Comment

Comment by barney desimone on January 28, 2013 at 8:35pm

That's good to hear about the new deli. I was afraid they were going to tear down the buildings and go verticle. I noticed that "foot" massage place just up from the GoldMax. Neither of those places enhance the area. This sort of thing transformed Van Nuys Bl in VN back in the 70's. I worked at the DWP office then. It's a much less attractive place today. This is how it starts.  

Comment by Overland Avenue on January 28, 2013 at 7:24pm

99 Cent store was sold.  New owners include Ares Management.

The Pico/Westwood corridors are part of a Neighborhood Oriented District (NOD) which DOES have a number of restrictions, including no massage parlors and no pawn shops.  Don't think the Gold Store is deemed a "pawn shop", but that parcel is also owned by the property that owns the former Juniors.  But all of the so-called "foot" massage (but give full body massages -- they use "foot" to avoid city permits, but that's another issue) are not legal.  The Juniors space has been taken over by Lenny's Deli, which should be opening soon!

Comment by John Kernick on January 19, 2013 at 10:53am

I couldn't agree more with you Jane and Barney.  I'm not sure what can be done.  If there is a city zoning law that may be in violation we could target Councilman Koretz office.  However, if no violation can be found and private property owners have decided that's who they want to rent their property too, we need to boycott the business and drive these types of business away. 

Comment by barney desimone on January 19, 2013 at 10:02am

If the pattern holds, I would expect for that whole block to be torn down and something large put in eventually. We have a front row seat. It wouldn't hurt to have some kind of community action to look into whatever plans there are, if there are any.

Comment by Jane Richardone on January 18, 2013 at 9:22pm

I am very concerned about the corner of Westwood & Pico.  A tacky gold store, a low-end cell phone store, and now no more Junior's.  I hope something nice comes into the Junior's space (would be great if it was a Porto's!), and even better if those two crummy places went away.  Real estate in that area cannot be cheap - what's the heck is going on?  I am not suggesting that whatever goes in has to be expensive - just in keeping with the neighborhood.  I miss the Picwood Theatre!  

Comment by barney desimone on January 18, 2013 at 7:54pm

Right in line with the economic decline of WLA. Did you notice the NW corner of Pico and Westwood has a Gold Store so we can pawn our jewelry? It's a tacky looking front where the beauty supply once was. Before that it was Smith's Sporting Goods. Sell your jewelry and then go buy something for 99 cents, great! It will be a good location for them when all of the low income housing goes in on Sepulveda.