"Very Good News" as Report Shows Spike in Economic Development

 

Photo via L.A. Area Chamber Collection

LOS ANGELES - Employment throughout the Second Council District jumped more than 6% last year, leading the San Fernando Valley in job growth while the district also enjoyed gains in gross receipts and sales taxes according to a recent report by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. 


The number of jobs grew 6.4% to 56,776, the third consecutive year of growth. The spike in employment, according to the report, sprung in part from the district's private educational institutions as well as growth in the retail and hospitality sectors.

District 2 is home to about 5,500 firms and sales tax receipts in Studio City, North Hollywood and beyond grew by 4.9%, the third consecutive year of growth. Overall, employment rose throughout the city for the fourth year in a row, as have building permit values and annual gross receipts.

"This report shows very good news," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "It's always news we hope will get better, but looking at the past several years, it's a positive report. It's good for the City of Los Angeles and for CD2. [The report] says a lot about the policies we've been developing and the partnerships we've had...in making the city a more business friendly place."

 

 
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Clean-ups in Van Nuys, 

North Hollywood Beautify Neighborhood 

Noho section free of debris and overgrown weeds. | Photo/CD2 

VAN NUYS - Residents gathered last weekend to participate in a neighborhood clean-up, as part of larger beautification push taking place across the second district led by the office of Councilmember Krekorian in collaboration with community groups, local organizations and public safety leaders.

 

Over the course of three hours, volunteers removed nearly 100 shopping carts off the streets, identified 17 locations for graffiti abatement and 37 locations for bulky item pick up in a two block area west of Woodman Avenue to Van Nuys Boulevard between Vanowen Street and Victory Boulevard. Senior Lead Officer Katy Paschal of the LAPD Van Nuys Community Police Station pitched in as well as local groups.

 

In North Hollywood, local non-profit Sun Valley Graffiti Busters, in conjunction with the North Hollywood North East Neighborhood Council identified and cleaned up a blighted section along Sherman Way and Lankershim Boulevard previously peppered with debris, overgrown weeds and bulky items. 

 

Is there an area in your neighborhood in need of care? Want to organize a community clean-up of your own? Let us know by calling (818) 755-7676. You can also email us, Tweet us, or send us a message on Facebook.

 


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Historic North Hollywood Train 
Depot to be Restored 
Restoration begins for the Historic North Hollywood Train Depot. | Photos by metro.net 
NORTH HOLLYWOOD - The Los Angeles Metropolitan Authority (Metro) recently announced the start of a major restoration project on the Historic Southern Pacific Lankershim/North Hollywood train depot to rehabilitate the facility over the coming year.

 

The $3.6 million restoration project, slated for completion in 10 months, will be funded by Metro using $2.5 million in Prop. C half-cent sales tax dollars and $1.1 million from the City of Los Angeles.

The reconstruction work will include the seismic strengthening of the structure, new electric and plumbing systems, restoration of the platforms and signage as well as rehabilitation of the damaged siding, eaves, windows and doors. 

 

The first phase of the work has already been completed - that included the removal of contaminated soils, roofing and lead-based paint throughout the structure, while repainting it with the original, vibrant Pacific Electric yellow paint colors.

 

Dating back to 1896, the 117-year-old train depot, located in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District, is one of the oldest unmodified railroad structures in Southern California. For more information about the project visit the Metro blog, thesource.metro.net



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Car Seat Safety Inspections Help
Parents Ensure Child Safety 
Photos/CD2
NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Councilmember Paul Krekorian, in conjunction with the LAPD Valley Traffic Division Child Safety Unit, kicked off the first car seat installation check up in September, aimed at reducing the risk of injury for child passengers.
LAPD car seat technicians carry out inspections.

 

LAPD officers nationally certified as child seat technicians inspected more than 30 car seats for proper installation during the event in North Hollywood last month. Officers gave away two new car seats to those not in compliance. According to the AAA, three out of four car seats are incorrectly installed. Car seats can reduce the  risk of injury by 71% to 82% and reduce the risk of death by 28% in comparison to children in seat belts alone.

 

For more information about child passenger safety, visit safeseats4kids.aaa.com and stay tuned here for an upcoming announcement about the next car seat installation event.



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Planning Department Recodes

Model of Downtown Los Angeles shown in this 1938 photograph. | Photo courtesy of the USC Special Collections
LOS ANGELES - The Department of City Planning is calling on stakeholders to participate in a Zoning Advisory Committee as the city prepares to embark on the first revision of its zoning code in nearly seven decades.

 

The Planning Dept. is seeking 15 to 17 individuals to participate in policy-oriented body to advise the department on modernizing and streamlining the L.A. Zoning Code while creating livable communities, encouraging sustainable development and fostering economic growth.

 

First adopted in 1946, the current zoning code grew from an 84-page pamphlet to a 600+ page book. Over the next five years through the recodeLA process, the city Planning Dept. will overhaul the book and create a:

  • Dynamic Web-Based Zoning Code - Clear and predictable code that better meets the City's current and future needs, and that also provides an interactive on-line experience;
  • Guide to Zoning - Quick reference, easy-to-read guide to the new code's land use and development regulations;
  • Unified Downtown Development Code - New zoning tools customized for L.A.'s city center.

The Zoning Advisory Committee will be composed of individuals representing a variety of stakeholder interests. Those selected for this committee will play key roles in advising the City and consultant staff on zoning policy direction and provide guidance during the development of the new zoning code.

 

To apply for the committee, visit recode.la/#participate. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 18 to be considered for selection. You may email a completed digital PDF copy of the application form to Tom Rothmann at tom.rothmann@lacity.org or mail a completed application form to:

City of Los Angeles

Department of City Planning

200 North Spring Street, City Hall, Room 701

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Attention: Tom Rothmann

 

If you have questions, please contact Tom Rothmann at tom.rothmann@lacity.org or Erick Lopez at erick.lopez@lacity.org. More information can be found on the project website at recode.la.

 

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Transportation Department 2.0
The new LADOT website. 

LOS ANGELES - The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) launched a new website aimed at improving customer service and the customer experience.

 

The new site features a revamped online service request system called "MyLADOT," which allows drivers (once they are no longer driving, of course) to easily notify LADOT of any problems they may encounter on the streets of L.A. such as downed stop signs, flashing traffic signals or to request improvements for your neighborhood. The service request system can be accessed on the go from mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets, on the computer through LADOT's website or directly at myladot.lacity.org/sr.

 
To check out the new website visit ladot.lacity.org.

 

  

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Walk to School Day Encourages 

Students to Hit the Streets

 

LOS ANGELES - Parents and students of Colfax Charter Elementary - along with more than 30 schools across the city - will walk to school on Wednesday as part of national Walk to School Day, an annual event that promotes physical activity among children and youth.

 

Taking part in Walk to School Day is as simple as parents, students, school personnel and other community members directly experiencing the walk to school.

 

Coordinated by the L.A. Department of Transportation, in partnership with the LAUSD, the citywide event is creating awareness about pedestrian safety and early identification of safety concerns as part of the city's larger Safe Routes to School initiative.  


Councilmember Krekorian, a long advocate of pedestrian safety, has secured several Safe Routes to School projects across the second district. This past July, Councilmember Krekorian flipped the switch on a new traffic light at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Landale Street near Walter Reed Middle School in Studio City for safer crosswalks for student and the nearby community. Earlier, the council office worked with LAPD and local agencies to increase enforcement near four major school zones in the second district. Last year, the council office secured critical funding for two Safe Routes to School improvement projects to construct sidewalks, curbs and gutters, curbs, as well as speed humps and signs that would benefit Bellingham Primary Center and Roy Romer Middle School.  

Visit www.walktoschoolday-la.org for more information about the event and participating schools.

 

 

 
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Photos from Around the District

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the L.A. Jazz Society was honored by the L.A. City Council. 

Henry's Tacos gets a visit from Councilmember Krekorian. 
| Photo/CD2

Councilmember Krekorian stops by new Cactus Tacos in Studio City. | Photo/CD2

Honoring the 5th anniversary of the Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News. Pictured from L-R: Councilmember Paul Koretz, Associate Publisher Jim Kaplan, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Publisher/Editor-in-chief Marci Marks, Managing Editor, Stephen Phenow, Website Manager Brandon Scott and Councilmember Paul Krekorian. | Photo/CD2


Volume 4, Issue 25

October 7, 2013Back
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cd2.lacity.org 

In This Issue:
"Very Good News" as Report Shows Spike in Economic Development
Clean-up in Valley Glen, North Hollywood adds to Neighborhood Beautification
Historic North Hollywood Train Depot to be Restored
Car Seat Safety Inspections Help Parents Ensure Child Safety
Planning Department Recodes
Transportation Department 2.0
Walk to School Day Encourages Students to Hit the Streets
Photos from Around the District

October Events Around Town:

 

10/12: 

Free Women's Self-Defense Workshop

10/12: 

Homebuyer Expo

10/17: 

Used Linens Drive 

10/19: 

50 Years of Television at the CBS Studio LAPL Lecture

10/19: 

Earthquake Preparedness Open House

 

To see a complete list of neighborhood council and community meetings, please check out our

 Community Calendar.

Check our blog out on Tumblr, where you can read daily news stories and updates of our neighborhoods and beyond. Click below or on cd2news.tumblr.com