March 28, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Community Pushback on Potential Mixed Use Development on San Vicente Boulevard

Past met present and future at the recent San Vicente Corridor Specific Plan meeting held at University Synagogue on July 26.

Sponsored by the Brentwood Community Council, the panel discussion with former L.A. City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, former Acting Deputy Director of the L.A. Department of City Planning Jane Blumenfeld, San Vicente Design Review Board Member Flora Krisiloff, local architect Ray Keller, and former Design Review Board member Marlene Grossman, gave residents an opportunity to hear about the past, present and future of the San Vicente Corridor Specific Plan that governs the look, feel and design of the corridor.

The purpose of the plan, according to the Los Angeles City Council, is to ensure “the existing ambiance of San Vicente Boulevard, preserving and enhancing the inherent beauty and value of its landscaped median strip, and assuring that commercial signage along the Boulevard is appropriately scaled and properly placed so as not to dominate the existing streetscape.”

First implemented by a City Council ordinance on May 31, 1980, the plan has only been amended twice over the years: once in 1986 and again in 2000.

The City has touted the benefits of the plan but also noted in 2000 that new projects starting replacing retail shops with larger office buildings and ground floor businesses were becoming dominated by “financially oriented services.”

The seven-member San Vicente Scenic Corridor Design Review Board attempts to mitigate some of these issues in its role as an advisory body to the City. It provides recommendations on the exterior and/or site design of any new building (other than single-family residences), exterior remodeling projects (other than maintenance and repair work), and commercial signage projects located in the Specific Plan area.

At the July 26 meeting, during the question and answer period, several residents wished to voice their concerns about the recently proposed redevelopment plans at 11770 San Vicente Blvd.

Given that a meeting of the Design Review Board on this specific project was set to take place on July 28, Flora Krisiloff, had to recuse herself from the meeting because she currently sits on that board.

GPI Companies is a Brentwood-based real estate company founded by longtime local residents Cliff Goldstein and Drew Planting and the property in question is situated at the corner of Gorham Ave. and San Vicente Blvd. and extends from Peet’s Coffee to the surface parking lot adjacent to First Republic Bank.

GPI is proposing to develop a five-story mixed-use project that would consist of approximately 8,400 square feet of ground floor, community-serving retail (a reduction from the current 13,000 square feet), with 14 two-story, luxury residential units above.

GPI issued a statement saying that these homes will “present a unique offering for Brentwood residents, many of whom are downsizing and wish to live in the heart of Brentwood as part of a walkable mixed-use community.”

The issue, though, is that the project as it currently stands exceeds the current three-story height limit as required by the Corridor Specific Plan by two floors.

But GPI stated that the project has benefits that should outweigh the height restrictions including the fact that it will “dramatically reduce traffic impacts when compared to current traffic volumes.”

GPI also argued that the new project will be parked completely on-site primarily in an underground garage, eliminating the need for customers to park in the nearby residential neighborhood and that the project is also consistent with the spirit of maintaining and enhancing the quality of life and design standards along the San Vicente corridor.

At the July 28 Review Board meeting, Goldstein reiterated the positive aspects of the project as outlined in GPI’s statements.

However, Design Review Board members expressed concerns that the building seemed too big and out of character with the “village” feel Brentwood residents have come to love and want to protect.

Several members of the public also voiced opposition to the project in its current form. Tom Safran stated he would file a lawsuit should the project be approved as is.

Goldstein stated that GPI would consider the board’s concerns moving forward.

Related Posts

Cantonese Dim Sum Master Chef Tony Opens Hollywood Dim Sum at TCL Chinese Theatre

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Experience Exquisite Dim Sum Creations in the Heart of Hollywood 97 years after its founding, the TCL Chinese Theatre will...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Attorney for Sean “Diddy” Combs Denounces Investigation as “Witch Hunt”

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Legal Representative Criticizes Probe Amid Federal Sex Trafficking Inquiry An attorney representing Sean “Diddy” Combs criticized the investigation into the...

Culver City Police Department to Conduct High Visibility Traffic Enforcement Operation

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Operation Targets Hazardous Traffic Violations on the West End The Culver City Police Department announced plans to conduct a high...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....

Human Rights Campaign’s Los Angeles Dinner Celebrates LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Unity

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Notable Figures Gathered to Champion LGBTQ+ Rights and Combat Discrimination By Aneesha Pappy  The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s...

California Bars and Nightclubs Must Offer Drug Testing Devices Starting July 1

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

New Law Mandates License Holders to Provide Drug Testing Kits to Patrons Beginning July 1, establishments with Type 48 licenses...

Opinion: West Los Angeles Needs to Care about Veteran Homelessness

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

By Kelly Kravchuk  Veteran homelessness is a public health concern that impacts my West Los Angeles community. As a USC...

Culver City City Council Recap: Bruce Lee Alley, Historical Discrimination Study, Women’s History Month

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Council Deliberates on Racial Equity, Infrastructure Upgrades, and Fire Department Strategic Plan The Culver City Council convened its latest session...

Federal Agents Raid Property Linked to Music Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs In Holmby Hills

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

Authorities Conduct Searches in Los Angeles as Part of Ongoing Sex Trafficking Probe Federal agents from the Department of Homeland...

Biden Signs Government Funding Bill with Ban on Pride Flags at Embassies

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

White House Vows Repeal Amid Controversy Over LGBTQ Provision President Biden signed a huge government funding package on Saturday, which...

Staples Store in Westchester Could Become a Senior Housing Complex

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

Redevelopment Plans Unveiled for Property Near LAX The current site of a Staples retail store near Los Angeles International Airport...

City of Los Angeles Pays Nearly Half a Billion in Liability Claims Over Four Years

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

LA Controller’s Report Reveals Significant Payouts from General Fund LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia has continued to audit the City...