The City Council’s Public Works Committee reviewed the project slated for the east side of Highland Avenue south of Yucca Street at its February 7th meeting. The purpose of the hearing was a request by developer JPI to waive the street widening mandate required in the overall City Master Transportation Plan, a request consistent with the new Hollywood Community Plan, which calls for more pedestrian friendly sidewalks and less parking near Metro Rail portals to encourage more use of public transportation and traffic mitigation. Chamber Board Member and Chair of its Economic Development Committee, Brian Folb of Paramount Contractors & Developers, testified on behalf of the Chamber. The Public Works Committee waived the mandate to widen Highland Avenue and other adjoining streets in lieu of the developer widening the sidewalk and creating a landscape buffer between the live-work units and the sidewalk.

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Chamber-backed Clarett Hollywood, LLC

Approved by Planning Commission

On Thursday, February 8th , Chamber Board Member Brian Folb testified before the City Planning Commission in support of the Clarett Hollywood project, envisioned for both the north and south sides of Hollywood Blvd., just east of Vine St. The project is a 1.13 million square foot mixed-use development consisting of 1,014 apartments, 28 joint living work quarter units, and 175,000 square feet of commercial retail uses within eight buildings. The Commission approved the project with a 5 – 1 vote, with only a few minor changes being made to the applicant’s requested zone variances and adjustments. The City and applicant are negotiating the terms of parking requirements as relates to the set-asides for the retail and Pantages Theatre patrons.

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Chamber Supports 6904 Hollywood, LLC

A hearing was held on Friday, February 9th before a hearing examiner who will make a subsequent recommendation to the Central Area Planning Commission regarding the property at 6904 Hollywood Blvd. Chamber staffer Todd Lindgren was on hand to voice the Chamber’s support of the applicant. The property directly across the street from the Kodak Theatre is being purchased by CIM Group, which intends to remove the existing roof-top billboard and replace it with a larger V-shaped, open panel roof sign. CIM will expand the existing dilapidated building to accommodate national retailers and will restore the historic façade. The building was once known as the Seven Seas Building and more recently as the Nash Building. The Central Area Planning Commission will take up the matter at its March 27th hearing.

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Sam Smith Joins Chamber Board

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce welcomes Sam Smith, MD, Genesis SmithBenton as a new Board member. The Health Care Committee Co-Chair, Myron D. “Sam” Smith was also recently elected President of the Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters, a professional association representing hundreds of Southern California health insurance executives. Personally committed to finding ways to reduce the number of uninsured and better serve the health care needs of the working poor, Smith was also recently named to the Board of Directors of Young and Healthy, a California based charity that was named by former President George HW Bush as one of his “1,000 points of Light”. Knowing that health care costs are a significant factor in every business, whether they are insured or not, Smith hopes to encourage the Chamber to focus on the critical health care reform proposals currently before the California legislature and the US Congress.

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Stiller and Meara Honored with Walk of Fame Star

Husband and wife, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara were honored with 2,328th Star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, February 12 at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard next to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on. Stiller who portrays Arthur, the cantankerous father-in-law on the CBS comedy series, The King of Queens, now in its ninth and final season, and his wife Anne Meara, film, television and Broadway actress and writer who has also appeared on the show, have been married for over fifty years. “Hollywood is where dreams are made… A place where Preston Sturges wrote Sullivan’s Travels, Where Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld created Seinfeld,” said Jerry Stiller and thanked Jason Alexander for helping keep him for what should have been a one time gig, which lasted five years.

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Honorary Mayor Expedites Walk of Fame Repairs

Hollywood's Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant oversees the repairs to the famous Stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame near Hollywood & Highland. The famous terrazos are going through an expedited repair process in time for the upcoming awards season.

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Call for Nominations for Women of Distinction Awards

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 14th annual Women of Distinction Awards luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, May 15, at the Globe Theatre at Universal Studios. Each year, the Chamber honors women from the community who have shown outstanding dedication to Hollywood. Nominations for this year’s awards will be accepted through February 28th. Applications are available for downloading on the Chamber’s website at www.hollywoodchamber.net, or at the Chamber office, 7018 Hollywood Blvd. Past nominations may be reconsidered, but an application must still be re-submitted. Co-chairs Maureen Schultz of Capitol Records and Laurie Goldman of GO! Goldman Organization note that they are seeking active members who would like to serve on the Planning Committee and help raise awareness, funding and prizes. It is a great way to get involved with the community and with the honorees! If you are interested in serving on the committee or sponsoring or promoting your business with a prize donation for this important event, please contact Elizabeth at the Chamber (323)785-1760 or via email at info@hollywoodchamber.net.

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