The Larchmont Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Conservancy and many other publications and community organizations have highlighted the mansionization trend in Los Angeles. Houses are torn down and new, much larger structures are built in their place with little regard to the impact on their neighbors and the existing neighborhood. Homeowners wake up to an oversized structure next door to them that blocks their light, view and invades their privacy. Because of our Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) this is not a problem for Hancock Park. An HPOZ controls what kind of changes can be done to houses and limits the size of additions. It preserves the look and feel of our neighborhood keeping Hancock Park the beautiful area we all live in. It does take some planning and work, though, on the part of homeowners. It’s important that before making any changes to the street visible part of your house that you consult the Hancock Park HPOZ Preservation Plan (http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park) and contact our City Planner, Kimberly Henry (kimberly.henry@lacity.org. Kimberly has a helpful online form that will start the process – http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening.checklist.
The HPOZ Board (all volunteers), is made up of Hancock Park residents, and a professional architect. It meets the first and third Wednesdays of every month, 6PM-8PM, at the John C. Fremont Library at June Street and Melrose. If you’re planning a change, contact Kimberly, and come in for a consultation, even if all you have is an idea and a sketch. The meetings are open and anyone interested in how the HPOZ process works in Hancock Park is invited to attend.
Our City Council seat is open and the election is coming up soon. Attend the GWNC Candidate Debate on February 8th at 11AM at John Burroughs Middle School and learn more. Now is the time to plant a parkway tree. With all the rain we’ve had, the trees are looking wonderful, and a new tree will help purify the air, provide shade in the summer and make our streets beautiful. Contact the Tree Committee on our website for more information.
Unfortunately, crime is still occurring in Hancock Park so please take precautions and sign up for the e-Policing newsletter – http://www.lapdepolicing.org/. Report street light outages to the city at: http://bsl.lacity.org/. Report potholes by submitting an online request at http://bss.lacity.org/request.htmBe sure and look at our website for news – http://www.HancockPark.org . Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System – http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180 Questions regarding filming – contact Filming Committee, Cami Taylor (323-692-1414-Home and 310-659-6220-Office).