REVITALIZING NOHO AREA LIBRARY OPENS, TOWER BEGINS.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer NORTH HOLLYWOOD - After years of unfulfilled promises, city and county officials moved ahead Thursday with ambitious plans to revitalize the heart of North Hollywood, breaking ground on a 15-story complex that will dominate the Valley skyline and opening a nearby public library. ``It has taken a long time for us to get to this point,'' Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California said before breaking ground on the $43 million NoHo Tower, across from a Metro Red Line station and in the center of the NoHo Arts District
The Arts District . ``I think this shows that peoples' patience has paid off. We had a lot of debate, a lot of discussion, but I think this shows it was worth it.'' Minutes after appearing with county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky Zev Yaroslavsky (born December 21, 1948) is a Los Angeles County politician. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1975 until 1994, when he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was preceded in both offices by Edmund D. Edelman. and Councilman Tom LaBonge Tom LaBonge (b. Los Angeles 1953), member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 4th district. He has served since 2001, taking over the position upon the death of John Ferraro. at the groundbreaking, Hahn joined Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. and members of the Library Commission for a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of the Valley Plaza branch library, a $3 million, 10,000-square-foot structure at 12311 Vanowen St. ``We, in North Hollywood, have felt like the forgotten stepchild step·child n. 1. A child of one's spouse by a previous union. 2. Something that does not receive appropriate care, respect, or attention: "Demography has a reputation for being the stepchild of . . . ,'' Greuel said. ``That's why it's exciting to see things like this going on. For years, people have been trying to flee from North Hollywood. That's why you have Valley Village and West Toluca Lake. ``I think people will want to come back and identify with North Hollywood.'' In addition to the library and the NoHo Tower, with construction expected to take 20 months after it starts in February, Greuel said work is under way to build two new elementary schools and make other improvements in the area. Yaroslavsky said the area is finally beginning to see benefits. ``North Hollywood is on a roll,'' Yaroslavsky said. ``I feel it, and you can sense the momentum building.'' LaBonge said what he believes is a sense of community is returning. ``For a long time, North Hollywood was abandoned as developers went to shopping malls,'' LaBonge said. ``Now, we're rebuilding. We're building homes and businesses. We're building neighborhoods.'' Craig Jones Craig "133" Jones (born Craig Michael Jones on February 11 1972) is a music sampler and keyboardist best known as member #5 of the band Slipknot. He is also in charge of the digital media in the band. , the developer of the NoHo Tower, said 14 of the 192 units in the building near Lankershim and Chandler boulevards will be set aside as affordable housing. The development also will include 17,000 square feet of retail space. Jones said he envisions the area's future to rival areas like Pasadena's Old Town or Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian street in Santa Monica, California, United States. It is considered one of the premier shopping destinations in West Los Angeles and frequently draws crowds from all over Los Angeles County. . ``Developments like this are the future,'' said Jones, who grew up in Tarzana and attended Taft High School and Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. . ``They are tied to developments like the MetroRail station and an infrastructure that already exists.'' The project is the result of agreements worked out with the city Community Redevelopment Agency and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Yaroslavsky said it is a vision that has been needed. ``Instead of looking at this area as it is now, we are looking 10, 15, 20 years from now and filling needs we will have then,'' Yaroslavsky said. The plan brought support from a leader of the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council. ``We have been ignored for too long,'' said Eric Rabini. ``Instead of an attitude of NIMBY NIM·BY n. pl. NIM·BYs Slang One who objects to the establishment in one's neighborhood of projects, such as incinerators, prisons, or homeless shelters, that are believed to be dangerous, unsightly, or otherwise undesirable. , we are saying BIMBY BIMBY Build in My Backyard - build in my back yard.'' Dianna Davidson, who heads the Friends of the Valley Plaza Library, said she also had grown frustrated over the years of promises. ``But we have this now,'' she said, gesturing to the new library and the hundreds of children and adults gathered for the ceremony. ``This makes it worth it. ``A library is important for a community. Not only for today, but for the children and tomorrow. We are no longer a forgotten child.'' Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO: A team from the Urban Land Institute studying further development opportunities in North Hollywood is scheduled to present its findings from 9 to 11:30 a.m. today at the Beverly Garland Hotel, 4222 Vineland Ave. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Adults and children alike pour through the doors at the new Valley Plaza library branch in North Hollywood on Thursday. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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