The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has proposed closing Wilshire Blvd. for an extended period of time for subway construction. The community has so far been presented with two options: 1) Close Wilshire Blvd. completely for 7 full weeks; or 2) Close Wilshire Blvd. on weekends for 22 straight weekends. Both of these options will cause enormous disruption to traffic, residential neighborhoods and businesses. 

The Council Office, along with the Association and other community organizations has been successful in getting the MTA to agree to do Traffic and Noise studies before making a decision. These studies are due to be completed and made available to the community in January of 2016. The Association will then conduct a survey of Hancock Park residents to determine which option we consider most reasonable, and to propose mitigation plans for ensuring that drivers won’t be funneled through our or neighboring communities. 

With thoughtful planning and preparation it should be possible to direct traffic on to surrounding arteries rather than through residential streets. Please, go to the MTA website (https://www.metro.net/projects/westside/ ) and think through the options so you’ll be ready to vote when the survey invitation appears in your email box.

While the Wilshire Division LAPD and our security services have been successful in lowering the recent increase in crime, it’s important that you keep yourself informed. Subscribe to the LAPD Wilshire Division Twitter Feed – https://twitter.com/LAPDWilshire and keep yourself up to date. Also, if there is a street light out, a sidewalk buckled, a pot hole, or a fallen tree file a Service Request with the City at My 311 – http://lacity.org/myla-311/myla-311-service-request . Councilman Ryu is working with the Association on developing a plan to repair our concrete streets and has promised to address the problems with dead and dying trees.

If you’re thinking of changing the street visible exterior of your house, including hardscaping, find out if your changes are in keeping with our HPOZ. The Hancock Park Preservation Plan (http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park) is the legal document that regulates our HPOZ. Read it and then contact our City Planner, Renata Dragland (renata.dragland@lacity.org), and get her input. There is an online form which can start the process: http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening.checklist . Renata will then help you schedule a consultation with the HPOZ Board, made up of an architect and four of your neighbors. And El Nino is coming, so make sure your house, and yard are prepared – https://www.lacounty.gov/elnino