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Eastwood Coalition Meeting

01/04/05

Hollywood-Adventist Church

Minutes

Meeting was called to order at approximately 7:10 p.m.

I. Crime Report – Senior Lead Officer Armen Sevdalion

A. Hollywood crime down 16.5% in 2004.

B. There were 3 drug related homicides in this area last week.

1. 2 suspects are in custody; 3rd is still under investigation.

C. The Dept. is looking to recruit new CPAB members. Any volunteers should forward their information to SLO or Cptn. Downing. Contact info is available on their website, at. www.lapd.com

D. Q: A neighbor asked what can be done to address homelessness, especially at this time of year when it’s cold and rainy?

A: Call council offices to encourage shelter openings (ex. PATH)

E. Q: The graffiti on 101 NB is constantly being cleaned-up, but the graffiti immediately returns. What more can be done?

A: HBT and neighborhood matching grants. Try to get cooperation of neighborhood council in addressing the problem. [Fran commented that Franklin-Hollywood Hills Community Council is now participating in "Adopt a Highway" for that stretch of the 101 Freeway and invited anyone to get trained and help with that work. 323-462-1514]

F. Q: Is the pedestrian traffic at the LA Free Clinic on H’wd Blvd hopping the fence? If so, what can be done?

A: Vehicle burglary (BTV) on HWD BLVD interrupted construction (may be related to razor wire - ask Fran for details)

G. Eastwood will hold a neighborhood clean-up day for the vacant lot on the NE corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Van Ness. We will meet at 7-11 at 9 a.m., on Saturday. Jan. 15th.

II. CD4 and CD13 Updates

A. No updates available.

III. Thai CDC – Community Fair: “Live, Work, Play in East Hollywood”

A. Local reinvestment meeting with local bankers, HUD, etc.

1. Primary concern - Need more consumer education.

2. Date/Time TBA (probably March)

3. Requesting Eastwood sponsorship

a. Consensus approval among attendees

B. Streetscape Project

1. GGPNC will meet next Tuesday, January 11th. On the agenda: Ethnic iconography in the proposed streetscape plan for Hollywood Blvd. starting at Western and going east to Los Feliz. Will it create gang violence?

2. Meeting will be held at Citibank on Hillhurst, north of Franklin. Thai CDC requests attendance of any interested Eastwood members.

IV. H’WD BLVD CRA Redevelopment.

A. KOR’s updated estimate requires swapping leased office space for residential space to increase revenue.

B. A new proposal has been made to eliminate the St. Francis Hotel from CRA redevelopment plans to expedite the refurbishing of the building. If exempt, it would not have to follow CRA protocol and procedure.

C. The CRA will announce a meeting for the public to learn updates and offer inputs.

V. Fire Station #82.

A. City will be proceeding with eminent domain process.

B. Florentine Gardens may fight proceedings on claim of historical significance.

C. Their recent CUP hearing hasn’t yielded any decision yet.

D. The EIR is being revised to try to buttress reliable results and incorporate concern over historical significance.

VI. MTA Buses on Garfield.

A. A meeting is set for members of the community, particularly residents of Garfield Place with LaBonge and MTA representatives for January 10th, at

9:30 a.m. at City Hall.

B. CD 13 Field Rep. Eric Sanjurjo is POC for this issue and meeting.

C. LaBonge committed assistance in reducing bus traffic on Garfield at the Garfield Block Party this past November.

VII. Whole Foods Market.

A. The EIR will be prepared in a month or two.

B. Any alternative development suggestions should be proposed before EIR is complete.

VIII. Block by Block Reports.

A. Taft - Steven Carthy reporting.

1. Signs are up and streets marked for the speed humps.

2. Payphone bank near 7-11 is anonymously owned and ostensibly for int’l long distance use (per advertising) and needs removed.

3. Business owners are concerned about anonymity of callers and potential for criminal activity revolving around the phones.

4. Owners haven’t been identified but 7-11 (corp) is working on it in conjunction with sublet property manager for that end of the lot.

B. Van Ness – Eilaine Campbell and Barbara Smith reporting.

1. Newly remodeled home on Van Ness is vacant and attracting vandals/trespassers.

2. Owners should be contacted so that they may reinforce security.

C. Garfield (Cindy)

1. Block party and tree planting were successful events and got great participation from residents.

2. Lots of business involvement in support of events.

3. Donation was received for a neighborhood watch sign to be placed on private property.

4. Placement on public property is handled through DOT (Eric Sanjurjo).

5. Garfield residents pitched in for holiday decorations and red bows were tied to the trees.

IX. Neighborhood Announcements / Public Comment

A. HUD/low income development seems to prevent middle range development (Elaine Campbell).

1. Meeting with CRA discussed condo conversion for mid-range ownership opportunities (Eric Sanjurjo).

B. Library facilities and children’s reading programs.

1. Will neighborhood improvement projects increase community size/importance enough to warrant a library branch? (Elaine Campbell) This is something that we can address to the CRA.

Adjournment

Submitted by Jered Elmore