A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Neighborhood Council Rejects Zoning Variance For Collateral Lender (Last Wednesday) – New Meeting Today

I had intended to get this up a little sooner, but it’s been a little bit of a hectic last few days for me.  I did indeed attend last weeks Neighborhood Council meeting, specifically for the purpose of hearing the debate on the proposed zoning variance which would allow The Collateral Lender to relocate from it’s current location at 20930 Ventura Bvld to 21840-21844 Ventura Blvd  to (corner of Ventura Blvd & Don Pio).

I consider myself to be pro-business, so I went into the meeting with that mindset.  I generally believe that businesses should be allowed to operate unless they really infringe on the rights of community members.

This business requires a variance to operate because it does ‘collateral lending.’  As explained at the meeting, any business can buy merchandise.  But, once you issue a loan on merchandise and use that merchandise as collateral until the loan is repaid, it’s a whole other ballgame legally.  You have to submit to various requirements and demands from the city to operate.

At the current location The Collateral Lender is subject to various signage restrictions, limited operating hours, and other restrictions like that they may not buy any item valued at less than $1,000.

Numerous passionate residents of the neighborhood South of Ventura Blvd voiced strong opposition to the variance, and in reality to The Collateral Lender being able to open at the new location in general.  These residents have good reason to be concerned, although you can make a strong argument that some of their venom is unfairly directed toward this jewelery store/pawn business.

You see, as many people reading this blog know, the area surrounding Topanga Canyon Blvd and Ventura Blvd is completely infested will all manner of drug addicted degenerate homeless degenerates.  It’s really bad, and very unfortunate as we all know the homes in the area are very expensive and it’s a shame for these vagabonds to be ruining the lives and property value of so many good, hardworking people.

Whether or not The Collateral Lender moving to this new location would be a detriment to the community is unclear.  But, community members are right to be concerned about creating a prominent street corner with a motel, a liquor store, and a pawn shop all in one location.  It’s a property value disaster in the making.

You could tell that a great many members of the Neighborhood Council were initially fine with issuing the variance, but the strong opposition by the community members seemed to sway several of them.  In the end the measure failed by approximately 1 vote.

However, at the end of the day the NC really only provides variance to the Zoning Administrator.   And it’s up to them to make the final decision.  I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where and when the meeting for this was, and then finally realized that it was posted right on the building.  And, sadly it’s in 30 minutes, but hopefully those of you passionate about the issue are probably already well aware of the time and place, and have motivated your constituents to attend.

There is a meeting today at 9:30am with the Zoning Administrator at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd in the First Floor Conference Room of the Marvin Braude Building in Van Nuys.

Editorial Note: This story is a work in progress.  Please check back shortly. I will update this store this afternoon with more information from last week’s meeting and the fixing of I’m sure many typos.

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TGI Friday’s Celebrates 30 Years In Woodland Hills Tonight

As blogged earlier this week, Friday’s is marking 30 years in Woodland Hills with a weeklong celebration.  Tonight, however, is the official birthday party, being marked by a ‘flare show’ – Office Space fans would be proud – Happy Hour from 3pm to close, and a DJ from 7pm til close.

Happy Anniversary Friday’s!

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Menchie’s New Woodland Hills Location Is A Great Way To Get Your Froyo Fix

I must admit that on my holiday staycation I hit up the frozen yogurt joy that is Menchie’s (20968 Ventura Blvd) several times.  There are a few great things about this new Menchie’s location.  First, there is ample parking either at the meters on the street (which seem to be relatively available most hours that I’ve been there) or at the ample – dare I say large – parking lot at the rear of the building. These twin buildings were actually well constructed and well thought out.

Menchie’s also has ample seating both inside and outside on the patio for you to enjoy your frozen yogurt concoction.  At Menchie’s you pay by the weight of your frozen yogurt and toppings combination.  From their site:

We’ve got a rotating selection of eclectic frozen yogurt flavors and every topping under the sun. From fresh, locally grown fruits to classic rainbow sprinkles and hot fudge, even we can’t decide what to mix up first. But that’s the best part. We don’t decide, you do!

Mix up as many flavors and toppings as your little heart desires. At Menchie’s, you pay by weight not by topping so you can have as much or as little of everything you want. It’s simple as can be, just mix, weigh, and pay!

So far I’ve enjoyed the cable car chocolate, very vanilla, and peanut butter frozen yogurt flavors.  All of them were awesome.  I’ve also sampled various toppings, including fruity pebbles, snow caps, chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, m&ms, caramel, and graham cracker crumbs.  You really can go nuts if you want.  It’s good stuff.

And best of all, it’s very affordable.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a bill over $4.00 for any combination of yogurty goodness.

If you haven’t stopped by yet, put it on your radar for attack during your next need for a sugar fix.  Visit their site for more information about Menchie’s products and the various yogurt flavors and toppings.

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Blue Waters Salon & Spa Opens On Ventura Blvd In Woodland Hills

For the past 6 weeks or so, I’ve been passively observing the renovation and build out of the structure at 21312 Ventura Blvd – owned by the Auto Gallery and former site of a flower shop.  The construction was for the Blue Waters Salon & Spa, which opened a couple of weeks ago at the location.  If anyone checks the place out please come back and leave a comment.  They are not open on Sundays and Mondays and their phone number is (818) 340-8400.

There are actually quite a few spas and salons in Woodland Hills.  Nothing wrong with that!

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California Chicken Cafe Woodland Hills Gets New Signage After Accident

Well, as some of you might remember an auto accident took out the California Chicken Cafe sign in  Woodland Hills on November 27th (Black Friday). See my previous pictures here. Last week, a new sign went up replacing the damaged one.  The above pictures are of the sign on October 15th (from an exclusive HillsOfWoodland.com file photo) and of the new sign today, January 1, 2010.  Enjoy.

P.S. I know this is just about the most exciting boring post ever.  Stuff like this interests me for some strange  reason.

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After Several Months Of Closure, The Shell Station At 20900 Ventura Reopened Last Month

Way back on October 6, 2009 I made a post about the closing of the Shell station at 20900 Ventura Blvd.  About a month ago, I noticed that it had reopened so I dropped in and asked the attendant why they were closed.  He told me that the station changed ownership, and that’s why it was closed.

Above you’ll find a few pictures of the reopened station, which had a little bit of a light display this holiday season.

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Daily News Does Big Story On Car Show Lawsuit With Some Commentary

This morning the Daily News published a pretty big article on the hoopla surrounding the lawsuit and circumstances that have ended the ritualistic car show/gathering that used to occur in the parking lot of Valley Roasters on Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and speak my mind about this.  In this article, and with this story in general, there are a lot of people associated with the car show that are blowing their own horn – excuse the pun.  Let’s face it, the relationship between landlord and tenant is always a very tenuous one.  It’s even worse when one tenant causes strain between the landlord and the other tenants.

Dustin Troyan, operator of Valley Roasters, seems like a really great guy.  He does charity work at as scale that is so impressive that it almost unbelievable.  That’s great stuff.  He’s an asset to the community.

But, also, he is a businessman.  In a way, I admire him because he got away with having this event in that parking lot on Sunday mornings without any real compensation to his neighbors  for the disproportionate use of the parking lot (besides some increased business) for a very long time.

But, both he and the people who brought their cars there need to realize that the other businesses there pay rent, too.  So, if they don’t exactly like the situation, it’s completely within their rights to raise objections about it.  In these articles, I see a lot of people acting as though they are entitled to something that they aren’t.

In addition, most of their quotes are full of red herrings, designed to throw people off the real issues of the situation which is really a lanlord/tenant dispute.  Saying things  along the lines of “They just hate me because I drive a classic car” is really not useful or constructive.  Throw money at the people, that usually solves these problems.  If you want to inconvenience me, make it worth my while.  That is how people think, and rightly so.

One particularly stupid quote from Troyan’s attorney in the article:

“They are discriminating against people they don’t like by the looks of the cars they drive,” Arden said. “They are also discriminating against their own tenants.”

Clearly some tenants want it, and some don’t.  It’s the property owners’ job to make sure they don’t get sued by the tenants that don’t.  Troyan’s failure was to not make any real attempt before things got out of control to appease all of the tenants.  I also find it frustrating that the way that Troyan and company attempt to make this story and situation about the car lovers, and brush aside any notion that his promotion of the event may be unfair to other tenants, shoppers, and the property owners.

“We used to have regular customers here on Sunday and they’re gone,” Troyan said. “If you pull up in your Ferrari, you’re told to get out. They will intimidate the hell out of you. But if you pull up in a minivan, you can stay.”

Troyan makes quotes like the one above all the time.  It’s designed to manipulate the weak minded.  You see, it’s an attempt to set up the notion that if Jay Leno, a Ferrari owner, or people in their 60s and 70s are involved, then it must be okay, legal, within his lease, or not annoying to others not directly involved with the event.  It’s a distraction from the real issue.

The Daily News article reads a little bit more like a press release for the event and Valley Roasters than an objective news story.  Granted, it seems that everyone on the other side of the issue refused to give a statement.

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