New Development Underway On Burwood Avenue

Paul Martin February 6, 2013 at 11:40 am

Surprised that the City allowed for a gated community. What's the purpose of the gates? What's the architecture going to be iike? Hopefully, it will not resemble Santa Clarita "architecture".

Paul Martin February 6, 2013 at 11:48 am

No details on their web site as of this morning, other than "coming soon to Highland Park"
http://williamshomes.com/newhomecommunities/losangelescounty/park9.aspx

Sara February 6, 2013 at 11:58 am

My god, the people around there must be horrified. I live on the other side of Figueroa on Burwood, and nothing could be further from the character of the street and neighborhood than a "gated community." We are not Rancho Viejo or Thousand Oaks! There are a lot of beautiful small bungalows right around there, lovingly restored - this sort of architecture is utterly inappropriate and will lower property values for the whole street. Those of you who are happy that we're just outside the historically protected Garvanza zone - here's the result. This couldn't happen in the HPOZ. What a nightmare.

ChickenBoyFan February 6, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Please review the hideous townhomes, which were constructed on Mesa St, above the street from Coco's. If this is any indication of the future of new home building here in HP, then we are in trouble. There may be an HPOZ in the Burwood area. We need a Land Use Committee in a bad way.

Rev M G Martinez, ULC February 6, 2013 at 06:23 pm

This is the 2nd catasthrophy directly related to the apparent inemptness of the NC. They're going to have to get it together quick! People's qualitity of life is at stake. This isn't the Junior High Student Council. This is the 6th NC, meeting, since the board was installed last Oct. Two of those meetings were canceled due to lack of qorum (excuse the type-os, too po'ed to miss with spell check). The first meeting was the installation meeting, and one of those meetings was taken over by the Transit Village deal. That leaves only one real working meeting for the NC since they were installed, last Fall. What have they accomplished? NOTHING! Except the destruction of Phillip Sun's Resturant, and now this! Why? The Land Use has met only once. Because Tom Williams, the former Chair resigned, abrubtly. Reason? The NC not refering, or heeding recommendations of the Land Use Committee. Please show up tomorrow to make your feelings known.

BOOMERHULK February 6, 2013 at 09:48 pm

BOOMERHULK ONLY WISH GATED COMMUNITY HAD MORE PRAKING AND TURRETS FOR KEEP PALETEROS AND CHAMPURADO VENDORS LOCKED INSIDE.
BOOMERHULK RECOGNISE NEED FOR MORE NEW HOUSING BECAUSE ALL VACANT HOUSING SMELLY. NOBODY WANT U OLD HOUSING THAT IS VACANT ALL OVER HLP. GO AWAY. HULK SMASH VACANT OLD EMPTY HOUSES AND MORE BABY BOOMER COMPATIBLE CITY OF QUARTZ HOUSES SPRING UP FROM SMASHPRINT RUINS.

BOOMERHULK February 6, 2013 at 09:49 pm

HPOZ IS WHEN HULK HIT PAUSE BUTTON.
NO HPOZ FOR VACANT LAND.

BOOMERHULK February 6, 2013 at 09:50 pm

GATES TO KEEP OUT MENACING HIPSTER FAMILIES WALKING AND SHOPPING IN AREA. ONLY WANT POOR PEOPLE AND VERY RICH PEOPLE HERE, PLZ STAY OFF SIDEWALK AND HAVE PERMIT READY FOR INSPECTION.

El Cid February 6, 2013 at 11:35 pm

HHPNC's Land Use needs to get off the ground immediately. HP residents need to attend NC and demand the HHPNC writes an IMPACT STATEMENT for Highland Park for the LA City Council. The Impact Statement must clearly state what we hope HP to be now and what we hope HP will look like for tomorrow!!! It's time we placed safeguards to preserving and improving our community. We need to be proactive not reactive!

ChickenBoyFan February 7, 2013 at 01:22 pm

All hands on deck, here! Every Land Use alumni,as well as HPOZ'er,Heritage Truster,and new NC Land Use member needs to get in a cabal, and get this done. There has been an attitude for a couple of decades that "anything goes" here in Highland Park,when it comes to vomiting up any kind of structure, anywhere. This must stop. The horrid looking townhomes on Mesa St. prove this. Who was minding the store? Who was the builder? Where was the Heritage Trust? These things are cheaply built, ill concieved,and designed, eyesores. A travesty for NELA.

bobo February 7, 2013 at 02:52 pm

Hello, what about all the rub down apartment buildings in town! Whoever allowed so many to be built in this town? Lets tear down this Victorian house and. build a roach infested apartment for poor people, good idea!

bobo February 7, 2013 at 02:53 pm

Run down, not rub down!

Nimby pimp February 7, 2013 at 02:57 pm

Boomerhulk pitch perfect till Mike Davis caca. Better Hulk smash 80's schoolboy dystopia handbook and recieve Art Laboe transmision instead.

Nimby pimp February 7, 2013 at 03:03 pm

Has anyone seen the designs?

Nimby pimp February 7, 2013 at 03:04 pm

The rub down apartments are in Eagle Schlock.

ChickenBoyFan February 7, 2013 at 04:48 pm

Hector Huezo,VP,NC, has called a Land Use meeting for this Saturday,from 11:30-1:30PM. It will be at : Acadamie Avance Charter School, 115 N. Ave 53, in the church basement.
Come to express your concern regarding this issue. Here is a website for the developer: http://williamshomes.com.

Punk Attitude February 7, 2013 at 06:43 pm

A gated community. Is that allowed? Maybe it's one of those baby birthing hotels in the guise of a new housing complex.
That space could have been used for a community garden.

Nimby pimp February 7, 2013 at 07:53 pm

The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Has anyone seen the designs?

Cerro Gordo February 7, 2013 at 08:36 pm

Yeah. I'm no fan of "gated communities", but I don't see what the big deal is.

David Fonseca (Editor) February 7, 2013 at 09:07 pm

Nimby: Haven't seen yet, trying to.

Sara February 8, 2013 at 11:41 am

I haven't seen the designs either, but looking at the developer's website and what they have constructed elsewhere, I'd be very worried. Take a look: http://williamshomes.com/NEWHOMECOMMUNITIES/LOSANGELESCOUNTY/OLIVEGLEN.aspx. In any case, as I've said before - too late now. I really wonder, where was the Highland Park Neighborhood Council? Where was the land use committee? Is anyone watching the permitting process in L.A. for our neighborhood? It's too bad that the NC is so very toxic and dysfunctional, otherwise people would be more willing to become involved, and maybe it would actually do something like protect the neighborhood against inappropriate development, instead of spending all of its time infighting and responding to attempts by the City to regulate it because it is, once again, behaving badly and incompetently.

Paul Martin February 8, 2013 at 02:52 pm

I think what's important here is Highland Park does not need a typical track development. We are looking for something that reflects the history of Highland Park. The city and HHPNC should meet with the developers to insure that not only the design of the actual homes, but also the design of the gates, light fixtures, etc. are suitable for the neighborhood. It would also be nice if the developers considered drought-tolerant and California Native plants, not the typical green front lawn that soaks up our water.

Nimby pimp February 8, 2013 at 04:42 pm

@ Paul. Good thoughts re: design ideas consistent with Arroyo design tradition and drought tolerant plants should be a must.

Sara February 9, 2013 at 01:46 pm

@Paul and @Nimby - yes, those would have been good ideas BEFORE their permit was granted and they started construction. Neighborhood advocates lost all power and leverage once they started building. They have the right to do whatever they want now, and no obligation or need to meet with anyone or take anyone's advice. And I guarantee you, that's exactly what will happen.

Nimby pimp February 9, 2013 at 01:58 pm

@Sara - I am sure you are correct. Perhaps this episode will inspire greater local political participation of new and more capable stakeholders in the community.

Mrs. Montoya February 11, 2013 at 07:53 pm

In looking at the website I dont see anything wrong with it period. Compared to the way people take care of their homes! I live not too far from there I would much rather see this than cheap apartments at least these look like town homes like Cerro I also dont see the big deal. @ Paul Martin when you say something that reflects the History of Highland Park I doubt that anyone could afford to build an Old Victorian Style Home these days. Granted what I dont want to see is more Section 8 apartments I could care less about it being gated.