Garvanza Meeting to Address Preservation, Traffic, Crime

The Garvanza Improvement Association (GIA) will host a community meeting on Wednesday evening on issues ranging from crime, historic preservation and neighborhood traffic.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 5 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the new Luther Burbank Middle School at 6640 N. Figueroa St.

Public Safety: 

Among the invited guests will be Los Angeles Police Department's Highland Park Senior Lead Officer Mark Allen.

The meeting's agenda calls for a discussion about the safety of Garvanza's alleyways and community concerns over a perceived increase in drug dealing and homelessness around Garvanza Park, 99-Cents Store and Rite-Aid.

Preservation:

Attendees of the meeting will learn about the ongoing preservation of the historic Dr. John Lawrence Smith house located at the corner of Avenue 63 and Garvanza Avenue.

After decades false starts and failed efforts, members of the GIA--with help from Council District 14 and real estate agents Tim Swan and Bob Berger--helped broker the sale of the historic home to noted preservationist Brad Chambers.

The GIA will also discuss their campaign to educate potential real estate investors in the neighborhood about the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, which regulates what manner of alterations can be made to the exterior of historic homes.

Traffic:

Wednesday's meeting will also focus on traffic concerns in the following areas:

• Cars failing to slow down for pedestrians at the Crosswalk at Avenue 63 and York Boulevard
• Intersection at Avenue 64 and Church Street