Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Larchmont Village Residents Called to Support Plan for Development on Upper Larchmont Blvd.

Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association members learn more about plans to guide future development on Upper Larchmont Blvd. at their semi-annual meeting on May 9, 2023.

Larchmont Village residents were asked to express their support for a plan to create a development overlay zone for “Upper” Larchmont Blvd, the area north of Beverly Blvd. to Melrose Avenue. Jane Usher, a Windsor Square resident and member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s Land Use Committee’s ad hoc committee looking into the issue invited residents to get involved in shaping the kinds of new developments that would be permitted on the street. Members of the GWNC group include Larchmont Village residents Karen Gilman and Sam Uretsky, GWNC Vice President and Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association President Charles D’Atri, and Larchmont business owner Patti Carroll, along with other GWNC board members, former Land Use Committee member John Kaliski, and Windsor Village resident and co-founder of the Livable Communities Initiative, Lindsay Sturman.

Speaking on behalf the group, which formed to look at projects being proposed on Upper Larchmont Blvd. following the approval of a Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) project at 500 N. Larchmont that has no ground floor retail and towers over the residential neighborhood behind, Usher said the committee is proposing to create a Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO) that would ensure future developments reflect the consensus of the community and build on the successful principles which have made Larchmont Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhood a successful live/work area.

Usher also said the committee feels the city has incorrectly characterized the street with a TOC designation. If their logic prevails, she said, it could upend approval for the 500 N. Larchmont project, which has been widely opposed by nearby residents though approved by the City’s Planning Department. Usher said the removal of the TOC designation would also affect projects being planned at 523 and 531 North Larchmont.

As we have reported previously, the GWNC has identified a list of primary goals and key topics and strategies that might guide future development on Upper Larchmont, balancing the need for additional density while still maintaining specific character elements of the  neighborhood, including ground floor retail that promotes and maintains the existing walkability of Larchmont Blvd.

Usher said it is important that the local neighborhoods speak with a united community voice during the lengthy process to request a CPIO. Her presentation to the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association was the beginning of a community-wide outreach process.

“It could take several years,” explained Usher. “Speaking with a united voice will help with the interim development. We want developers to have second thoughts before they go forward.” Usher said there have been cases where the certain parts of the city have lost their TOC designations.

“Larchmont is worth it,” she said. “We have to be super committed. it’s a chess game. I want us to be really good at chess!”

Usher asked residents to email photos of projects they like to help create a community “mood” board illustrating what the community would like to see on the street. She also asked them to be ready to write letters and go to meetings. Residents can email photos and ideas to Sandy at the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association at [email protected].

Below are slides from Usher’s presentation.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard is the publisher of the Larchmont Buzz. Patty lives with her family in Fremont Place. She has been active in neighborhood issues since moving here in 1989. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

  1. TOC is a scam and a give-away to developers. It should be challenged and defeated at every opportunity. If it is not, you will see further and further “Manhattan-ization” of Los Angeles.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Calendar

Latest Articles

.printfriendly { padding: 0 0 60px 50px; }