STUDENT NEWS AT LOSFELIZLEDGER.COMLos Feliz Ledger Read by 100,000+ Residents and Business Owners in Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Vol 11. No. 4 October 2015 Atwater Village, Echo Park & Hollywood Hills Local Rents Neighbors Highest in L.A. Divided On By Sheila Lane Rowena Road Ledger Contributing Writer Diet Renters looking for an By Sheila Lane “affordable” home in the Mid- Ledger Contributing Writer Wilshire or Los Feliz areas may need to re-adjust their SILVER LAKE—About 200 understanding of that word representatives from locals, before they venture out into city officials and political and the rental market. bicycle advocacy groups at- “Affordable” means differ- tended a Silver Lake Neigh- ent things to different people, borhood Council town hall but according to the Dept. of meeting Sept. 14th to dis- Housing and Urban Develop- cuss the so-called “Rowena ment (HUD), the definition Road Diet,” which some say of affordable housing is that is a microcosm of future is- which requires no more than sues the city might face now 30% of the income of a buyer that a plan has been approved or renter. to similarly reduce car lanes In a report analyzing the throughout the city. The road diet took away 2nd quarter of 2015, Zillow, NOT A PRETY PICTURE—The Rowena “Road Diet,” where two car lanes were removed and replaced with bike lanes on the real estate website, found this tiny stretch of street between Silver Lake and Los Feliz, has become a hot topic citywide as the Los Angeles City two car lanes on Rowena after that renters in the Los Ange- Council recently approved a plan that would reduce car lanes on other major streets throughout Los Angeles in a similar a fatal pedestrian accident in manner. This photo was taken on a recent September morning shortly before 8 a.m., and shows a line of cars on Rowena 2012. Doing so left an extra les metro area spend 48.9% of backed up heading east into Los Feliz at Hyperion Avenue. The photographer caught this shot from through his car see RENTS page 31 window. Photo: Joseph Mailander. see ROAD DIET page 13 Testimony Local Architect Equestrians Fear Encroachment by La Kretz Underway to Assist with Housing Project In St. Mary’s “City Light” By Kimberly Gomez, Ledger Contributing Writer Church Dispute Look ATWATER VILLAGE—Devel- By Erin Hickey and By Ezekiel Hernandez opers have plans to tear down Allison B. Cohen a manufacturing plant next to North Atwater Park and in LOS ANGELES—Testimony the midst of some 20 stables began in September in a law- and horse properties to build suit over who controls St. 60 three-story homes, which Mary’s Church of the Angels has some local residents and in Los Feliz. equestrians fearing their dis- Two parties claiming to trict is in jeopardy. be the rightful managing arm The former wallpaper of the church—known as a plant—which was built in Atwater Village locals are fighting a developer with plans to build a 60-home de- vestry—say they have legal 1951 and spans 3990 and velopment in North Atwater that they say is too big and too dense to co-exist in 4000 Chevy Chase Avenue— the traditionally equestrian neighborhood. Pictured is a rendering of the pro- authority in executing all de- posed project. Courtesy: La Kretz Family. cisions regarding the church, is owned by the La Kretz Fam- ily. Morton La Kretz, the head Griffith Park for pedestrians, gathered over 1,000 petition such as its liturgy, finances Brenda Levin is also a fellow at the and the church’s real estate USC Dornsife, College of Letters, Arts of the family, is a real estate bicyclists and horse riders. signatures to stop the develop- holdings. and Sciences. Photo: University of Southern developer and philanthropist Those against the develop- ment. They have also received One side is under Los Fel- California. known for the restoration to ment say it is too big and dense the support of area representa- iz resident Marilyn Bush, and historic status of the “Cross- for the neighborhood and will tive Los Angeles City Coun- another under Allan Trimpi, LOS FELIZ—Local architect roads of the World” building detract from its natural eques- cilmember Mitch O’Farrell. an ally of the church’s former Brenda Levin, credited with in Hollywood and for donat- trian feel. “The community has re- pastor Father Christopher several major renovation proj- ing $5 million for a proposed As such, they have formed sponded with considerable op- Kelley. ects such as the Griffith Ob- suspension bridge that will a group called “Atwater Vil- position to the project as pro- see ST. MARY’S page 22 see CITY LIGHT page 13 connect Atwater Village and lage Always” said they have see LA KRETZ page 16 Community News: Eastside Eye: Community News: Out and About: School Guide: De Anza Trail: Did Spanish Filmmaker Sets Movie in Atwater,, LFNC Asks City to Crack Down Our Halloween Round-Up, Our Annual School Guide, Explorer Take the 101?, page 6 page 12 on “Ellis Act” Abuse, page 12 page 17 page 23 Los Feliz Ledger Lawsuit Filed Over City’s “Mobility Plan” By Sheila Lane, Ledger Contributing Writer The advocacy group Fix Fix the City argues the city the law and have due process.” FOUNDED 2005 Available at these locations: the City has filed a lawsuit used outdated data on popu- Claire Bowin, a city plan- Delivered the last Thursday of each month to 34,500 homes and Atwater Library 3379 Glendale Blvd. against the city of Los Angeles lation and traffic in assessing ner and spokesperson for the businesses in the Los Feliz, Bruce Q’s Barbershop & Salon over its approval of the Mobil- impacts of the plan and failed Mobility Plan, said she is con- Silver Lake, Atwater Village, 3013 W. Los Feliz Blvd. Echo Park and Hollywood Hills ity Plan 2035. to consider safety concerns of fident the plan will hold up Casita del Campo The policy—which envi- longer emergency response legally. communities. 1920 Hyperion Ave Citibank sions a safer Los Angeles less 1933 Hillhurst Ave. 1965 Hillhurst Avenue reliant on cars, more depen- Los Angeles, CA 90027 Courtney + Kurt Real Estate dent on buses and bicycles The lawsuit claims that procedural errors were (323) 741-0019 3167 Glendale Blvd. and that is more pedestrian made as the plan wound its way through city hall PUBLISHER/EDITOR Dresden Restaurant 1760 N. Vermont Avenue friendly—requires vehicle lane Allison B. Cohen and that the plan is in conflict with community House of Pies reductions on many major Los plans in place and that it is not in compliance with ASSISTANT EDITOR 1869 N. Vermont Angeles streets. Sheila Lane Los Feliz Public Library The lawsuit claims that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 1874 Hillhurst Avenue Erin Hickey Los Feliz 3 Theaters procedural errors were made 1822 N. Vermont ADVERTISING SALES as the plan wound its way Muddy Paws Coffee Libby Butler-Gluck 3320 Sunset Blvd. through city hall and that the times for ambulances, fire and “[The lawsuit] doesn’t 323-644-5536 [email protected] Newsstand plan is in conflict with com- police. hold up anything,” Bowin Vermont and Melbourne munity plans in place and that “We are interested in said. “The Mobility Plan is… GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT Palermo it is not in compliance with holding the city’s feet to the a vision of [transportation] Tiffany Sims 1858 N. Vermont the California Environmental fire,” said Fix the City’s Jim networks, not the projects BOOKKEEPER Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce Geeta Badkar 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive Quality Act (CEQA). O’Sullivan. [We want the themselves. The policy moves Skylight Books According to the lawsuit, city] to follow the rules, obey forward.” For more stories 1818 N. Vermont and updates: The Village Bakery and Café 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. LosFelizLedger.com [GIVE A HAND] Volunteering Spotlight: 826LA Nestled among numerous are the $5 chapbooks written of their programming to stu- • ART • M coffee shops on Sunset Bou- by the students of 826LA— dents free of charge. FOOD USIC levard, the Echo Park Time the nonprofit tutoring and Orientation sessions will Travel Mart is no ordinary re- writing center for which the be held for those interested in tail establishment. store is a front. volunteering on October 2nd A convenience store for Last year, 826LA—with and 17th in Echo Park and time travelers, the shop boasts the help of more than 3,000 October 23rd in Mar Vista. such goods as spray bottles volunteer tutors—helped over Email [email protected] marked “Barbarian repellant,” 8,000 students develop their to RSVP. a single roll of toilet paper la- expository and creative writ- beled “emergency mummy ing skills through workshops, Echo Park: kit,” and “shade”—a tree seed, in-school programming and 1714 W. Sunset Blvd. which the purchaser must after school tutoring. (213) 413-3388. travel back in time to plant. 826LA has tutoring cen- Mar Vista: But the Time Travel ters in both Echo Park and 12515 Venice Blvd. Mart’s most impressive wares Mar Vista, and they offer all (310) 915-0200 the drop wishes they could all be California - friendly landscapes.It’s raining trade money!in your lawn Buy a rain barrel, get for a beautiful A SILVER LAKE CLASSIC SINCE 1962 california-friendly$100 back! Getgarden cash back on up to four barrels. Deliciously Authentic Mexican Cuisine in a colorful and artistic environment Happy Hour 3pm-7pm Every Day Weekend Brunch “Best Margaritas in Town with Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice” Beautiful Patios • Gorgeous Artwork 1920 Hyperion Avenue, Silver Lake Open Daily from 11 am 323-662-4255 www.casitadelcampo.net AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES Page 2 www.losfelizledger.com October 2015 Los Feliz Ledger [STREET LEVEL] Do You Believe in Ghosts? By Michael Darling, Ledger Contributing Writer This month, the Ledger took a look at the creepy side of Los Feliz, so we took to the streets to ask: “Do you believe in ghosts?” “I believe that people can stay “I don’t believe spiritually con- in ghosts be- nected to some- cause that pre- one and feel supposes there’s their spirit, but an afterlife.” I don’t believe in the tradition- —Andrew F.