A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Westfield To Hold Workshop For The Village Changes, Community Urged To Attend

If you care about Woodland Hills, you should download this PDF to read about Westfield’s proposed changes for The Village.  Then, you should come to their workshop and voice your opinions and concerns on Wednesday July 28th.  See my annotated illustration above for a diagram of the proposed project.

Popularity: 7%

Westfield To Ram Costco Down Woodland Hills’ Throat, Whether We Want It Or Not

This is very sad.  Dennis Zine is not doing us any favors by being so in the pocket of Westfield on this one.  I’ve seen the Costcos like the one they want to put in.  A giant parking lot, a giant warehouse store, and their needless Costco gas station.  Why?  I am not for this project.  Obviously due to the economy exploding “The Village” was doomed, but where is the community input on these changes?

LA Daily News writes:

Three years after announcing it would build an upscale mixed-use project in Warner Center that would rival Century City, Westfield LLC has dramatically scaled back its $750 million plan for the mall connecting its Topanga and Promenade complexes.

In a letter dated July 6 and sent to some households in Woodland Hills, Westfield executives blame the economic recession for their decision to eliminate the housing component and slash office and retail space at The Village at Westfield Topanga.

However, the plan also adds 146,000 square feet for a retail anchor – which sources confirm will be a Costco – in a nod to the changing consumer desires.

“What you envision in 2007 is not going to be what you envision in 2010,” said Westfield spokeswoman Katy Dickey. “It’s reflective of the changing economy and consumer demand.” She declined to say how the more modest development will impact development costs.

The biggest addition to the project is a 146,600-square-foot store that sources confirm will be a Costco. Plans call for the discount warehouse – which would include a gas station and tire center – to be built on the south side of Victory Boulevard, across from the upscale Nordstrom’s at Westfield Topanga.

“It’s a drastic change,” said Joyce Pearson, who chairs the Woodland Hills/Warner Center Neighborhood Council. “I think that is part of what everyone is going to have to grapple with. Is this going to be a good match with Woodland Hills?”

Plans for The Village were announced with great fanfare in 2007, a year before the mortgage meltdown plunged the economy into the worst recession in decades. With the real estate market still struggling and the retail sector just beginning to rebound, the mall owner reduced the size of the 1.8 million square project by 804,000 square feet, or 45 percent.

This particular line is priceless, “However, the plan also adds 146,000 square feet for a retail anchor – which sources confirm will be a Costco – in a nod to the changing consumer desires.”  How big of a check did Westfield have to write to the Daily News to get that sentence in there.  This is the consumer desire?  To have a Costco in that lot?  I’m a consumer, and I sure don’t remember getting that survey in the mail or attending that focus group.

Popularity: 9%

Is KB Homes Already A Bad Neighbor For Woodland Hills?

Well, I found this quite amusing and interesting.  Anyone who is familiar with Woodland Hills and the west valley would know that quite a stink has been raised recently by trailer signs. (See list or trailer sign related stories here on HoW)  Personally, I’m relatively neutral on the issue.  However, many people hate them.  Councilman Dennis Zine has pretty much launched a personal war against him, so much so that if it ever comes before a city council vote again I think he should recuse himself on the issue.  I was at a Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council meeting yesterday where he mentioned the issue again.

This is why I was kind of stunned that KB Homes, in their widening advertising campaign for their Ascent project on Erwin Street, would be so ignorant as to place trailer signs in Woodland Hills.  Just not a very good idea, in my opinion, and not very neighborly.  Please feel free to comment.

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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: 3%

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.

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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: 5%

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: 9%

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