BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Program cramps Corning, pg. 3 Sunny, with • Robbery highs in the suspects sought, upper 70s pg. 4 Volume 31 No. 28 Serving the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 15, 2021 Wilson settles in as new Bike lanes may roll out on Roxbury Drive n Demonstration to Hills, Mayor Robert Wunderlich ward,” Wunderlich added. said. According to a staff report, the West Hollywood city manager determine project’s “It is [significant]. I think it's a Roxbury Drive “high priority feasibility symbol of what we’re going to bikeway project” is the first the n Hotel ordinance, COVID among pressing issues incorporate into our thinking city has pursued since the City By AAron Blevins going forward,” he said, adding Council adopted its Complete that the historic city is “fully built Streets Plan, which seeks to By AAron Blevins The city of Beverly Hills will out” and needs to “accept” multi- improve mobility for all residents, A proposed hotel ordinance has host a demonstration event from ple modes of transportation. in April. new West Hollywood City 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 25 to Wunderlich referenced the Wunderlich said the Roxbury Manager David Wilson embroiled determine whether bike lanes are Beverly Hills City Council’s Drive project would be conve- in an intense debate just one week feasible and desired along efforts to improve mobility via the niently located next to Roxbury into his new position. Roxbury Drive, south of Olympic One Beverly Hills project. He said Park and could connect to existing However, this issue isn’t new to Boulevard. an existing bike lane on Santa city of Los Angeles bike lanes, Wilson, who had served as assistant The event will be the first step Monica Boulevard will be allowing residents to bike from city manager for almost four years in potentially developing a one- improved, as will nearby intersec- Olympic Boulevard to the Expo before taking over for the retiring year pilot project on Roxbury tions. Line’s Culver City Station. Paul Arevalo. But, it is among the Drive that would create the first “I hope that will [increasingly] “The entire route is not an entire protected bike lane in Beverly most important tasks facing the be part of our thinking going for- See Demonstration page 21 longtime West Hollywood employ- ee in his new role. City staff will present the pro- photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood posed hotel ordinance, which was David Wilson created with the help of City Attorney Lauren Langer, on Monday. Wilson said the ordinance staff’s perspective, we just want to — and the council’s decision on the make sure we get the facts right.” matter — could “certainly” have a The proposed ordinance, which “big impact” on hotels and hotel is now available at weho.org, pro- workers. motes worker protections such as “I just want to make sure that all the use of personal security devices the facts are there,” Wilson said, or “panic buttons.” It also calls for adding that his job is to ensure that, the city to adopt a “right to recall” in the end, the ordinance is legally provision for laid-off workers, pro- justifiable. “Ultimately, from the photo by Edwin Folven See Wilson page 21 The city of Beverly Hills will host a bike lane demonstration on Roxbury Drive on Sunday, July 25. Melrose Triangle project’s outreach continues Preparedness stressed to n Applicant hosts neighborhood meeting reduce Beverly Hills wildfires n Department to work BHFD Chief Greg Barton said By AAron Blevins the mountainous areas of Beverly with residents to Hills include 1,640 parcels with The community outreach portion approximately 5,000 residents. of the approval process for the lessen risks Warm temperatures and drought Melrose Triangle Mixed-Use By edwin folven conditions have heightened the Development continues, as the potential for destructive brush applicant, the law firm Latham & fires, and Barton emphasized the Watkins LLP, held a virtual meeting The city of Beverly Hills and importance of preparedness and about the project at press time on the Beverly Hills Fire planning ahead to minimize the Wednesday. Department released an indepen- risk. According to city staff, a revised dent Wildfire Assessment Report “The question is not if it’s planning application has been sub- on July 9 that will guide the going to happen, but when it’s mitted for the 351,000-square-foot department in addressing the going to happen,” Barton said. development, which was approved potential threats posed by brush “We wanted to take a holistic by the West Hollywood City fires in the hills above Sunset Council in 2014. The project has Boulevard. See Assessment page 22 since been modified. rendering courtesy of the city of West Hollywood “We’re happy that it’s going for- Latham & Watkins LLP held a neighborhood meeting on Wednesday to ward,” said Leslie Karliss, presi- discuss the Melrose Triangle Mixed-Use project. dent of the West Hollywood West Residents Association. “We see it project more than 300,000 square documents. as an opportunity to encourage feet, but that figure increased with While the association supports commercial interaction with the the modifications. the project, it has some concerns, community. We really hope it’s suc- Now, owner Mark Gabay is seek- Karliss said. She said pedestrian cessful and [that] it’s a spectacular ing 77 housing units (including 24 flow on Melrose Avenue is among gateway to West Hollywood.” low-income units), more than them, as is the façade, which The project site is 117,000 square 265,000 square feet of office space, seemed “very average” when the feet on 10 parcels at Santa Monica almost 45,000 square feet of retail developers last presented the pro- Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and space, more than 15,000 square feet ject to the association. Almont Drive, according to city of restaurant space and 524 parking “We don’t want it to be a white photo courtesy of the BHFD documents. Originally, developers spaces in a four-level subterranean elephant,” Karliss said, adding that The Beverly Hills Fire Department aims to be proactive in addressing proposed making the mixed-use parking garage, according to city See Project page 22 brush fires in the hills above the city. 2 July 15, 2021 Beverly Press/Park Labrea News CALENDAR and Lokumbe the Saban Theatre. Twenty-three Cinelounge on Sunday, July musicians from 18 countries will Cinelounge Outdoors and 18, from 6 to 7 perform. All of the musicians are Cinelounge Sunset are holding a p.m. Crossroads multiple winners of major competi- special engagement of “Pig” star- School for Arts tions. The concert on July 21 is at ring Nicholas Cage running from & Sciences, a 7:30 p.m. and includes works by Friday, July 16, through Thursday, K-12 coed col- Stravinsky, Say and Schubert. July 22. Directed by Michael lege preparatory Tickets are $36. Greystone Mansion Sarnoski and also starring Alex school in Santa Monica, is known is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive. Wolff, Adam Arkin, Nina Belforte, for its programs and private-public The concert on July 24 is the festi- Dalene Young and Gretchen educational partnerships. val’s grand finale and includes Corbett, the film follows the story of Conducted by violinist, educator works by Arensky, Tchaikovsky, a truffle hunter who must confront and former Los Angeles Kreisler and Shor. Tickets are $36. his past while searching for his Philharmonic concertmaster The Saban Theatre is located at beloved foraging pig after it is kid- Alexander Treger, the Crossroads 8440 Wilshire Blvd. napped. Showtimes vary; see sched- Chamber Orchestra upholds a long ipalpiti.org/ipalpiti-festival-2021. ule. Cinelounge Outdoors is located tradition of intensive classical at 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., and ensemble training for students. Cinelounge Sunset is located at Viewing is free. 6464 Sunset Blvd. (323)924-1644, ‘We Live On’ lacma.org/event/sundays-live-cross- The Actors’ Gang Theater will debut arenascreen.com. roads-chamber-orchestra-0. “We Live On,” a new play based on “Hard Times” by Studs Terkel, run- Disney history ning from Thursday, July 22, Beverly Press/Park Labrea News file photo ‘Another Gin through Sunday, Sept. 4. The live Take a virtual trip through Disney virtual produc- The city of Beverly Hills allocated nearly $2 million for agencies and history with the Art Deco Society of Game’ tion will be pre- organizations providing social services to vulnerable residents. Los Angeles during “From the Theatre 40 presents a special staged sented in three Magic City to the Magic Kingdom: play reading of “Another Gin parts. With Walt Disney at the Golden Gate Game” with Ed Asner, Ruta Lee and music by International Exposition 1939” on Donté Ashon Green on Sunday, July Cameron Dye Saturday, July 17, at 11 a.m. Disney 18, at 7 p.m. in the Reuben Cordova and David Beverly Hills awards grants to and Disney Studios’ contributions to Theatre on the campus of Beverly Robbins, the world’s fairs are well known, but Hills High School. The play is a production fea- many people may not know that witty, sharp-tongued gossip fest tures 30 accounts of the Great community service agencies Disney’s visit to the Golden Gate between two former show biz greats Depression, including those of International Exposition influenced in their twilight years facing their Dolores Huerta, Dorothy Day and The city of Beverly Hills has homeless individuals, older adults, the development of Disneyland. The past, present and future. Proceeds Cesar Chavez. Each performance is awarded nearly $2 million in grants disabled individuals and low- guest speaker will be Anne will support the nonprofit Theatre a complete experience.