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.

Popularity: 13%

Pomodoro Woodland Hills Signage Removed, Transformation Continues

In the midst of another beautiful sunset in Woodland Hills, the former Pomodoro Woodland Hills location sits empty, silently waiting for its new life as Panini Cafe.

The interior is still bare, undergoing a total gutting.  I don’t expect Panini Cafe to open anytime within the next 30 days.

Popularity: 10%

Will The KB Homes Condo Project On Erwin Ever Be Finished?

I drive by the KB Homes Ascent condominium construction project at 21301 Erwin Street every day on my way to work, and while it seems that there usually is some sort of work going on (at least a few days a week), no real progress ever gets made.

I actually watched the place catch on fire from the chair at my dentist’s office (Dr. Rosen DDS on Ventura Blvd) back on Monday March 24, 2008.  There’s a great blog entry about this fire on the LAFD’s official blog. (See some more pictures of the fire here).

An interesting, if bitter, article was posted on a blog called Union Organizer about 6 weeks after the fire:

Work has resumed on the problem plagued Ascent at Warner Center project at 21301 West Erwin Street. This is the location of a construction fire that caused major damage to two floors. Representatives from White Residential and KB Homes refused comment on Friday when asked if corners were cut in an effort to speed up construction. Industry experts have speculated that the structure might be condemned due to shoddy workmanship. When asked about the status of the project, management referred all comments to their legal staff. A sign remains on the gate that reads “Limited Entry; Off limits to unauthorized personnel by order of the Dept of Building and Safety, City of Los Angeles. Warning: this structure or site has been damaged and may be dangerous to occupy. Further damage may occur at any time. Enter at your own risk. This facility was inspected under emergency conditions on 03-24-08, 10:30am”. No Helix Electric employees were seen on Friday. Two men believed to be from Withee Malcolm Architects were on site briefly. A banner on the building directs the public to the KB Homes/Ascent Sales Gallery at 21101 Oxnard Street just far enough away to mask the smell of burnt lumber.

Curbed LA wrote almost a year ago (see their fire images and blog entry here):

Here’s a different type of ghost building: It was last March that Ascent at Warner Center, developer KB Homes’ 191-unit condominium project went up in flames, the blaze sparked by a welding tool. A reader recently wondered about the status of the five-story project, and it turns out the development has been sitting there unfinished since March. Since at least last July the sales office has been closed, according to the Union Organizers blog. Here’s the statement KB Homes gave us: “While KB Home has temporarily suspended construction at Accent at Warner Center we remain optimistic about the future of the community. KB Home has been in business for over 50 years and will remain focused on building quality homes and providing superior customer service to all of our home owners in the Los Angeles area.” According to the Daily News, which also recently did a story on the project, KB Homes reported a net loss of $307.3 million in their most recent quarter.

I’m just wondering when this project will be finished.  Looking at some of those pictures, you can really see how that particular area is so densely packed with housing.  Pretty frightening in an emergency, to say the least.

Popularity: 9%

Exploring The Old & The New – LAFD Fire Station 84 In Woodland Hills

This article is really just an excuse to document the world around us here in Woodland Hills.  Up until September of 2007, Woodland Hills was served by a very small and heavily outdated Fire Station on Canoga Avenue just south of Ventura Blvd, the remains of which are pictured above.  LA DPW Engineering site information about the old Fire Station 84 at 5340 Canoga Avenue:

History
Fire Station 84 is located at 5340 Canoga Ave.  The Station was constructed in 1949 and is approximately 3,230 square feet.  It currently houses a Engine Company staffed by 4 firefighters, and a Paramedic Rescue staffed by 2 Paramedics.  Fire Station 84’s district (eight square miles) is known for having large areas of heavy brush in close proximity to expensive homes.  Warner Center high-rise buildings are also in Fire Station 84’s district. When the station was built, the area was primarily a farming community.

Reason for Project
The fire station was built to house 4 firefighters and is beyond its capacity.  A separate garage houses the Engine and the Rescue Ambulance parks outside on the front apron  The facility can not house the resources needed to meet present and expected growth of the community.  The current site is too small to accommodate expansion to a Regional Fire/Paramedic Station.

Evaluation Of Current Facility
Areas of deficiencies that were noted by Bureau of Engineering survey determined problems with: space, seismic, heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, building code, American Disabilities Act (ADA), fire protection systems, and lack of adequate separate gender facilities.

Additional LAFD blog info about the old facility:

Built in 1949 on Canoga Avenue just south of Ventura Boulevard, the 3,230 square-foot former fire station was truly a fire ‘house’ with an adjacent apparatus building (barn) meant to serve a then largely agricultural community surrounded by rolling hills.

The former Fire Station was designed to house no more than four male firefighters and one limited-role (now antique) fire apparatus. The addition of Firefighter/Paramedics and mixed gender crews in recent years brought the challenge of housing at least 6 men and women per shift in cramped quarters and the need to park the Paramedic Ambulance outdoors.

LAFD blogged about the new facility:

Because the property beneath old Fire Station 84 was too small to support a new or revamped facility, Proposition F of November 2000 now provides an efficient and appealing long-term asset for the community.

Groundbreaking for the new station on Burbank Boulevard took place on September 9, 2004. The $16.1 million facility was first opened for public service on September 18, 2007.

Situated on approximately two acres of land, new Fire Station 84 consists of a 15,250 square foot Station House, a 6,000 square foot Apparatus Storage Facility and a 2,500 square foot Multipurpose Room. The new station was expressly designed to support Department and community needs for decades to come, and is expected to serve as an operational base for the LAFD’s popular Support Service Volunteer Program.

The energy efficient seven-bay facility features an important “drive through” feature that prevents the need to block traffic on Burbank Boulevard when rehousing vehicles.

The ability of Fire Station 84 personnel to host community functions and training events in the new station’s community room will allow Neighborhood Firefighters an even closer and more productive relationship with those they proudly serve.

The new facility was designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, as was a very similar facility in Northridge (Fire Station 87).  They have great images of the facility on their website.

It’s almost amazing that with the development of Warner Center in the 80s and 90s that the old Fire Station 84 lasted as long as it did!  Man,  that place is indeed a relic.

Popularity: 8%

Halloween Store Gone, Old Circuit City Once Again Empty

I never know when you write one of these articles, which ones are going to be popular, and which will be duds.  Oddly enough, one of the most popular ones I ever wrote was my mini rant about the abandoned Circuit City store that had become a Halloween Store.

I’ve been keeping my eye on the place, and last week they finally took the banners down and the store once again stands empty.  Let’s see what the future holds for this storefront.

Popularity: 6%

Woodland Hills Ice Opens Today At Topanga Promenade!

Wow, it’s finally here!! Big writeup in the Daily News:

San Fernando Valley residents can skate, spin and jump their way through the holidays at an outdoor ice rink opening today in Woodland Hills.

The 7,000 square-foot rink will open at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Westfield Promenade, Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street. It will be open daily through Feb. 21, offering open skating, lessons, demonstrations, theme nights and visits from an ice-skating Santa Claus.

“We’re hoping to become a new holiday destination tradition for everyone in the Valley, said Alex Mohler, operations director for Woodland Hills Ice.

The rink will mark its first day of operation with half-price admission and free lessons from 3-5 p.m. An official grand opening on Dec. 14 will feature a free community skate from 3-5 p.m.

While there are several indoor rinks in the Valley, Woodland Hills Ice is the area’s first outdoor venue. Other seasonal outdoor rinks are located at Pershing Square and Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles; the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica; and The Lakes shopping center in Thousand Oaks.

See the full Daily News article here.

See all Hills of Woodland articles about Woodland Hills Ice.

Popularity: 8%

Chatting With Whitney From Woodland Hills Ice on Friday, November 20th

On Friday afternoon I stopped by the parking lot of Westfield Topanga Promenade to check on the construction progress of Woodland Hills Ice.  I took a few spy photos (which hopefully I will add to this post this afternoon) and I see that the have begun laying the foundation and finished running the electrical service out to the site of the future rink.

After taking some photos I parked my car and was about to head over to Corner Bakery when a young lady approached me.  “Are you Girard from Hills of Woodland,” she asked.  I was busted!  It was Whitney from Woodland Hills Ice, so I took a few minutes to talk with her about the progress of the project and get some background.

Whitney explained to me that she’s never been involved with the ice skating business before, but she does come from a business background.  In about June of 2008 while visiting Woodland Hills, she got the idea that the Topanga Promenade Mall would be a great place to have Winter ice skating.  Crazy, eh?

From then on she has been tenaciously pursuing the dream, including putting together a coalition of skating rink industry companies who have partnered up with her to secure financing and the lease with Westfield.  In fact, Whitney informs me, that the lease has a 4 year term, with Woodland Hills Ice coming back November through February for the next 3 years (that’s through Februrary 2013, folks).

Like many projects of this magnitude, Woodland Hills Ice has been on-again and off-again several times, and only got the full go ahead last month.  Whitney was particularly thankful to Dennis Zine and says that without his support, the project wouldn’t have happened.

She revealed a lot of numbers to me, and lets just say this is a huge investment for Woodland Hills.  She says so far community support has been extremely positive.  We all know that in the west valley there can be extremely limited entertainment options for kids and adults alike, so it’s nice to have something new to do.

While there is still a lot of work to day, as of Friday Whitney remained cautiously optimistic that they’d reach their target opening date of November 25th (Wednesday).

Prices include skate rental and will be $11 for children under 12 years of age, $13 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults.

Opening day and Black Friday specials include:

Join Us On Opening Day: Wednesday November 25!
3-5PM half price skating with free introductory skating lessons

Early Birds: Join Us On Black Friday November 27!
8-10AM Skate for $8 and a free introductory class at 9AM

Also, Whitney says that on warm Winter days where the temperature is above 80 degrees you can come skate in your bathing suit for a discount.  I’ll keep you guys posted on whether or not construction finishes in time for opening day.

Good luck, Whitney!

Popularity: 9%

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