Chamber Briefed on
Plans by Gerding Edlen
Tom Cody of
Gerding Edlen briefed the Hollywood Chamber’s
Economic Development Committee this week on his
firm’s plans to redevelop the area surrounding
the Spaghetti Factory on Sunset Blvd. The
multi-faceted mixed-use project includes a
23-story residential tower with 301 for-sale
condominiums, 40,000-sq.ft. of creative office
space, 13,500-sq.ft. of ground floor retail
space, and a new half-acre public park for the
neighborhood. In addition, the existing
Spaghetti Factory building would be preserved.
A total of 508 parking stalls are proposed. Of
particular interest is that about 60 of the
units would be targeted at the underserved
mid-market segment, such as teachers, police
officers, firefighters, and entry level
professionals. The company has just begun the
entitlement process for the project.
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Academy
Award-Winning Forest Whitaker Honored on Walk of
Fame
Forest Whitaker,
who earlier this year was honored by the Motion
Picture Academy with the Best Actor Award for
his role in The Last King of Scotland was
awarded a Hollywood Walk of Fame star this week
in front of the Kodak Theatre. Also attending
the ceremony and speaking were actors Kiefer
Sutherland and Angela Bassett. Whitaker got his
acting debut in the 1982 film, Fast Times at
Ridgemont High. Born in Texas, he grew up
in Carson and was a theatre major at Cal Poly
Pomona. His star was the 2,335th.
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Reduce
taxes with Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
5555 Hollywood Boulevard
Receives Final Approvals
After years
of public review and appeals, Bond Companies
latest mixed-use residential and retail complex
-- Hollywood Garfield, located at 5555
Hollywood Boulevard -- has been approved by
the City of Los Angeles. Thanks to the support
and assistance provided by so many throughout
the community, and especially members of the
Hollywood Chamber, the City Council voted its
final approval on Wednesday April 18. 5555
Hollywood Boulevard now can move forward
towards completion. Bond Companies will be
making a real difference in East Hollywood --
providing new home ownership opportunities and
new, neighborhood-oriented retail stores.
5555 Hollywood Boulevard will deliver 90
for-sale condominium residences on top of
neighborhood-serving street level retail, and a
wide sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard,
increasing pedestrian activity and improving
safety. If you would like more information, call
the Hollywood Garfield information line at
323-692-9015.
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Chamber Testifies
Concerns on Proposed Control Measures
Hollywood
Chamber Vice-President of Public Policy,
Rochelle Silsbee attended a hearing on Thursday
to testify against unnecessary control measures
proposed by the Southern California Air Quality
Management District that would increase the cost
of doing business in the region. The proposed
measures would increase costs to businesses by
requiring approximately $1.5 billion per year in
new infrastructure with outcomes not fully
studied for effectiveness. Furthermore, these
measures will reduce the availability of natural
gas supplies in the region because of the rising
demand for natural gas throughout North America
and less restrictive control measures in other
areas such as Northern Mexico. Silsbee called
for further negotiations with the Gas Company
and “demand-side” strategies to encourage market
penetration of already-clean fuels, engines and
other products which could provide substantial
further emission reductions at lower costs.
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Let the CHiPS Fall where
they may … Eric Estrada Receives His Star
A large crowd of
news media, fans, and public safety officers
were on hand Thursday as television star Eric
Estrada received his star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame in front of the new DSW store at 7021
Hollywood Blvd. Estrada was the co-star of the
long-running television series, ChiPs.
California Highway Patrol Commissioner Mike
Brown spoke on behalf of the public safety
officers and thanked Estrada for his support of
law enforcement and recalled when they were both
training at the Police Academy. Numerous
celebrities were on hand, including comedian
Paul Rodriguez and Lorenzo Lamas. Estrada has
been involved in a wide range of humanitarian
programs, including DARE, the national police
effort to direct young people away from drugs,
Police Activity League, Big Brothers, the
Special Olympics, AIDS Project L.A., the March
of Dimes, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and many
others.
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 Rattle the Cajun
at Our Upcoming Mixer
Hollywood is the
home of the movies. Movies can inspire, and in
the case of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, a
movie inspired a restaurant. Made famous in the
1994 film Forrest Gump, the Bubba Gump Shrimp
Co. Restaurant and Market will play host to the
Chamber’s April After-Hours Mixer at its
Universal Citywalk location, 100 Universal City
Plaza, #114.
Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co. is a chain of restaurants committed
to providing a casual environment where everyone
can enjoy a great meal in a festive and fun
atmosphere. The menu offers patrons not only a
wide selection of delicious seafood items, but
award winning “Dixie-style” baby back ribs,
fantastic steaks, tasty sandwiches, great salads
and more. Whether in the mood for Shrimp New
Orleans or a burger, at Bubba Gump guests will
experience “great food and fun!” For guests
seeking refreshments, thick and creamy
milkshakes or libations such as the hand-shaken
margaritas (prepared and served table-side)
round out the menu.
The mixer will
be held on Thursday April 26th from
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $10 for
members and $20 for non-members, which includes
two beverages and delicious samplings of Bubba
Gump’s cuisine. Non-validated, self parking is
available for $10, or valet for $5 the first two
hours, $2.50 an hour there after. Please RSVP to
steven@hollywoodchamber.net
Reserve Online at
www.hollywoodchamber.net
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Help Copymat Celebrate Grand “Re”-Opening
Hollywood
Chamber members are invited to help Copymat
Hollywood celebrate its grand “re”-opening after
extensive remodeling of their facility on this
coming Wednesday, April 25th, from
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Copymat Hollywood is
located at 6464 Sunset Blvd., on the ground
floor. There will be hors d’oeuvres, drinks,
and live jazz, as well as drawings to benefit
local nonprofit and community groups. RSVP at
bob@copycentral.com
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Hollywood & Highland Center
Shuttle Service for WICKED
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