Is a Zoning Battle Brewing Over Pawn Shop Variance At Ventura & Don Pio?
My spider sense tingled today when I received this e-mail message:
Important Woodland Hills NC Board Meeting Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010
Please pardon this intrusion.
As citizens of Woodland Hills a matter regarding zoning of a pawnshop on Ventura Boulevard will be of interest to you. Come and be heard and/or email me at jockbaird@aol.com.
As candidates for and members of The Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council Board
I’m asking you to attend Wednesday’s Neighborhood Council meeting at Woodland Hills Academy (formerly Parkman Junior High School) across De Soto from Kaiser Hospital, 20800 Burbank Boulevard from 6:30 – 9:00.
This is an extremely important meeting for you and the NC. A zoning variation regarding a pawn shop’s proposed move on Ventura Boulevard will be discussed. This is an item of great importance to the citizens of Woodland Hills.
Thank you!
Jim Anderson
Area 2 Co-ordinator
Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Then, later in the afternoon I drove by the former location of “Anzhlika Bridal” at 21840 Ventura Blvd and observed a few public notices in the window. Upon examing the notices, I realized that this was the undoubtedly “pawn shop” location in question.
To anyone who is observant, it is readily evident that this now abandoned storefront’s entryway often serves as a lounging spot for various vagrants and degenerates. I have personally witnessed drunken and/or crystal meth fueled arguments between these folks at this very spot.
I’ll have to hear what the Neighborhood Council’s general position is on the pawn shop situation, but I personally don’t think have the place there would be all minuses. Having it empty isn’t great either. I’m amazed that with the advent of eBay that pawn shops still exist. But, perhaps drug addicts looking for a quick fix aren’t Power Sellers and/or have difficulty getting PayPal accounts.
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5 Responses to “Is a Zoning Battle Brewing Over Pawn Shop Variance At Ventura & Don Pio?”
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I saw this on Sunday and my first thought was, Great! A pawn shop next to the liquor store! Can’t wait! Maybe it’s just something about pawn shops but they strike me as the kind of establishment that attracts violent people with guns…just the kind I want lurking around a mile from my house.
As a long time local resident(27+ years) who lives several blocks from this location, I would have to give a big thumbs down to a pawn shop at this location.
As noted, the corner already attracts a fairly unpleasant crowd, but I really dont believe that opening this store(or any store for that matter) will necessarily drive them away. They will just move to the parking lot on the other side of don pio, or back to the other side of ventura behind Ralphs. For as long as i can remember, the homeless have always taken shelter here
The long-time residents of this neighborhood have seen a number of drug/prostitution/crime raids (examples at bottom) at the former Aku Aku Inn (now best western) directly behind this lot. The area already has its hands full with unsavory characters, do we really need a one stop shop(corner) for crackheads?
Besides, I just dont believe that there is that high of a demand for pawn shops in the area that we need them almost exactly half a mile apart from each other (canoga/ventura, desoto/ventura).
Please people, this is a great town, this is Woodland Hills…NOT Las Vegas
links of trouble @ Aku Aku:
http://articles.latimes.com/2002/may/11/local/me-stolen11
What was the outcome of this meeting?? I actually know who the owners are of this building. I would be curious if they understand the way some of our community feels about this. Update me please!!