Newsletter: The Media Messenger

First Steps Taken To Underground Utilities on Santa Monica Boulevard

On Thursday, May 1, representatives from city and state agencies met to discuss the possibility of placing utilities underground on Santa Monica Boulevard from LaBrea Avenue to the 101 Freeway.

The Hollywood Media District hosted the meeting, which included representatives from CRA, Caltrans, Council Districts 4 and 13, and the city's Bureau of Engineering.

The process will be lengthy and costly but the first steps have been taken, and the key players are all working together. The relinquishment of the roadway from CalTrans to the city has already been filed, but will need to be revitalized and completed.

According to Luis Ganaja from the Bureau of Engineering, cost is the biggest factor in the process of undergrounding utilities. There are several sources of funding for this project that will be studied. Getting the property owners involved is another important priority in planning.

The Media District has taken on the task of creating a "vision" or a "concept" that will include the undergrounding, as well as new streetscape improvements on Santa Monica Blvd. The project could be similar to West Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard improvements.

Tree planting on schedule

The Hollywood Media District's Campus committee is making progress on their two current projects, adding new trees and trash receptacles to the BID.

The trees, which are being provided by the DWP's "Trees For A Green LA" program, will be planted in three installments of 100 each. The first 100 are scheduled for the month of May, the second 100 for June, and the final planting will take place in July. The planting is being coordinated with Los Angeles Conservation Corp.

Fifty new trash receptacles have arrived and are being adorned with the new HMD logo by Anderson Printing, 855 N. Cahuenga Blvd, member of the BID. They will be installed throughout the district in the coming weeks. The existing trash cans will be restored, painted, and placed throughout the district.

Annual Meeting at Iron Mountain

Please join the Hollywood Media District's Board of Directors and Staff on the roof of Iron Mountain Film and Sound, 1025 N. Highland, on Thursday, June 19, from 5:30 to 8 pm for the 4th annual Stakeholders' Meeting.

This will be a great opportunity to visit with other business in the BID, the clean team, the security staff, city and state officials, as well as the HMD staff.

We will be reporting on the progress made this year as well as goals for the future. Look for your invitation and be sure to R.S.V.P.

5 Things in 5 Months

1. Transportation - Tony Wilsbacher, Department of Transportation supervisor for our area met with the Santa Monica Theatre groups to discuss ways of increasing street parking. He also met with the Business Watch group on May 8th to discuss implementing several one-way streets and exploring the possibility of increasing the hours of no parking on Highland Avenue from 3:30 to 6:30pm instead of 3:00 to 7:00.

2. Highland Gateway - Highland Gateway. Union 76 gave approval to implement the landscaping Gateway treatment at the Union 76 at Melrose & Highland. This includes several potted trees, sidewalk repair and the installation of a Hollywood Media District sign cantilevering over the street.

3. Underground Utilities - See story on page one - Undergrounding Utilities on Santa Monica.

4. Prostitution & Drug Dealing - Our Safe Team continues to make citizens arrests for public intoxication and assault. LAPD will run a task force in May to enforce the new City ordinance of impounding john's cars for soliciting for prostitution.

5. Media District Sign Overlay - Los Angeles City Planning and the Community Redevelopment Agency are still defining language for the overlay zone. This ordinance could be in place by the end of summer.

Look forward to continuing updates on our 5 Things in 5 Months.

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Fiesta de Salud!

Celebrate the health of our Children, Teens and Parents at the Fiesta de Salud!

The event, sponsored by Hollywood-L.A. Bridges and the Hollywood Teen Community Project, will be held on Selma Ave. between Schrader Blvd. and Cassil Ave. on Saturday, May 17th from 11am to 3pm.

Live Music, free food, and entertainment will be provided as well as health screenings including women's health exams, pediatric screenings and HIV testing. For children, there will also be face painting, puppet shows, and a super slide. For more information, please call 213-639-7567.

Website features galleries

The Hollywood Media District's website, www.mediadistrict.org, will now feature photo galleries of it's projects. The first Gallery is already online, and documents the progress of the Highland Gateway's median, which was recently built on Highland north of Melrose. New Galleries will be added in the near future.

Local Spotlight: Creative Space

Creative Space, 6325 Santa Monica Blvd., is a place for kids (ages 3 months to 13 years) to really get… creative! They offer a large selection of programs including classes, birthday parties, and camps. They were named "Best Kids' Classes" in Los Angeles Magazine, and received the LA Parent "Family Favorite Award" in 2002.

Some of the classes include yoga, garden art, baton twirling, DJ school and breakdancing. Summer camp begins in June and is a unique and specialized arts camp. Birthday parites can be booked on weekends such as an wacky science party, magic, or even an aromatherapy party!

For More information, call 323-462-4600 or visit their website at www.creativespaceusa.com.

Names and Numbers

Congratulations to Helmi Hisserich of Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., the BID's Consultant, for being nominated for Hollywood's Women Of Distinction Awards. The event takes place Thursday, May 22nd, 11:30am, at Hollywood and Highland's new 5th Floor Ballroom, The Annex. Please call 323-469-8311 for more information.

HMD Calendar

HMD Board of Directors Meeting
When: Thursday, May 15
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: CFI (Consolidated Film Industries)
959 Seward St.
Call 323-460-4770 to RSVP

Business Watch Meeting
When: Thursday, June 12
Time: 12:00 pm
Where: Hollywood Community Room
6501 Fountain Ave. (At Wilcox)
Call 323-460-4770 to RSVP for lunch

Hollywood Beautification Team Report

GRAFFITI PAINT OUT AGREEMENT

Your consent is necessary to obliterate graffiti at your site. The Hollywood Beautification Team, through the city, will assist in the acquisition of free paint for your property or paint out graffiti using your paint.

Please make sure that your business or property has a signed Agreement on file. For more information or an Agreement, please contact Devin at 323.460.4770.

Activities Report
Week ending 5/3/03
(compiled by Langner Security Service)

Questions or Comments

Feel free to contact the Hollywood Media District using the following contact information:

Hollywood Media District
1304 North Highland Avenue #200
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone:  323.460.6322
Fax:  323.460.6488

Executive Director: Mary Lou Dudas
MDudas@pacbell.net

Assistant: Devin Strecker
Devin77@pacbell.net
323-460-4770

Hollywood Media District Field Office
6775 Santa Monica Blvd. #2A
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone:  323.871.4150
Hours:  7am - 11pm, Mon-Sat

Security Supervisor: Michael M. Zuvich

Hollywood Media District Property Owners
Association Board of Directors

Jeff Anthony, President - Iron Mountain Film and Sound
Tim Mahoney, Vice-President - Hollywood Center Studios
Eliza Thorne, Secretary - Seward Film Vaults
Don Robertson, Treasurer - Honda of Hollywood
Fred Anawalt - Anawalt Lumber Company
Carol Cassella - RenMar Studios
Jack Fleming - ADS
Morton Lakretz - The Crossroads
Michael Malick - Ramsey Shilling Real Estate
Jacques Massachi - Ori Service Center
Albert Sweet - Al Sweet Development
Gene La Pietra - Arena Cafe
Brian Scane - The Paladin Group, Inc.
Fares Wehbe - Hollywood Little Red School

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Hollywood Area Police Station: 213-482-4302
Hollywood Community Relations: 213-485-4310
LA Fire Department Emergency: 911
Damaged Parking Meters: 877-215-3958
Lot Cleaning: 800-996-2489
Department of Transportation: 213-485-2489
Bulky Item Pick Up (Residents Only): 800-773-3326
Animal Regulation: 888-452-7381
Building and Safety: 213-977-6966
Potholes, Curb, Street Damage BSM: 800-996-2489

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