Sometimes more interesting things cross our desk than we have time to cover individually…but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important to us or of interest to our readers. Today we thought we’d pass along links to a few local stories you may or may not have heard about yet, but which we are definitely keeping our eye on:
Funds Approved for Homeless Housing and Services in Hollywood
On September 7, the Los Angeles City Council passed two motions to provide $850,000 in funding for the construction of the LGBT Center’s Anita May Rosenstein Campus in Hollywood. The measures, introduced by Council Member David Ryu, will allow the campus to move forward with construction of affordable housing, homeless beds, and homelessness services in Hollywood. “Without a doubt, the Anita May Rosenstein Campus will change lives,” Ryu said in a statement about the project. “This campus will mean 98 units for seniors, 25 units for youth, and 100 beds for homeless youth with services, staff and street improvements surrounding the center. I firmly believe that when completed, the Anita May Rosenstein Campus will be the pride of Hollywood.” The facility is slated to open in 2019.
Mini-Mall at Santa Monica and Highland Upgrading
CurbedLA reported recently that the mini-mall at the NE corner of Highland and Santa Monica (most famous at the moment as home to Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts), will be getting a hip – and apparently very pink – makeover. The work is scheduled to start in about three months, and should be complete in about nine months, according to the report. Trejo’s will remain at the location, but all other current tenants will be moving out (although one tenant, a nail salon, may return after the upgrade, according to the Curbed report).
Orchard Supply Hardware Closing
This one has received quite a bit of press, local and otherwise, but for those who have not yet heard, parent company Lowe’s is closing all of its Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) stores nationwide, including the one at 415 S. La Brea. Store closing sales have already begun, with discounts currently 15-40% on all merchandise. The stores are scheduled to close before the end of the year. No word yet on what will happen to OSH’s nearly new building on La Brea.
Xiomara Closed
EaterLA reports that Cuban eatery Xiomara, 6101 Melrose, apparently closed its doors in August. While the restaurant’s website and Facebook page still seem to be up and running, Eater reports that the building now appears to be empty, and the business is no longer answering its phone or taking online orders. The last the Buzz heard from the restaurant was its renewal of its CUB (permit to sell alcohol) in 2016, which also included expansion of its business hours to 10 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
Larchmont Therapist Mark Friedes Passes Away
Mark Friedes, a therapist whose practice was at 444 N. Larchmont Blvd., passed away on August 13. According to Friedes’ obituary in the LA Times, he was known for his “empathetic ear, intuitive insights and clinical expertise.” Friedes was 60 years old, and preceded in death by his mother, Monica (Press) and his brother, Larry Matthew. He is survived by his father, Joseph Friedes of Aventura, FL.
