The Los Angeles Times reported this week on an unusual land-swap proposal whereby the city would allow a developer to build on a five-acre park in North Hollywood and, in return, the developer would build a new park. The idea has provoked some concerns and myriad points of view. Land use issues are a high priority on many of LA’s Neighborhood Council agendas. CityWatch offers some perspective: the setup by the Times and two responses from North Hollywood community activists.

From the  LA Times Report by Sharon Bernstein:

As part of the city's move toward a denser urban environment, officials are lending support to an unusual land-swap plan that would allow a developer to build on a five-acre park in North Hollywood.

Under the proposal, the developer, J.H. Snyder Co., would replace part of Valley Plaza Park with a parking structure for a new mega-development rivaling The Grove shopping center in square footage. In exchange, the company said it would build a new park a few blocks away, adjacent to a 700-unit condominium and apartment complex that Snyder also plans to build.
 
The parkland swap, approved in concept by the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, is the only such transfer in recent memory, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

It has sparked concern among some local residents, who worry that the developer ultimately will not build a new park as promised. (Read complete story: www.LATimes.com )

Perspective One: Diann Corrall-- Developer JH Snyder has shown us  large plans for Valley Plaza with 749,503 sq ft of retail space, and is promising a life style center, not a big box for Valley Plaza, yet he is in discussions on placing a Target and Costco with a gas station in the new mall, which is big box.  There is great concern in the neighborhood that a Costco will bring in too much traffic and there already is a Target in North Hollywood just a few blocks away, which was just remodeled.  There also is a Costco in our adjacent community of Van Nuys, so we do not understand why they would place another Costco and Target so close and next to a Macy's.  

In their Valley Plaza designs many of the stores are facing inwards and there are no smaller retail or restaurants fronting Laurel Canyon Blvd.  We have asked that more stores be fronting Laurel Canyon Blvd and Victory Blvd, as this will promote the development of  the retail on the east side of Laurel Canyon Blvd and the north side of Victory Blvd.  

We also have requested 12 foot pedestrian friendly parkways along Laurel Canyon Blvd. What they have now is too narrow.  The neighborhood does not want to face a huge wall, but wants pedestrian friendly shops not just within the mall but along Laurel Canyon Blvd as well.  

The developer keeps stating that he used the same architect who did the Grove to do the renderings for Valley Plaza and back in 2003 he showed us some plans that had a more Grove feel with cobblestone pathways and Mediterranean  exteriors, then in 2006 he came back with more modern (plain), less articulated designs.  The developer has indicated that he would go back to the original designs and we are following this closely to make sure that this happens.

The neighborhood supports Rec & Parks request for more park land.  The surrounding neighborhood has also expressed that they want the park to be a passive park, with a walking path and play equipment for children.  They have indicated that they do not want a parking lot for the park and Rec & Parks has stated that for parks that small, they do not require or request a parking lot.

To date we have received tremendous support from the Community Redevelopment Agency's staff, and Councilmember Wendy Greuel has been supportive of the reduction in units.  Even the developer has begun to listen more to our concerns.  The only office that we have not received any support from is Mayor Villaraigosa's office.  (Diann Corrall is the Treasurer and Past President of Mid-Town North Hollywood NC and President of Laurel Grove Neighborhood Association.)