Jane Club Operating as “Pilot Program”

The Buzz has learned from several nearby residents that The Jane Club, a new women’s club offering workspace, events, personal services and childcare tailored to entertainment industry professionals, is currently operating in a residential home at 236 S. Larchmont Blvd. in Windsor Square. The club is named after Jane Addams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her work on behalf of needy women, families and children in urban Chicago and is widely credited as the mother of modern social work.

Residents report seeing people coming and going from the Jane Club location recently, with numerous cars parked at the house and music coming from events the club has hosted the backyard of the house. According to an Instagram post by producer Jess Zanio, a Jane Club co-founder, the club has hosted events including “meditation in the garden” and “fireside chats”  with entertainment executives like Erika Clarke from Spotify.

On Thursday last week, the club also hosted a “studio session” with Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering,” promoting the recent publication of the book on how to facilitate a transformative gathering. Babysitting was available for those who needed it. Tickets were $50 per person.

But while a number of neighbors have complained about a business operating on a residential-zoned block, a spokeswoman for the club told the Buzz they are not operating as a business, but instead as a “pilot program.”

“The Jane Club is a shared work and community space with an emphasis on women and the working mother. As we near the end of our very successful pilot program, we will be announcing the location of our permanent home very soon. We continue to look forward to hosting community events throughout Los Angeles that help to bring women and working mothers together to make our city a better place.
Warmly,
The Jane Club”

The spokeswoman, who declined to give her name, also wrote to the Buzz, “The Jane Club is not currently operating a business or charging for our matriarchal workspace program. Our pilot program has been solely to see if our founders and friends would like a space like Jane Club once we are able to find a permanent home,” adding they would announce the new location shortly.

A spokesman for CD4 Council Member David Ryu confirmed that “the office of Council Member Ryu is actively looking into the situation. We have heard and understand the community’s concerns.”

Neighbors we spoke to asked to remain anonymous, but said they applaud the club’s concept and fully support the objectives of an upscale space for working moms, but don’t approve of operating a business in a residential neighborhood.  Comments on Nextdoor.com from other neighbors also reflect that position.

GWNC Land Use Committee Chair Caroline Moser told the Buzz that the committee has put the Jane Club on its agenda for the next meeting on June 26, and will attempt to contact the operators of the club to invite them to speak to the committee. Residents concerned about the operation of a business in a residential neighborhood had asked the committee to review the matter at its April meeting, but no vote was taken because the item was not listed on the committee agenda. The GWNC board also did not take a position on the matter at its May 9, 2018 meeting, despite neighbor requests at that time, because CD4 Deputy Rob Fisher reported the club was not operating yet at the time of the meeting.