Bistro Lights to Crisscross Larchmont Blvd

Fifteen strings of bistro lights will be installed  across Larchmont Blvd., between Beverly Blvd. and First Street,  just in time for the Larchmont Family Fair on October 30, thanks to contributions from the local business community and property owners.

The lighting project is a joint effort of the Larchmont Boulevard Association, whose members include business owners and professionals with offices on Larchmont Blvd and the Larchmont Village Business Improvement District or BID, whose members include all the property owners on Larchmont Blvd. between Beverly Blvd. and First Street.

“This has been a wonderful community-building moment with stakeholders coming together in such an impactful way. We are thrilled to have the support of the property owners who are contributing individually in addition to the commitment from the BID,” Larchmont Village BID Executive Director Heather Duffy Boylston told the Buzz. “Our thanks to the following property owners for their leadership in making this investment in the street: American Commerical Properties, Wayne Hughes/Marvin Lotts; ARBA Group; Christina Development; Arash Danialfar; Thomas Kneafsey; Meyer/Blumenthal Family; Mick McCullough; Mizrahi Family; The Rubinfeld Family and Simms Development Company.

In addition to the property owners and the businesses on Larchmont, City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell,  the Hancock Park HOA, the Wilshire Rotary and this publication, the Larchmont Buzz, have also made contributions to the lights at the time of this posting. (And additional donations are welcome!)

“I’m honored to support the Larchmont Family Fair and the beautiful new lights above our beloved boulevard! It’s a joy to represent this community, and I’m excited to join friends and neighbors at this wonderful event. Thanks to all the collaborators and partners who have literally helped to brighten Larchmont Boulevard,” Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell told the Buzz.

“The Larchmont Boulevard Association is committed to supporting this project with a portion the proceeds from the Larchmont Family Fair,” said John Winther, LBA President. “We rely on sponsorships and ticket sales to cover the cost of the fair as well as our budget for security and beautification efforts on Larchmont Blvd., like these lights.  So everyone who supports the Family Fair will also be supporting the lighting project. This year, Fair Chair Betsy Malloy has added a beer garden and concert that we hope will be very successful.”

The lights will be attached to the street lights and will turn on when the street lights come on, making the street brighter and safer for evening strolling and shopping.

“Neighbors who participated in our Larchmont 2021 conversations told us they would like to see improvements to the street,” said Boylston. “We took that to heart and started investigating high-impact ideas like these lights that will transform the street. It will be safer, more festive and more inviting to residents and visitors.”

In a second phase, the two associations plan to install seven strings of lights over the city-owned surface parking lot so that space can be used for programming evening events, like movies or a possible evening farmers market.

While the majority of the funds are raised, additional donations are welcome to complete the project and fund the second phase. Fair sponsorships and ticket sales for the Fair can be found here. The LBA will also accept specific donations for the lights – please email us at [email protected] for more information. All donors to the Fair and the light project will be recognized.