 30, 2018 - February 2019 The featured exhibition at the Broad is a collection of works that focus on the passage of time, dealing with themes such as nostalgia and decay. The exhibition features film and video pieces as well as paintings, sculpture, and photos, and 40 of the 55 works are on display at the Broad for the first time. The exhibition is on display in the Broad’s first floor galleries and is included with regular admission to the museum.
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