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MID CITY WEST COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDA
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Laura Eversz
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Transportation issues, community outreach, land use and traffic have been at the forefront of the Mid City West Community Council’s (MCWCC) agenda over the past year. They will remain at the top of the list over the upcoming months, according to board chairman Jeff Jacobberger. In an interview, he filled me in on what’s ahead in the upcoming months.
Transportation
The spotlight has been on the proposed subway extension, including the project’s timing and where the stations will be. “Metro is going through an environmental review process and preparing recommendations for the board. We’ve been keeping abreast and providing input where appropriate,” he added.
The Council is coordinating its position with other stakeholders including the Miracle Mile Residential Assoc., the Chamber of Commerce and L.A. County Museum of Art.
BOARD CHAIRMAN Jeff Jacobberger says the Council supports the city’s development of a bike transportation system.
As the city works on a plan to develop a bike transportation system, MCWCC is developing a proposed bicycle network for its area, including bike lanes, routes and bike-friendly streets. "Bike lanes are a challenge in this neighborhood because of a lack of physical space on the street,” admits Jacobberger. “But I think there are places where it might be possible, like San Vicente Blvd.” The focus, however, is on finding local streets that connect people but have low levels of traffic and stoplights at intersections.
Promotion
MCWCC represents 50,000 residents, business owners and employees who live and work from La Brea Ave. to Beverly Hills, Olympic/San Vicente boulevards to West Hollywood.
“One of the problems we have from an outreach standpoint is that nobody says they live in Mid-City West. They say Miracle Mile or Hancock Park adjacent. So building awareness and an identity for us has always been a struggle.”
Seventy-five to 80 percent of residents are renters, which also makes it a harder audience to penetrate in terms of awareness,” he added.
The group will continue to try and build community events. The quarterly Miracle Mile Art Walk, which brings attention to the area’s galleries and restaurants as well as TarFest, the annual music, art and film festival, are two such events.
Teaming up
The Council continues to work with the Fairfax and Third Street business associations to find solutions for parking problems. MCWCC has also teamed up with the Melrose Neighborhood Action Committee, taking part in “National Night Out” activities in August.
“We have tried to develop a partnership with Fairfax High School, and to establish pride and a connection to our community,” Jacobberger said. “The school’s great leadership is helping to make that happen.”
The median on the 800 block of Fairfax is completed, with most of the funds coming from a developer of adjacent apartment buildings.
Land use
Because of the number of restaurants in the area, the issue of how many alcohol licenses are enough as well as parking problems continue to be major topics.
Another concern is tall buildings proposed along Wilshire Blvd. between Fairfax Ave. “With the subway looking more and more like a certainty, development along the Mile will continue. The question is how to accommodate the overall needs of the city against preserving the residential neighborhoods and surrounding thoroughfares,” said Jacobberger.
Traffic
Part of the frustration from a council perspective is that the city doesn’t seem to be willing to do much about traffic. “We get complaints about congestion and cut-throughs in residential areas. And it’s frustrating because we’re adjacent to the city of West Hollywood that does great things with cul-de-sacs and traffic circles that protect the residential neighborhoods.”
For years, the city’s approach is to make cars move more effectively. They’ve done all they can in mid-city, so we’re trying to support ways for people to not use their cars.”
With a shortfall in general transportation funds prompting major cuts to public transit programs, the Council is bringing a motion to its board to urge the city to rethink its planned elimination of DASH bus lines that serve the Mid City West community.
Jacobberger says residents can stay informed of these and other Mid City issues through the Council’s website at midcitywest.org.
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