area newsletter AUGUST 2018 • WESTSIDE
20 18 TM
Community News Plans revealed for Santa Monica Airport Park expansion
Although the Santa Monica Airport won’t be closing until 2028, the City of Santa Monica has already begun repurposing some of the land. In particular, a 12-acre parcel was reclaimed in July 2015 when the city’s 30-year agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration expired. That parcel was designated for use as public green space, as an expansion of the existing Santa Monica Airport Park. The landscape architecture firm hired by the city to design the new park recently revealed plans for the project, which includes the addition of new sports fields, a jogging track, and a community garden. A 6-acre portion of the reclaimed property, a space that was formerly a parking lot for airplanes, is already available for interim use by the public for unprogrammed recreational activities. In addition to this soon-to-be 16-acre park, plans are also being made to reclaim the entirety of the land currently occupied by the airport operation, in order to create a 227-acre “Great Park” for use by the public. The Airport2Park Foundation, a non-profit organization leading the process, indicates that such a park would be over twice the size of all other Santa Monica parks combined and one-third of the size of New York’s Central Park.
LA approves plan to add density to Expo Line areas
The Los Angeles City Council recently approved the Exposition Corridor Transit Neighborhood Plan, a strategy for developing the area surrounding the Expo Line light rail. Under the plan, developers will be permitted to build taller, denser apartment complexes within a half mile of the Expo Line stations in Palms, Rancho Park, Sawtelle, Mid-City, and Cheviot Hills. The plan also re-zones some industrial areas for residential development, and some single-family areas for mixeduse development, allowing for the construction of buildings that include ground floor retail space. Overall, the plan expects to pave the way for 4,400 – 6,000 new residential units in the area by 2035.
Mixed use project breaks ground in Santa Monica Construction has begun on a new mixed-use development at the corner of Lincoln Blvd. and Colorado Blvd., replacing a demolished Denny’s restaurant. The project will stand five stories high and consist of 100 apartments and 13,800 square feet of commercial space, as well as underground parking for 232 vehicles. The project calls for a courtyard on the Colorado side and a walkway leading from the Lincoln side. The development is located across the street from a larger, 280-unit project, and down the street from a 64-unit complex, both currently under construction.
Community News Townhomes planned for Culver City
Spec mansion comes with sharks
Developers are seeking approval for a new townhome project near downtown Culver City. Located at 4051 and 4055 Jackson Ave., the plans call for the construction of 9 condo units, an internal walkway, and subterranean parking for 18 vehicles. The design features a contemporary style and second story glass balconies. Construction of the project would first require the demolition of 2 existing structures, a 4 unit multi-family residence and a 1-bedroom single family residence. The site is conveniently located just a half mile from Sony Studios. No timeline has been announced for the project.
In recent years ambitious developers have taken to building mansions that also happen to come with amenities such as a modern art collection, a garage full of luxury cars, even a fully paid household staff. But the latest spec mansion to cause 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
Osteria Venice West
Kato
Flower Child
5 Dudley Avenue Venice
11925 Santa Monica Boulevard West LA
332 2nd Street Santa Monica
Osteria Venice West is a casual Italian restaurant located in a landmark building in the heart of Venice Beach. The restaurant features an open kitchen designed to be a social gathering place where guests can enjoy rustic Italian cuisine and regional wines. Chef Luigi Fineo, who has an extensive resume cooking at several high-end restaurants including Bouchon and the French Laundry, is the head at OVW. Here you can find pizzas in the $15 range, as well as a variety of Italian shared plates and housemade pastas. What should you get? The ricotta and blood orange is a fun appetizer. Hours for OVW run 5pm-10pm during the week and 5-11pm on weekends. They serve lunch on weekends, starting at 12pm.
This pan-Japanese and Taiwanese restaurant hovering near the border of West LA and Santa Monica is bringing refined modern dishes to the area. The new restaurant specializes in a seafood-tasting menu and relies on local produce and fresh seafood. Owner Jonathan Yao creates some of the most beautiful dishes inside the small space. He has worked up a five course-tasting menu that runs just $49. Aside from that, pork belly rice can be purchased for $8, but that’s about it. For now, Kato is open from 5:30-10pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Flower Child promises to serve healthy food for a happy world. The healthy Santa Monica eatery knows their farmers and their families. All their proteins are raised naturally, without additives. The fast-casual restaurant caters to all dietary needs. Here you can choose from plentiful protein bowls, salads, whole grain wraps and more. The Flower Child Santa Monica is the chain’s first California branch and is located only a few blocks from the beach. Flower Child is open daily 9am-9pm.
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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